European Bridal Week – 30 March to 1 April – promises to be the best edition ever with more than 400 collections on show. We talk to Siegrid Hampsink, Event Director of northern Europe’s foremost buying event
How many collections were exhibited when you launched in 2015 and many are you expecting in the 2019 edition?
Our first show really introduced a new way of doing business in bridal. The focus was on timing and dates were chosen that would be of greatest benefit to the industry as a whole. Some 150 collections exhibited then; our 2019 edition, will see close to three times that number unveiled at Messe Essen at the three-day event.
How many visitors do you expect to welcome in 2019, and from where?
Taking our exhibitors’ estimates as well as our pre-registration numbers into account, I believe that we will top the 4,000 mark. That will make for a tremendous show. Last year’s visitors came from more than 41 countries; research confirms that our timing was spot on.
What are you planning for the forthcoming show that is different to past editions?
Our runway shows have long proved to be a big attraction – seeing the latest looks, perfectly styled, on stage is inspirational and we are frequently told by exhibitors that the gowns they send down the catwalk become their best sellers at the show. So, we will be building up those performances each day to give visitors the opportunity to see an even greater number of new gowns and accessories.
In this, our fifth anniversary year, we will have a complete new entrance and a gallery of dresses from top designers. And the hall itself will have a different look and feel and fabulous new vibe! Another first is that in addition to the multi-brand catwalk shows, a number of exhibitors will stage their own, exclusive shows in our special performance theatre.
Any special message to buyers visiting the show in March?
European Bridal Week is the bridal showground, bringing you the opportunity to meet the top designers, see the best of the new collections, exchange ideas with friends and colleagues. And when you want to relax a little, and review what you have seen, there are quiet seating areas, places to pick up a tasty snack, and a busy Champagne bar – a great place to share time and opinions with others.
Just as you are an expert when it comes to running a successful bridal boutique, we are proud of our reputation as organisers of events that help you drive your business forward. We know that the more support services we put in place, the greater benefit to you, our show visitors.
From travel to and from the exhibition centre at Messe Essen to the hotels and the busy Dusseldorf international airport, to quality accommodation secured at a special price, we have your interests, and your comfort, as core to our offering.
Today, in a market that is more challenging than ever before, with a multitude of changes in consumer shopping habits and greater competition at every level, it is the true professionals that score the points.
Be they the designers and manufacturers who pave the way forward and put product quality and customer service first, the retailers who are selective in their choices, or the event organisers who focus on timing and authenticity, the experts will always retain their position and protect their reputation.
A last word?
European Bridal Week claims a larger slice of the exhibition action every year. There is a reason for its accelerating success and it is a simple one… the formula is right.
Visit europeanbridalweek.com for regularly-updated information