There is an increasing level of ‘show weariness’ in the UK according to the Litchfield Group’s James Litchfield, who believes that organisers need to listen to the industry and start evolving shows like Glassex and Interbuild into meaningful trade exhibitions, and challenge the perception that British events are more than merely money-making ventures.

The Litchfield Group was one of only a handful of British window and door industry companies with a presence at this year’s Fensterbau exhibition.

And the group is emulating this success across the Atlantic with North Carolina based L.B. Plastics Inc., by showcasing its Sheerframe and Sheerline brands stateside at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) backed International Builders Show in Orlando, Florida in February 2007, an exhibition which, like Fensterbau, delivers genuine results for the Litchfield Group.

‘Fensterbau is an excellent event which is run for the benefit of our industry and not the organisers’, says Litchfield. ‘We haven’t exhibited at Glassex or Interbuild this year because we don’t feel that they are creating worthwhile direction for the industry. Promotion of these UK shows is poor and consequently footfall is going down.

‘Like the NAHB show in the US, Fensterbau continues to show how these events can be a great success, so why can’t the UK get it right? Perhaps the key would be for the UK industry to follow the American International Builders Show model and organise its own exhibition – after all, the NAHB is an independent trade association that successfully organises what is one of the world’s biggest trade shows.’

Source

Glass Age