In questo articolo
The Italian trade fairs of 2022 have once again showcased the industrial production structure of our country to the world. The figures exceeded expectations: despite the challenges of recent years, foremost among them the Covid pandemic—which forced trade fair organizations to reschedule events—and the delicate international geopolitical situation, which is affecting production and logistics in almost all sectors.
The official figures have not yet been published by the AEFI (Associazione Esposizione Fiere Italiane), but we know that dozens of exhibitions took place in the first four months of the year. In the Milano fair district alone, around 32 events were scheduled up to June!
Luca Palermo, CEO and General Manager of Fiera Milano, expressed very reassuring words to Adnkronos (Italian press agency) about the future of trade fairs: “This is a year confirming the restart. At this moment, registrations are good, many exhibitors are coming, and we have had confirmations from companies and buyers. [...] Clearly, we have some uncertainties about what is happening today, — he continues, referring to the situation in Ukraine — but this is not stopping the desire to participate in person at fairs.”
A relatively positive balance, then. Let’s look in detail at the trends this year and which were the most important sector trade fairs.
The most important sector trade fairs held in Italy in 2022
MarcabyBolognafiere, IPACK-IMA, Vinitaly, Salone del Mobile: the Italian trade fair system offers many events every year, some highly anticipated on an international level as well. It would be impossible to detail them all, so we will limit ourselves to observing a few of the major fairs of 2022.
1. Cosmoprof (April 28 - May 2, 2022)
Cosmoprof, now in its 53rd edition, needs no introduction.
Known internationally, this fair is a leader in the professional cosmetics and beauty sector and annually welcomes dozens of stands and thousands of visitors from all over the world to Bologna.
This year’s edition involved 220,057 operators from more than 140 countries and over 2,700 exhibiting companies from 70 countries.
Among the themes addressed during the event, there was a focus on the best ways to express professionalism and improve business opportunities. Furthermore, the effects the pandemic has had on the sector were analyzed, since many companies were forced to close for long periods. Once again this year, an area was set up dedicated to packaging, particularly sustainable packaging, which is increasingly demanded by consumers.
2. Cibus (May 3-6, 2022)
Cibus is an agri-food fair held annually in Parma, the city considered the cradle of Italian food. The 2022 edition exceeded every expectation, returning to pre-pandemic attendance levels with around 60,000 operators present.
Besides the main sector themes, such as gastronomy, Ho.re.ca., and the food business, this event also addressed issues concerning the repercussions of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
3. Ecomondo 2022 and Key Energy (November 8-11, 2022)
Ecomondo is the leading international fair on the green economy in Europe and on the transition towards new circular and regenerative economy models.
Its 25th edition was held last November at the Fiera di Rimini simultaneously with Key Energy, a related event dedicated to renewable energy. Topics discussed included the future of the green economy, the economy of the sea and forests, the development of the circular economy, and the ecological transition.
The textile industry remained in focus for the second year running, thanks to the Osservatorio Tessile appointment. This is a reflection hub established to understand how the fashion supply chain could leverage green economy potentials to make the entire product lifecycle more sustainable.
Why trade fairs are so important for companies and how to prepare to participate
Trade fairs are an excellent way to learn about sector news and innovations, but also to create new contacts, in particular:
- Potential clients: by showcasing your products at fairs, you can attract the attention of visitors who may become new customers.
- Potential partners: people in your sector attending events can help you promote your product or service to a wider audience. Partnerships are generally mutually beneficial as both parties can gather more contacts, new relationships, and business opportunities...
Do you want to participate in the upcoming fairs of 2023?
Well then, it’s time to start preparing!
First of all, some research. You should identify the events relevant to your field of expertise: next year, for example, Cosmoprof and Cibus will return punctually, but there will be many opportunities to exhibit with Vinitaly, BIT Milano, SANA, and Milano Fashion Week, not to mention the hundreds of fairs held abroad!
After deciding which events to attend, make sure you have an attractive and well-designed stand that can help you engage visitors. Promote your participation through social media and other advertising channels such as print and online banners.
Finally, choose the best packaging for your product: it should align with your brand’s values and image, ideally composed of ecological materials. Our advice is to choose fabric packaging, which is sustainable, recyclable, and customizable in every detail!
Looking for eye-catching fabric packaging for your trade fair participation? Here are some ideas
Several factors come into play when choosing a fabric bag to present at a fair: first, the correct size and model, customised to faithfully represent your company’s image. You can have your brand’s logo or name printed, or include other details such as address and phone number to leave contact information with those who receive and see the packaging. Finally, you should find the best fabric for your purposes and products.
There are many fabrics available on the market, each with particular characteristics suitable for specific sectors.
For example, if you need packaging for cured meats, cheeses, sausages, or other food items, you can use certified, natural, breathable fabrics. In these cases, a cotton or jute bag would be ideal.
For the clothing, leather goods, and jewelry sectors, you might choose fine fabrics such as velvet or satin.
Do you sell creams, soaps, or makeup?
The best choice could be a jacquard or cotton fabric cosmetic bag in which to place testers of your products for visitors to try.
Alternatively, you can opt for a practical natural cotton mesh shopper that can simultaneously serve as packaging for your gadgets and as a promotional vehicle that visitors will carry with them during the fair and afterward, once back home.
Let’s prepare your packaging for the 2023 trade fairs together
In 2022, Italian trade fairs returned to former splendour, but now it is time to prepare for the trade fair events of next year.
Want to participate in those of 2023? Take a look at our catalog and choose the best fabric bag for your trade fair presence or contact us to create one together, fully customised in every detail.
