The two-day event at the Fairgrounds in Padua closes with unanimous satisfaction from buyers and companies, who appreciated the unique format marked by concreteness, with a tight schedule of targeted one-on-one meetings.
At the end of the two days, from exhibitors and buyers the chorus was unanimous: “World ArchitecTour is an experience to be repeated.”
After the success of the first edition, which had represented at the same time a test and a new challenge, the second appointment with the Padua Hall event, which holds together demand and supply of Made in Italy with a unique format, marked by concreteness and based on a calendar of tight one-to-one meetings between leading companies in the sector, design and interior finishes and a selected and qualified delegation of contractors, closes in a very positive and highly satisfying atmosphere, top architects and designers from the African continent.
“A format with great potential,” explains Marco Valsecchi, general manager of Padova Hall, “which in this second edition, marked by a quantitative and qualitative increase in the brands represented, has been confirmed and further consolidated. With the company Medinit, which takes care of the organizing secretariat, we have already designed a medium- to long-term project for the development of the event in other geographical contexts as well.”
The voices of exhibitors, from Bisazza to Gruppo Gimo to companies in the Marche region
The event was promoted with flying colors by both companies already established in African markets and those entering this geographical area for the first time.
This year’s edition also saw a significant presence of companies from the Marche region, at World ArchitecTour thanks to the support of Tecne, a special company for internationalization of the Marche Chamber of Commerce. “In the African market, we have observed a change on the part of demand,” says Alessandro Galimberti, architect, showroom project manager for the Ancona-based company Valpaint, a specialist in the production of decorative paints and coatings that has a plant in Tunis and has long operated throughout North Africa. “The focus,” he explains, “is no longer just on aesthetic quality, there is growing interest in both the quality of materials and the sustainability dimension; the African end customer is asking to know how the paints are made. We come out of this two-day event satisfied with the contacts we made.” “We appreciated the format of the event, which is less dispersed than that of larger trade shows and encourages targeted and fruitful contacts,” adds Giacomo Vagnini, owner of Pesaro-based Mobilpiù Luxury, a company with a strong presence in African markets. “A great potential,” explains Vagnini, “that we grasped very early: already 15 years ago we had participated, the only Italian company, in a fair in Nigeria. The opportunities still remain many both in the countries we already operate in and in new emerging markets….” Positive results also for G&F of Camerano (Ancona), a company founded in 1967 specializing in the production of kitchens, almost all of which are destined for the foreign market. “We have gathered some very interested contacts to increase business in the countries where we are already present or to expand into new markets,” confirms Antonella Galassi, the company’s foreign sales manager. In addition to Valpaint, Mobilpiù Luxury and G&F, other major companies from the Marche region were present at World ArchitecTour: Fiam Italia, Fulgini Contract, G.G.A., Mobilificio Spab, DV, Effe Salotti, Sach Group.
After participating in the first edition, Bisazza, a leading mosaic company, has chosen to renew its participation again this year. “With an overall low investment,” explains sales manager Alessandro Bisazza, “we were able to gather many significant contacts in a market with great potential, but one that often remains difficult to penetrate and where we are usually able to make spot interventions.
Second experience at World ArchitecTour also for the Padua-based Modenese Luxury Interiors for which Africa is the reference market, absorbing 80 percent of the export quota. “We met with very interesting operators,” explains Sonia Ferro, export area manager, “after the positive experience of the first edition, we close with satisfaction again this year.
With 11 companies in the furniture accessories and lighting industry, GIMO Group has a presence with its products almost all over the world. “The feedback we collected,” explains director Antonio Bibolini, “went far beyond expectations; we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the buyers in attendance, who were purposefully selected. An experience to be repeated.”
A satisfaction also shared by Sandro Tumiotto, export manager of the Geromin Group, a reality of San Stino di Livenza specializing in the production of high-end wellness products, from saunas to Turkish baths to hamman and whirlpool baths. “We had the opportunity to meet interesting contractors, I also really appreciated the excellent organization of the calendar,” the export manager explains.
The Florentine company Italfama specializes in making beautiful handcrafted custom chess sets of all shapes and workmanship. “Exports account for 60 percent of our business, but we don’t have customers in the African market,” explains Tommaso Marsili, who with his father and brother runs the company, “so we chose to jump at this opportunity.
There was also great success and strong interest at the Fair for the wine seller presented by the Bassano-based company Frighetto Group: an exclusive design, technological, high-end and customizable wine cellar intended for private homes with which the company is also looking at the luxury market in Africa.