GIMA’s ‘Buyer Connect’ scheme – speed dating for buyers and sellers – has gone down a storm with memvers, the associoation;’s difrector, Neil Gow, reports.

“Within in minutes of the details being released to exhibitors to the show, bookings were already flooding in” Gow said. “We are approaching 500 requests from exhibitors for the 10-minute one-to-one, slots with the panel of buyers we have. With only 95 slots available, most exhibitors are getting an appointment with their first choice appointment but some will not. Some exhibitors are requesting eight or more appointments but we are sharing them out so everybody gets one and a few of the early bookers will get a couple of slots. We have closed the opportunity already because of its overwhelming  success.”

Gow puts the popularity of this new idea down to the sheer numbers of new products and new exhibitors at Glee this year, which must be music to the ears of every show visitor. “Sometimes buyers struggle to find new, and particularly the smaller, suppliers in big exhibitions like Glee,” Gow added. Between the New Product Awards and Buyer Connect, visitors are in for a real treat this year.”

He said the volume of new products was proof of the tenacity of manufacturers who continue to invest heavily in NPD, marketing and attending events such as Glee to demonstrate their innovation to buyers.  “Over and above those who are generously giving up their time to take part in Buyer Connect, I hope all buyers will show their commitment to their industry by supporting Glee and its exhibitors.”