The superlatives flowed thick and fast at AQUA 2013, the third edition of market leading showcase for the UK’s water gardening and aquatics trade. Among the words being used to describe the event which closed yesterday were ‘record breaking’, ‘excellent’, ‘focussed’, ‘innovative’ and ‘fantastic’.
With visitor numbers up 9.3% on 2011, AQUA 2013 again showed the importance attached to it both by retailers and exhibitors who took up more exhibition space than ever before. With AQUA now firmly established as a biennial event, it gave one of the industry’s key players the opportunity to exhibit for the first time.
Adrian Burgess, managing director of Rolf C Hagen (UK), said moving the show to every other year gave them the opportunity to freshen up what they did and also engage with the whole industry. “AQUA will become more and more important as an event focussed on all our products which to us is a very big positive. We will definitely be back in 2015.”
For Tony Gunn, a senior territory manager of Peregrine Livefoods, it was an exciting first appearance at AQUA. “The feedback I have been getting has been very good. We have been rushed off our feet and buyers have been placing very good orders. The show has been very well organised and we will definitely support it in the future.”
King British have been show regulars since its inception in 2011 and as far as field sales manager Jane Austin is concerned King British needs to be at AQUA. “It is the UK’s major showcase for all manufacturers and distributors and a brilliant place to do business.”
Aquarline’s Peter Hemingway has been in the aquatics industry for 26 years and 2013 was his first time as an exhibitor at AQUA. “The show has worked extremely well for us and we have had a lot of positive interest in our new products, many of which are hi-tech ones. There is a good friendly environment about the halls. We will back in two years time and I hope as the exhibition grows, so will we.”
As far as Jim Marshall, the managing director of Atlantis WGP, is concerned this year has proved the best of the three AQUAs. He summed up by saying: “If you are in water gardening you have to be at AQUA. We will be back in 2015.”
Maintaining involvement with their customers as well as establishing new ones, is a key aspect of exhibiting at the show according to Alex Hinton, the trade marketing manager of Tetra. “We find AQUA a great mechanic to get face-to-face feedback from our retailers and the footfall on our stand has been very impressive.”
Satisfaction among visitors was equally high. Stephen Walker, an area manager with World of Water, enthused: “It’s been a really good, informative show. We have picked up a lot of good ideas. After a very poor 2012 our trade has picked up in 2013 and we are at the point where we need new ideas to carry us into the winter aquatics season. In previous years I spent a day at the show. This year I definitely need two.”
Another buyer looking for ideas was David Matthews of Harveys Aquatics and Pets based in Dudley. “It’s a very impressive show and I really like the way it’s laid out. We have come to the show to look for ideas as we are moving into tropicals and they are all here.”
Aquariums for use in schools was the objective for Colm O’Reilly of Fintastic Aquariums for Derry in Northern Ireland. “We already supply large display aquariums in schools and shops, but we are here looking for much smaller units to use as teaching aids. The show is a great place to learn about the industry.”
Finding what he wanted was the key objective for Steven Warburton, the assistant manager of Ripples Waterlife in Bridgemere, Cheshire, and his visit proved a success. “It’s nice to see what’s new in one place,” he added.
Summing up the reaction to AQUA 2013, organiser Annie Dyke said: “I am delighted with the enthusiasm shown by exhibitors and visitors to our biennial event. The record-breaking attendance proves that the format of AQUA is continuing to deliver the audience our exhibitors have come to expect from the largest show of its kind in the UK. I look forward to welcoming everyone back to Telford in two years’ time.”
