Bookings bode well for Carrefour 2018

This year’s event, from May 30 to June 1 at the Parc Beaujoire in Nantes, also boasts more exhibitors – a total of 560 – and has increased total stand area by 6% to accommodate them.

According to organisers, the show will not only be bigger, it is also expected to be busier and even more international in profile.

Visitor registration has only been opened a month but initial interest has been strong and the show is upbeat about at least matching 2016’s total of 10,250.

“The Carrefour is being held against the backdrop of an improving French economy, and an increasingly upbeat timber sector, with companies looking to recruit – always a positive sign,” said the show’s commercial and international executive, Samantha Padden.

“The construction sector in France is also coming out of its long-term slump and in particular in recent years there’s been real development in the use of wood in French construction and in interior and external joinery.”

Already underlining that Carrefour has become a global forum, 37% of this year’s exhibitors are from outside France and it also anticipates new visitors to be drawn from an increasing spread of countries worldwide.

In 2016 28% of the total were from abroad, representing 70 nationalities.

“We’ve been working with marketeers Promosalons to promote the show particularly this year in Holland, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and, of course, are continuing to target the UK,” said Ms Padden.

“The other key attraction of Carrefour is its use by exhibitors as a launch pad for new products and technical innovation and, given market conditions, we expect more than ever,” she added.