Kanumesse, the European paddle-sports only trade show held in Germany’s Nuremberg Exhibition Centre, moved its show from early September to Oct. 5-7 after small paddle-sports dealers objected to the original dates, said Kanumesse director Horst Fuersattel. “The retailers didn’t want the show held in September because that is a busy selling season when they need to be in their shops,” Fuersattel told SNEWS. “The exhibitors had contacted their shops and were told it was difficult for the shops to come (in early September), and maybe they wouldn’t come at all,” Fuersattel informed SNEWS. “They want to use every day of the season to make money, and said they would not leave the shop when they have customers.”
Fuersattel said he was hesitant to make the change because he had already promoted and advertised the September dates, but the chorus of people wanting them changed “grew louder and louder,” he said. According to Fuersattel, about 70 percent of dealers who attend Kanumesse own small, independent shops. He said one reason he was concerned about moving the show to early October is that German Unity Day, a holiday celebrating German reunification in 1990, falls on Oct. 3, and shops and many highways are closed that day. Though
Kanumesse will now take place during a seemingly inconvenient time on the German calendar, Fuersattel told SNEWS he is hopeful the show will have a good turnout. “I have a lot of emails from people saying they are happy with the new dates, so it looks good for the number of visitors, but it’s too early to tell,” he said. Fuersattel said one advantage of the new dates is they fall during the week, rather than a weekend, so dealers won’t have to leave their shops during their busier days. (The original dates, Sept. 2-4, were Thursday through Saturday, but the new 2010 dates run from Tuesday to Thursday.) “We expect visitors to spend more time at the show and be more relaxed,” said Fuersattel.
As for exhibitors, Fuersattel told SNEWS they seem to be happy with the change. Last year, 129 exhibitors participated in the show and Fuersattel said there will be more this year, including a greater number of new exhibitors from China, Korea, Australia and Russia. For 2010, Kanumesse will also include for the first time a handful of manufacturers of stand-up paddle boards. According to Fuersattel, the sport is gaining momentum in Europe, though it’s not as popular as it is in the United States. “It’s getting popular, but we are about two years behind the U.S.,” he said. “Retailers have started by carrying two boards, and now they’re carrying five boards, and step by step it’s growing. Everybody’s talking about it.”
Because the show continues to grow, picking up new activities and manufacturers, Fuersattel told SNEWS he had to find a bigger exhibition hall in the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre for this year, and was fortunate to secure one that has 56 percent more room than last year’s spot in the same facility.
