RETAIL DESIGN EXPO 2017 to launch Christmas VM Market and Awards.

RETAIL DESIGN EXPO 2017 to launch Christmas VM Market and Awards.

📅08 Novembre 2016, 15:31

Retail Design Expo, Europe’s leading annual event for the retail design, marketing, visual merchandising and architecture industry, has announced the launch of two new major features for its 2017 show in May –  the VM Christmas Market and the VM Christmas Awards.

The VM Christmas Market

The VM Christmas Market has been launched in consultation with Retail Design Expo’s steering panel, to meet a demand from event visitors for a showcase of the very best Christmas decorations, displays and props on the market. Displaying both bespoke and off-the-shelf products, the market will provide a focal point for retailers and brands seeking inspiration for their Christmas displays.

RETAIL DESIGN EXPO 2017 Christmas VM Market Awards

Housed in its own designated area, and with a distinct look of its own, The VM Christmas Market is already attracting attention from new exhibitors.

The VM Christmas Market really made sense for us,” says Sasha Lord, new business and sales manager of AromaCo, which has signed up to exhibit in the market. As well as being a key time for perfume sales, Christmas creates a variety of scent-based campaigns for food and drink brands, says Lord.

The Silk Forest, which creates artificial trees, plants, food and other props, is also to exhibit in the VM Christmas Market. Managing director Graham Aldred says: “The VM Christmas Market promises to be a great chance to show the creativity and fun that VM can provide for retailers – just at the point when many of them will have finalised their budgets for the festive season. We’re looking forward to showing what we have to offer.”

The VM Christmas Awards

The second new initiative is the VM Christmas Awards, which will celebrate the very best in seasonal VM displays, interiors and windows, with all displays from Christmas 2016 eligible for entry. An independent judging panel of top retail and creative talent will select  the shortlist and winners. Work from the full shortlist will be displayed throughout Retail Design Expo and  a glittering awards ceremony announcing the winners will be held on the second day of the show.

For a great many retailers a strong Christmas trading period can be crucial to a successful year’s results,” says Space NK head of visual and store design Paul Wilkins, a member of the Retail Design Expo steering panel.
A huge proportion of the annual VM budget is set aside for jaw-dropping gorgeous shop windows and in-store displays all focused on creating the ultimate magical customer experience that translates into sales.  No one can afford to make a mistake at this time of year and we all spend enormous time, energy and money to get it right.  That is why I am incredibly excited by your VM Christmas Market and VM Christmas Awards initiatives at Retail Design Expo 2017.  The combination of a focused zone at the show with dozens of specialist Christmas suppliers together with relevant conference sessions and the 2016 VM Christmas Awards is irresistible.”

The dates for Retail Design Expo 2017 are May 8th & 9th. For more information visit www.retaildesignexpo.com


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