Carrara Show Expands, Cuts Prices

MARINA DI CARRARA, Italy – The CarraraMarmotec 2006 stone event will grow its exhibition space and reduce exhibitor fees in a strategy that “throws down the gauntlet” in the international stone market, according to officials.
The trade fair, set for May 31-June 3 next year, will feature a new 10,000 m² pavilion for indoor exhibtions, increasing the total exhibition area by 30 percent to a toal of 46,000 m². Officials of Internazionale Marmi e Macchine (IMM), the show’s producers, say the expanded area should be able to accommodate 100 more exhibitors than the 2005 event.
The event will also reduce its prices, according to a statement from IMM, “to support the companies which are hit hard by a difficult economic trend which is affecting Italian marble exports.”
“We are aware of the problems the industry is going through in Italy,” said IMM General Manager Paris Mazzanti, “So, we decided to buck the trend of the other Italian fair agencies. We will invest the higher proceeds from the new indoor areas to compensate the lower rates of the indoor areas and the big discounts we are offering for the rental of the outdoor areas, which will become like big showcases, that will be made available to the companies exhibiting raw marble and granite and large handling equipment. We are sure our attention to the industry problems will be much appreciated by the companies.”
The efforts are aimed at attracting 25-percent-more exhibitors to the event. CarraraMarmotec drew 18,022 total attendees at this year’s event in late May and early June.
The event also plans more promotion of the exhibition, said IMM President Giancarlo Tonini.
“Through this initiative,” he said, “we will take part in the most important events in the world. We will give priority to those areas and countries that attract most visitors: the near and the Far East, Mediterranean Africa, the United States. In Europe, we will be in the EU as well as in Eastern countries. In the past, these promotional campaigns have been very successful, bringing to Carrara many new visitors and offering new opportunities to our exhibitors as well.”
IMM announced efforts for promotion at other industry shows in Poland, Dubai, India, Brazil, Russia, Iran, the United Kingdom, Turkey, China and Spain, as well as missions and tours involving Europe and Mediterranean Africa.