India Coverings Expo (ICE), 2018, a first of its kind B2B trade fair for architecture, building materials, innovations and design industries was held from November 15 to 18, 2018 at The Orchid Hotel in Mumbai. This unique and innovative platform offers opportunities to not just exhibitors but also to create a long lasting impression on the respective industries. The exhibition was started with lamp lighting ceremony. The Chief guest to the honour at the inaugural ceremony were Mr. Christopher Andre, CEO, Dekodur, Germany; Mr. Thomas Yi, Head of Operations Asia, CBA AG, Korea; Mr. Baldev Sharma, Owner, Marshalls Wall Coverings; Mr. Suman Shah, Owner, Jalaram Timber; Mr. Hitesh Jasani, President, Maharashtra Laminates Distributors; Mr. Aashish Mehta, President, Bombay Timber Merchants Association & Hon. Secretary for The Federation of Association of Maharashtra; Mr. Nihit Waghela, Interior Designer, Nascent Designs; Dr. Vithal Kamat, Chairman, Kamat Group of Hotels and Mr. Pragath Dvivedi & Mr. Rajiv Parashar, from the Ply Reporter as Media Partner along with many other industry conglomerates.
In his welcome speech Mr. Hitesh Jasani briefed about the concept of ICE Exhibition and said that this is value for money for all exhibiting companies to their showcases and launching of products. Other guests also appreciated the efforts of organisers for organising such a beautiful show. One of the organisers Mr. Praveen Hingad thanked all the exhibitors, guests and visitors for their support and said, “The aim of ICE is to focus on customer relationship, product launches, market research, brand building, media relations and sales generation.” In the last day of the exhibition he was very happy for its overwhelming response and quality footfall. He said, “Most of the exhibitors were showcasing products related to wood panel and building materials.
All of them were overwhelmed with quality visitors mostly related to their trade that made the exhibition received very good response and success,” adding, “ICE stands class apart in its unique idea of displaying and discussing business in hotel rooms, hereby keeping the privacy of the new launched products by any exhibitor to the ones interested. For ICE, the interiors, architects, builders, consultants, designers, dealers and distributors leave an overwhelming and enriched experience.” Reacting on the footfall and quality of visitors Mr Jeetu Kariya, another one of the organisers said, “The exhibition is superb organised and the venue is also very much convenient for the visitors. It is properly managed right from selecting the venue to its promotional activates and most importantly the service offered to each and everyone exhibitors and visitors are excellent like exhibition being organised in overseas developed countries. There are 70 exhibitors and all are very satisfied with quality visitors. They have good customers and good business also. The display being in closed rooms has offered each exhibitors equal importance and the chance to have personalised discussion with their clients. The coming edition of the exhibition will be much bigger with better amenities. Our priority is to offer our clientele total satisfaction with quality service and providing good opportunity for businesses.
ICE in its very first edition turned lucrative and a highlyprofitable choice for branding by a number of industry players. By aggregating a wide range of products under one roof in a seven story hotel Orchid in Mumbai, this trade show facilitated designers, dealers, engineers and other attendees to quickly analyse the current scenario in the architectural world. In fact ICE generated an environment for clients to exchange ideas and information pertaining to the design, building and surfacing industry and keeping the industry players up-to-date with the changes to mould business models accordingly. The exhibitors were happy and overwhelmed with the response of quality visitors at the exhibition. Many of the players expressed their happiness and were agreed to participate in the next edition of the exhibition.
In this very first edition of the exhibition over 70 leading players of wood panel industry make presence with their latest offerings and new launches. Among them TREELAM was declared as the largest stall and was awarded by the organisers of ICE in a get-together function organised on November 17, 2018. The function was a musical night followed by dinner.