With hundreds of new products being launched among the thousands of tools, techniques and tips for open space professionals and contractors – from groundsmen and greenkeepers through to play officers, architects, designers and surveyors as well as local authority and outdoor leisure facility managers – this year’s show saw 467 exhibitors attract an audience of 11,700 visitors (pending ABC audit) over three days at Windsor Racecourse.
And it is clear that a high percentage of visitors were there with serious intent – not only to discover the latest money-saving ideas, but also to compare and buy the equipment.
As David Jenkins, managing director of DJ Turfcare, says: "This was the most successful IOG SALTEX we have had, with a significant number of sales off the stand and more than 150 inquiries to follow-up.”
Lynda Green, Terrain Aeration’s operations director, agreed. “It was our best ever IOG SALTEX,” she said. “We had some prime enquiries from genuinely interested parties.”
Robert Wallis, director of Rekord UK, commented: “This is our premier show of the year and we’ve been coming here year after year. We had a very high quality of enquiries, with some serious potential buyers, from the Environment Agency through to small contractors. “
And Alasdair Wellwood, managing director of Russell Leisure – whose play equipment display included the ‘mini Stonehenge’ feature – said “it has been a fantastic show; we’ve been run off our feet and sold many items off the stand two or three times over.” Wicksteed Playscapes’ sales director Stuart Wetherell says: “We always gets a good flow of local authorities on to our stand; it’s always a good show, with large numbers through the doors”.
IOG SALTEX 2009 will be held on 8-10 September at Windsor Racecourse, Berks,