ABC's Audit Confirms Success of kbb Birmingham

Despite some exhibitor concerns that footfall at kbb Birmingham 2008 was down compared with the 2006 event, the official audience figures independently audited by the ABC confirms that 19,150 people attended the exhibition, which is up on the attendance at the 2006 show

ABC is the only organisation that independently certifies the attendance figures of consumer and trade exhibitions to standards set by the exhibition industry in the UK and Ireland. ABC maintains the audit rules and regulations set by the exhibition industry, verifying exhibition attendance figures to these rigorously high standards.

There was speculation that moving the show from its traditional slot in January and separating it from the Interiors show would lead to a dramatic decline in visitor attendance in March 2008. However, total attendance for kbb Birmingham this year was actually slightly more than the attendance for the 2006 show.

'How ever you look at this, it is a great result,' said event director Paul Sweeney. 'We knew that separating the event from Interiors would reduce the number of people in the aisles. However, our marketing effort for kbb Birmingham in 2008 concentrated on attracting the dedicated KBB visitor. And the fact that we increased that audience at a time when business is generally more cautious is massively encouraging.

'Almost 80% of the visitors to kbb Birmingham this year expected to make a purchase within a year, while over a third of those attending the show expected to make a purchase within a month of their visit.'

ABC's audit also confirmed the kbb Birmingham was successful in attracting a quality audience for its exhibitors. Just over 60% of the visitors were looking to purchase mid -to-top end products, while less than 11% were looking for volume producers.

Around one in two of the visitors were owners, directors, or buyers and the primary areas of product interest was split roughly 50/50 across kitchens and bathrooms.

'We have delivered a great show for business at a time when the business buyer is very wary about overspending,' added Sweeney. This bodes well for us when we take our winning formula to Earls Court in May 2009 for kbb London.

'Our track record confirms that when market conditions toughen up, CMPi has the expertise to deliver a successful business exhibition.'