A similar sensation is those of Carlo Boffi, partner of Fratelli Boffi, a company specializing in contemporary classic furniture: «The turnout is lower than the last edition before Covid. In my opinion we are around 30% fewer visitors. But we brought home a lot of contacts and I must say that the visitors seemed more concrete and interested, ”he explains.
Long queues and B2B meetings
The enthusiasm is palpable and really goes beyond the numbers: “Our main goal was to go back to our fair, look customers in the face and shake their hand – says Albino Celato, founder and CEO of the Venetian De Castelli – . But we are also working very hard, we are almost back to the levels of 2019: China and Russia are missing, but all the other customers have arrived. In general, we do not place orders at the show, yet we have just concluded an important contract with Dubai ».
Surprised by the long lines outside the stand is also the CEO of Molteni & C, Marco Piscitelli: “I admit, I was skeptical about the number of visits we would have, but I had to change my mind: not only many customers arrived, but I also don’t remember a Salon with so many meetings where you really do business “. Giorgetti’s stand registered about 1,500 visitors a day: «More than 2019 – explains CEO Del Vecchio -. Perhaps this year we recorded them more regularly, but in any case it is an important number and we also worked in an excellent way ».
The international presence
And then there is the theme of the countries represented, both among exhibitors (27% from abroad), and among visitors, with a much higher presence than in the past of countries such as India, South Korea and Brazil. Also thanks to the work carried out in collaboration with the government agency ICE: «This moment of recovery is evident – says the president of Ice Carlo Ferro -. There is a great desire to start again, especially from Europe and the United States and a part of the Asian world and our commitment contributes to creating an all-round commercial event, with 600 buyers and journalists from all over the world, which also gives a lot of returns. to the city”.
Confcommercio has in fact estimated an induced amount of 247 million euros generated in Milan by this event, even lower (by about 10%) than that calculated in 2019, but with a presence of about 386 thousand people, in line with pre-pandemic levels. . Until yesterday, 136 thousand entries had been registered at the Re-Generation exhibition organized by the magazine Interni alla Statale, while 30 thousand were those for the event at the Botanical Garden. Numbers destined to grow, such as the estimated 80 thousand visitors to the events in the Isola district.