With over 45 years of experience in creating specialist joinery projects and interior fit-outs, Edmont is a leader in its field and a returning visitor to the UK’s only dedicated furniture components show, Elements. But, how does Edmont benefit from attending the four-day event and why should other shopfitting outfits consider visiting? Furniture & Joinery Production put these questions to Luke Parry, Edmont’s production manager, to find out more.

“It’s important for any business to keep abreast of the market they are in,” begins Luke. “Trends evolve quickly – especially in the furniture and shopfitting industry – and as a result, it’s easy to fall behind if you’re not proactive in your quest to stay informed. This is where events like Elements play a vital role in our industry.

“We use Elements to hunt out new innovations and explore different ways to expand our portfolio. This could be through the introduction of new products and materials or by learning about new trends and manufacturing techniques that help us to create new and unique design options for our customers. 

“The fact that the show is also partnered with the woodworking machinery and materials show, the W Exhibition, is a bonus for visitors and allows us to broaden our product and market knowledge even further.

“It’s also equally as important for us to understand the benefits associated with these areas. Just because a product is new to the market doesn’t automatically make it the right fit for our business. 

“The exhibition gives us an opportunity to not only see and handle the products for ourselves, but also to talk to the manufacturers about them and gauge what direction the market is heading. This might sound like a simple task but, when would you have an opportunity to do this outside of the show? And, even if the opportunity arose, would you have the time to give it the attention it deserved? I know I wouldn’t. 

“When we visit Elements, we go with a purpose: to find new ways to help our business move forward. We research the exhibitors before we go and without fail, we find ourselves talking to new people and gaining valuable contacts. 

“A lot can be said for meeting people face to face. For us, attending exhibitions is still the best way to forge lasting relationships with suppliers and we’ll continue to attend Elements for this very reason.” 

Elements will be taking place from the 30th September-3rd October at the NEC, Birmingham. To register for your free ticket simply visit the show’s website and join over 8000 industry professionals at the UK’s only woodworking machinery and materials show: www.wexhibition.co.uk/Register.