EQUIP AUTO, the French biennale exhibition of equipment and services for all vehicles, is back and ready for action for its 21st session in 2013.
Conscious of the changing needs of its exhibitors and visitors, and aware of how markets are evolving, EQUIP AUTO announced its top three goals for 2013: more exhibitors (1,800), more visitors (125,000) and more activities.
In order to achieve these, the exhibition has a clear strategy, supported by three main principles:
•More business, thanks to an enriched, value-added offer, higher visitor numbers and tempting sales rates.
•More services, so visitors can get to the show and find their way around more easily, with better rates and entry rules, and a greatly improved overall visit experience.
•More events, with an even bigger range of opportunities to meet new contacts and network with like-minded professionals, inside and outside activities, discovery and relaxation areas and celebratory events.
Held by the FIEV (the Federation of Vehicle Industries and Equipment) and the FFC (the French Industrial Bodywork Federation), EQUIP AUTO is the only international event in France where manufacturers, equipment suppliers, distributors and maintenance and repair professionals from the automotive industry can meet up.
More Business
To ensure more business leads for the exhibitors at the 21st session, EQUIP AUTO is introducing a wide-ranging plan of action:
In order to make each exhibitor more visible and allow them to showcase their stand, in 2013 exhibitors will benefit from an exhibition area spread over four halls and a clearer layout organised into business sectors.
After the success of the ‘Bodywork Paint Village’ sector in 2011, with the support of the FFC, featuring again in 2013, EQUIP AUTO is extending its programme even further. The aim is to reflect the breadth of the after-sales channel, from spares to garage and bodywork materials, and from services to networks.
The ‘Trade & Sourcing’ sector, dedicated to international groups (in particular the Asian markets), will highlight a wide range of products and services to buyers and procurement professionals from around the world.
The ‘Networks’ area, situated at the heart of the exhibition, will bring together manufacturer networks and independent dealers in the vehicle after-sales industry.
In collaboration with the exhibitors and the industry’s professional bodies, EQUIP AUTO will feature a programme of demonstrations dedicated to materials, products and services for vehicle repair and maintenance professionals. These fun and interactive demonstrations are all about training and discovery, and will take place on exhibitors’ stands, within the workshops located across the different sectors of the show, and on a completely new 5000 square metres outdoor area.
To increase the number of qualified French and international professionals attending the exhibition, EQUIP AUTO has ramped up its promotional activity both in France and overseas by attending European trade fairs, setting up meetings with key foreign professional bodies and investing in greater media presence.
EQUIP AUTO is continuing this approach in France with a series of face to face meetings at locations across the country, to meet repair and bodywork professionals and distributors.
EQUIP AUTO has adapted its opening times to fit with the timetables of French repair professionals and nearby countries, making it easier for them to attend. Still held over five days, EQUIP AUTO is moving its schedule forward from Wednesday to Sunday inclusive, in order to open over a full weekend.
The opening hours have also been also revised to welcome professionals from Wednesday and Thursday from 10am to 7pm, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 9pm, and on Sunday from 10am to 5pm.
And, to help French and international buyers and distributors plan their visit and to help exhibitors to get more qualified leads, EQUIP AUTO has organised a free introduction service between exhibitors and visitors before the exhibition opens. This way, participants can enjoy pre-arranged business meetings, where they can network, during the exhibition.
The exhibition has announced its intention to boost exhibitor numbers by 25 per cent, which is supported by a sales offer made up of some new rates – an Early Bird offer available two months longer than previously, and special tariffs for new and outdoor exhibitors.
Lastly, EQUIP AUTO is targeting after-sales networks with attractive offers allowing them to find and recruit loyal members and affiliates and to promote their image to professionals and the press.
More Services
To give the estimated 125,000 visitors the best welcome possible, EQUIP AUTO is introducing new offers and new services:
EQUIP AUTO 2013 has negotiated numerous discounts from train and flight companies, as well as hotels in the Paris area. Free shuttle buses are also planned to provide transfers from rail stations and airports.
To keep entry prices competitive and reasonable, and to help every visitor meet the goals of their visit, EQUIP AUTO is offering a day entry rate of 10€/15€ and a rate of 30€/35€ for the week, for pre-registered visitors and entry on the day respectively.
The registration system has been completely reorganised in order to make entry faster and more fluid. Notable improvements are that visitors now do not need to print real badges from electronic badges, and they can use the new M-badge on their smartphone.
To make everyone’s trip even more enjoyable, EQUIP AUTO has a selection of promotional offers to encourage visitors to enjoy an evening out in Paris (cabaret, classic restaurants, etc…)
To allow exhibitors to promote their full offerings during the exhibition and to help visitors get the most out of their visit, EQUIP AUTO has introduced expert route maps, customised by profession or area of interest (for example the Innovation Route, the Green Tech Route and even the Demonstrations Route…).
For the 2013 session, the interior and exterior signage has been improved. Now it’s more visible and supported by information screens and a smartphone app.
Each hall is laid out to provide visitors with a relaxation area, with shops, displays, simulators and even more surprises to look forward to.
More Events
To demonstrate its commitment to making contacts in a welcoming environment, EQUIP AUTO is to host an unprecedented number of meetings and activities over the course of its five days:
The International Forum: to get better visibility of foreign markets at the exhibition, this Forum allows International Pavilions to present their areas of expertise to buyers and distributors.
The European After-sales Forum: this Forum is dedicated to French and foreign distributors of materials and loose parts, and to their suppliers.
The first ever After-sales Manufacturer Forum: taking place for the first time at EQUIP AUTO, this half-day round table forum aims to make dealers aware of ways to improve their turnover (training, marketing, new players in the market, etc…) The forum is aimed exclusively at dealers from participating manufacturers.
Thematic training forums and workshops: these mini-events will run every afternoon during the week, in line with the    same sectors which the halls are divided into. They will take the form of theoretical, practical and quiz sessions with many prizes to be won.
The Innovation Zone and the International Automotive Innovation awards: the pre-selected candidates and prizewinners will be notified before the exhibition begins and their submissions will be available to view in the Innovation Space from the first day, with the prizewinners on display from the 17th onwards. This display will allow visitors to explore the latest innovations revealed by our judging panel of French and international journalists.
Repair Trophies and Special Awards New for 2013: to show how important these Special Awards are, the jury will have 24 hours to review and select winners at the show itself, with prizegiving taking place at the exhibition on Friday 18th October at 1pm.
During this prizegiving ceremony, the exhibition will also award the Repair Trophies. Chosen by real users, this newly created award seeks to reward repair and bodywork exhibitors for their equipment and products, all suggested and road tested by repair and bodywork professionals throughout the year.
The EQUIP AUTO exhibitors’ get together on Wednesday 16th October: taking place after the presentation of the International Automotive Innovation Awards, this evening event will allow exhibitors and their guests to enjoy a night of celebration at the show.
About EQUIP AUTO
An international exhibition of vehicle equipment and services, EQUIP AUTO is one of the main European meetings for networking between manufacturers, distributors and the repair industry in search of new products, services or partners. EQUIP AUTO is an exhibition held by the Federation of Vehicle Industries and Equipment (FIEV) and the French Industrial Bodywork Federation (FFC), organised by the Comexposium Group.
It will be held in Paris, France from Wednesday 16 October until Sunday 20 October 2013
Â
Â