Mir Detstva’2007
Mir Detstva’2007 International Exhibition
Mir Detstva’2007, the 13th International Exhibition for Goods and Services for Children and Teenagers, New Educational and Personal Development Programmes, ran successfully at Expocentre Fairgrounds on October 3-7, 2007. This socially significant event was organized by Expocentre and was held under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation. The high rating and reputation of the show in the world are backed by the awards of UFI - the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry and the Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs (RUEF).
The 2007 show once again demonstrated a positive growth rate: the number of exhibitors increased with 80 companies joining it, and the show floor expanded by 20%. Thus about 500 companies representing over 1 000 brands and 30 countries showcased a whole scope of their goods and services for children and teenagers. The exhibitor polls show that 83% of the exhibitors announced their plans to take part in the show next year.
The exhibition area of total 23 668 sq.m put on display the following thematic sections: HEALTH AND COMFORT; CLOTHES, FOOTWARE, ACCESSORIES FOR CHILDREN and THEENAGERS; EDUCATION AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, TOYS AND GAMES. The total attendance reached 15 157 attendees (67% of which were specialists). The visitors of the show got a comprehensive insight about quality goods for children and teenagers, new developments and programmes devoted to the growing generation.
The organizers of the show always pay special attention to moral health and upbringing of children. In 2007 the show was held with the support and participation of the Russian Orthodox Church that considers moral development of children one of its main tasks. The welcome address of Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Alexis II expressed his confidence that the manufacturers and suppliers of children’s goods, service providers, new technology developers, authors of intellectual and creative development projects and programmes for children and youth, who demonstrated their products at the show, pursue the ultimate goal of the good for the growing generation.
The Mir Detstva’2007 Exhibition was to a large extent innovative. While developing its traditions, the organizers put into practice a lot of fresh and interesting ideas aimed at involving the largest target audience possible and increasing commercial efficiency of the show for the exhibitors and visitors. Specialists were offered a rich programme of events: conferences, lectures, seminars, presentations and the most important opportunity of active interaction at the exhibitors’ stands. The organizers had prepared a wide programme of social and cultural events for teachers, psychologists and visitors: children and parents.
It was the first time that Expocentre’s unique system of on-line meeting arrangements – the MatchMaking System – was operating at the Mir Detstva Exhibition. It made the show even more effective for professional buyers and exhibitors. A Business Centre equipped with modern communication and office facilities was at the service of the exhibitors and visitors for meetings prearranged via the MatchMaking System to be held in a comfortable environment. Mir Detstva’2007 incorporated the first Russian Specialized Trade Forum ‘Strategic Challenges in the Market of Children’s Goods and Services’, organized by Imperia Company. The Forum announced a global forecast of the development for the Russian market of goods and services for children and teenagers. Leading marketing experts shared their secrets of product promotion to a market and described methods of successful cooperation with retail networks.
It was the first time that a Centre of Network Purchasing was organized during the Forum. The Centre enabled the exhibitors to hold negotiations with the representatives of chain stores and retail shops directly and offer them their products.
The Mir Detstva Exhibition opened great opportunities for the Russian manufacturers as well as foreign companies to demonstrate their best products.
Domestic children’s goods and services were demonstrated by the following companies: Vesna, Votkinskaya Promyshlennaya Kompaniya, Ogonek Factory, Zolotoy Gus, Zvezda, John Rus, Kasson, Red Star, Kubanlesstroy, Leskommebel, Omega +, Russcom, Rostoys, Rossmetall, Russian style, IP Sdobina, Smolenskaya Igrushka, Step Puzzle, SKV Company, Stellar, TD Svetoch, Moskvityanka, Nordplast, Tehnolog and others.
The exhibition showcased world renowned trade marks such as ALEX, AVENT, MADAME ALEXANDER, BOMBUS, DISNEY, GOETZ, HASBRO, CHICCO, KIDDIELAND, BRATZ, MATTEL, MEGA BLOKS, MAJORETTE, NICCO, LEGO, PLAN TOYS, PLAYGO, PLAYMOBIL, SMOBY, OASIS, RAVENSBURGER, BEBECAR, BREVI, CAM, CHOCCO, COSSATO, ERBESI, MAXI-COSI, MEDELA, MIBB, NUBY, PALI, PEG PEREGO, SKIPPI and many others.
For the 7th time the show incorporated a rapidly developing Specialized Salon of Clothes, Footwear and Accessories for Children and Teenagers - CHILD & JUNIOR FASHION’2007, - that put on view products of more than 100 companies from Russia, the CIS, Europe and Asia.
The 2007 Exhibition continued the tradition of holding a Charity Action ‘Our Children’s Home’, organized by the RF CCI Charity Fund – ‘the Centre of Assistance to Homeless Children’- with the assistance of Expocentre to raise donations for youngsters in children’s homes.
The annual International Festival of Balloons, held at the Mir Detstva Exhibition for the 8th time already, continued to increase its scale. The Festival coincided with the 160th anniversary of the balloon. The jubilee was marked by a fabulous show of 160 balloons flying into the sky at the opening of the Mir Detstva’2007 Exhibition.
The show focused great attention on presentation of innovative educational programmes and programmes of intellectual development. Famous pedagogues, psychologists, kindergarten teachers and doctors ran conferences, symposia, forums and master classes within the show to familiarize specialists and parents with the latest developments and technologies in education and children’s health care.
During the show Moscow Department of Health Care, the Russian State Medical University and the Zhivaya Kaplya (Life-Giving Drop) Fund for Support and Promotion of Breastfeeding arranged a series of events on breastfeeding and infant health care challenges.
Expocentre in association with the Free Economic Society of Moscow and with support from the municipal and federal executive authorities, the President’s Office, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation held a multi industry contest for ‘the Best Enterprise of the 21st Century’ Award. The award ceremony was hosted by the Congress Hall of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation in the centre of Moscow. The main objective of the contest was to single out the most economically and financially efficient companies developing and implementing innovative and socially active projects and to draw attention of the public, governmental bodies and potential investors to them.
Among the winners there are Biba Group, Detsky Mir–Tsentr OAO, MDNP Red Star, Olant, Organic Trade, Vesna and others.
The expert commission, selecting the best Russian enterprises of the 21st century, comprised representatives of the Russian executive and legislative authorities, major business associations, civil societies, as well as leading experts in education and health care.
Within the framework of Mir Detstva’2007 Expocentre and ANO Soyuzexpertiza also held the traditional competitions for the Best Want-Satisfying Properties Award and for the Successful Promotion of High Quality Goods Award.
35 companies competed in such categories as ‘Children’s care products and cosmetics’, ‘Clothes and accessories, health food, vitamins and minerals for pregnant and nursing women’, ‘Medicines and equipment for baby and infant care’, ‘Bed linen and accessories’, ‘Prams’, ‘Games and entertainment’, ‘Children’s furniture and furnishing accessories for home, kindergartens and educational institutions’. The winners were awarded 12 gold medals and diplomas of 3 classes.
Mir Detstva’2007 proved its status as the major industry event in the market of goods and services for children and teenagers.
The next International Exhibition Mir Detstva’2008 will run at Expocentre Fairgrounds on October 28-31, 2008.