Business & Money | Wednesday 15 April, 2015 4:15 pm |

dmg events today revealed figures for the last editions of INDEX and workspace at INDEX shows, confirming their role as a business platform for the MENA interior and commercial interior design community. This year, the total revenue for sales generated by INDEX’s 700 exhibitors increased by 34 per cent; whereas an extraordinary growth of 140 per cent was registered by the 120 workspace at INDEX exhibitors. The two trade exhibitions took place simultaneously at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 19th – 22nd May 2014 and the 2015 editions – that will also mark the 25th anniversary of INDEX – are expected to take place from May 18th-21st, 2015.

"At dmg events we are once again extremely pleased about the results that were achieved. In particular workspace at INDEX – with its triple digit growth in both revenues and attendees - has proved to be the right step to fulfil the expectations and demands of exhibitors and trade visitors,” commented Frederique Maurell, Group Event Director for INDEX and workspace at INDEX.

A large crowd of architects, designers, project managers, office managers, facilities managers and retailers flocked to the shows, with 21,834 visitors attending INDEX and 12,859 visitors attending workspace at INDEX. Compared to the 2013 editions, both exhibitions recorded a healthy increase in visitors and confirmed their positions as the most widely respected architecture and design events in the Middle East with visitors coming from more than 100 countries. The 2014 edition of INDEX also confirmed the growing confidence in the Middle East interiors market, having recorded a 25% increase in the size of the show.

“INDEX has exceeded my expectations in all manners. We found terrific partners and retailers in different sections, not only in Dubai but other surrounding nations, and we are convinced that this is a significant area of growth for our brand. We will return to INDEX in an expanded capacity next year”, commented Mark Phillips, CEO of Phillips Collection, who exhibited at INDEX for the first time, showcasing among other products their seatbelt chair made famous by the film ‘The Hunger Games’.

The increase in the number of registered visitors positively reflected on the business outcome for the exhibitors. Participating companies reported an additional 34 per cent in sales at INDEX and 140 per cent increase at workspace at INDEX.

The results of a survey conducted amongst exhibitors revealed that more than half of exhibitors were satisfied with the events, having achieved most or all of their objectives; moreover almost three quarters of the exhibitors (74%) have already decided to return for the next edition.
Commenting on workspace at INDEX, Patrick Taylor, Regional Manager for HNI Middle East said, “We have invested in the show since its inception 13 years ago and it has always had a great end result for us. We have continued to generate new business, brand awareness and launch new products, and we find that workspace is a great platform to do this and to see what is happening in the market and supporting industries”.
“These incredibly positive results encourage the whole team behind the shows to keep working hard and continue to strive for even better shows next year. Next year will be the 25th edition of INDEX and we want to make it memorable. At this stage I can already reveal that for the occasion we’ll be launching three new product sectors: ‘Contemporary Collection’, ‘Sleep’, and ‘Design’”, added Frederique Maurell.

‘Contemporary Collection’ will present a stunning collection of the latest trends in contemporary furniture design, ‘Sleep’ is a dedicated zone for the mattress and bedding industry, and ‘Design’ will feature providers of technical services and supplies for the architecture and design industry.

2015 will also see workspace at INDEX grow in size and move location into the main halls as a fully integrated part of INDEX 2015.

Further information on the shows is available at www.indexexhibition.com and at http://www.workspace-index.com/ or on the show’s Facebook pages www.facebook.com/INDEXDubai .