From June 15 to 17, 2021, the company Zalizo participated in the Furniture of Ukraine Business Expo, which was the first and only Ukrainian international B2B exhibition. The event was initiated, founded, and directly organized by the industry association - the Ukrainian Furniture Association.
During the exhibition, we attended a conference aimed at enriching professional knowledge and skills and networking with key market players. The main topics included "Investments and the formation of furniture industry clusters in Ukraine," "Mass Market and the establishment of R&D centers in Ukraine. Design that brings money," and "Contract furniture. Commercial spaces and HoReCa projects." Professional speakers and representatives of furniture manufacturers were invited to share their experience and practical advice. The conference featured panel discussions, marathons for retailers and designers/architects, masterclasses, and presentations by exhibition participants for exchanging experiences, and more.
FUBE 2021 not only took place despite all the obstacles posed by the global "COVID" threat over the past two years but also emerged victorious. The results of the exhibition were well received by exhibitors (numbering over a hundred), international buyers (organizers expected representatives from 59 countries in a quantity exceeding 600), and hundreds of representatives of domestic furniture retail and designers. Preliminary data indicates that during the three-day duration of the exhibition, participants concluded real contracts worth more than three million dollars, with hundreds of actual and potential business negotiations that could yield significant results in the future. Despite not all exhibitors disclosing the results of their negotiations, representatives of some major exhibitors informed us that as a result of the exhibition, their production facilities would be loaded with fulfilling new export orders by the end of the year.
Along with this exhibition, Zalizo gained extensive experience in negotiating with foreign buyers and positioning furniture in both domestic and international markets. Participation in this event urges us to move towards exporting Ukrainian manufacturers of metal supports and metal structures to the international arena, increasing investments in the country's economy.
We thank the UFA for successfully organizing the Furniture of Ukraine Business Expo 2021.