The former imposing auction building in Grubbenvorst near Venlo has undergone a remarkable transformation, resulting in an elegantly furnished exhibition complex. This trade fair building welcomes entrepreneurs from the hospitality and interior design sectors on a daily basis throughout the year, where they can do their business shopping.
This metamorphosis is the result of years of dedicated work, and last Sunday and Monday marked the long-awaited opening. The Daily Trade Fair Venlo offers a unique experience, with visitors parking their cars on the expansive roof and accessing a floor with no less than 15,000 square metres of showroom space via stairs. Exhibitors have decorated their spaces in a fair-like fashion, with a diverse range of indoor and outdoor furniture, catering supplies, artworks, decorations, wine and notable products such as the fine cutting machines by Berkel, a Dutch brand now in Italian hands.
There is also a full restaurant with bar within the complex, serving gourmet food and coffee during opening hours (10-17 hrs).
Thanks to investors such as Scelta, Seacon and Florazon, this marks a significant step forward for the Venlo region, befitting its role as an international logistics hub. Customers from more than 40 countries are expected to visit the fair. However, the event is only open to entrepreneurs and the self-employed, not to individuals.
Currently, more than 120 'ambassadors', as the exhibitors are called, are already participating and this number is expected to double. The total exhibition area is expected to grow to around 50,000 square metres.
One of the exhibitors, Marcel Swaghoven of Wine Companions, shares his expectations: "This concept is perfect for business to business, as the Netherlands has not seen before." Anouk Grönefeld, working in the hospitality section, shares this enthusiasm and stresses that the fair will show entrepreneurs the latest innovations, such as odourless cooking systems, with the possibility of placing orders on the spot, which are then delivered neatly to the premises.
