Isaac Fargas tells ETO what visitors to next month’s EroSpain can expect to find at the debut B2B event…
Who is behind EroSpain? Is it a brand-new company set up for the purpose of organising the show or is the event being run by people already in the industry?
It’s brand-new company just for the purpose of the show. It has been created by people within the trade show industry and people within our own industry like me that’s helping out as the director of the newly established company.
Is there any significance in the name, which is similar to that of a different B2B event?
Ero stands for the industry we operate within, used in several companies’ names, product names or even other tradeshows within our industry and Spain is where it’s held so it’s a pretty obvious choice.
What has prompted the organisers to launch a new B2B show at this time?
It’s been brewing for a long time but it had to be the right city and the right venue. It has been quite challenging to bring this kind of show to the heart of a big metropolitan city but we didn’t want to do it if it wasn’t done right.
Is this the first large-scale B2B pleasure products event to be held in Spain?
This is the first B2B show yes, I believe it’s the first in the whole of the Mediterranean at this scale at least. There are other B2C shows in many other cities, but the concepts are very different.
The show days – Sunday to Tuesday – are a departure for this industry, with most previous events taking place in the run up to the weekend. Is there a strategic reason you chose these days or was it simply down to availability of the venue?
It’s a very strategic decision actually. We’re aware that it’s very unorthodox but we believe it gives shop owners the chance to visit the show without having to close their shops too many days. We believe it maximises the chance of everybody being able to attend at least for one day. It also gives travellers from abroad the chance to combine a weekend of business and pleasure.
What reaction did you have when you first approached potential exhibitors with the concept?
We’re very lucky that the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive right from the start. There was a clear need for a show like this in the Mediterranean area. With a month to go the show has been sold out for some weeks already which indicates the interest that exists.
You have an impressive line-up of exhibitors, with many of the industry’s leading names supporting the debut show – did this surprise you?
We’re very thankful for the support from all the companies that are exhibiting. The sponsors Shunga, Tenga, Satisfyer, and Svakom have been very supportive right from the start so a big Thank You goes out to them and also all the distributors that have come together to make this happen. We’re very thankful to all these companies. I do believe they will be very happy with the turnout so it’s a big win for everybody involved.
Do you think the location – the city of Barcelona – is one of the key reasons so many exhibitors have chosen to take space at the show?
Yes, absolutely! This was our first and only choice, as mentioned earlier it had to here and in the heart of the city. I think it makes it a very attractive show for all the possibilities that this city offers, both for business as well as pleasure.
Barcelona is easy to get to and the city has much to offer visitors. Do you expect show visitors to come for several days and make a mini holiday out of it?
It’s one of the most visited cities in the world so it has a lot to offer, I would absolutely recommend making a mini vacation of it. In fact, the show schedule is perfect for that: you can arrive on Friday and see the city the first two days and then visit the show and you’re back home on Wednesday.
As this will be many people’s first visit to La Fira de Barcelona, what can they expect from the show venue?
This year’s venue is atypical as it’s a combination of various halls, it makes it a little bit different from your usual trade show venue. The area of Montjuic where the show is held is a historic part of the city and worth discovering also.
And apart from stands with vendors displaying their latest products, what else can visitors expect from the show?
We’ve tried to give the show a Mediterranean touch. There will be VIP lounge with Spanish wine, ham and cheese to be able to sit down and chat in a relaxed atmosphere while enjoying some nice Spanish snacks. This year the show coincides with a very traditional holiday called Sant Jordi so we’ll also be incorporating that into the show also.
We understand the Saturday cocktail party is already full but what can you tell us about the Monday awards gala? Is it a dinner or more of a party?
Yes, we have been absolutely overwhelmed by the response so the cocktail party has unfortunately filled up very quickly. The awards gala is a bigger venue so we hope to fit everybody in that want to come. It’s more of a party than a dinner as it starts at 19:00 and ends at 22:00. That will give the exhibitors the opportunity to organize different dinners afterwards.
Show organisers and exhibitors always say that quality of visitors is more important than quantity, but do you have a target figure for visitor numbers?
It’s the first edition so we’re very cautious about generating expectations, what I can say though is that there will be a lot of visitors.
What will determine if the show is a success?
The objective is to generate synergies between companies and increase the volume of business for everybody involved. With the response the show has gotten so far I’m convinced it will be a success for all participants.
If EroSpain is a success, will it be a regular fixture on the industry calendar from now on?
Yes of course, we’re already working on EroSpain 2024!
EroSpain takes place from 23rd – 25th of April 2023 at the Fira de Barcelona venue. Opening times are 10:00 – 18:00 each day. For more information, including exhibitor listing, accommodation details, and directions, visit https://erospain.eu/en/sobre-erospain/
