Live again, at last! CONICA at FSB 2021
4. Novembre 2021
Close to the customers, thanks to some great conversations in a full alpine hut. In August, CONICA decided to take part in this year’s FSB, the leading international trade fair for public space, sports and leisure facilities, held in Cologne from 26 to 29 October. That move set its agenda, despite all the adverse circumstances caused by COVID-19. The decision was worth it. On every day of the event, the stand, a mock-up of a Swiss alpine hut, had a steady stream of visitors. The international CONICA Sales Team was made up of employees from 20 different countries.
FSB is a must for anyone who sees their market in the fields of play, sport, leisure space and exercise. As the trade fair takes place only every two years, CONICA was keen to keep up the face-to-face contact with colleagues, partners and customers from home and abroad by being there. The trade fair was smaller than in 2019 because of COVID-19 and was held together with the aquanale, but both trade fairs together recorded 16,000 visitors from 103 countries.
Reach the summit with CONICA
CONICA decided to revive their successful 2019 trade fair concept, though the 2021 stand was somewhat larger overall and included an additional info tent. At the centre of the stand was the so-called base camp, in the form of a Swiss alpine hut of the kind you might find in Switzerland, the company’s home country, at around 1,600 metres above sea level. In 2019, the “mountain tour” had started at 1,600 metres. In 2021, CONICA then took their customers with them to the summit. Hence the stand had a photo booth, for example, where visitors could take their summit photos. The 2021 concept was that CONICA guides their customers along the entire project – just like on a mountain tour with a guide who is entrusted to get a party from base camp to the summit.
In a cosy atmosphere with original Swiss raclette and barley soup, the CONICA team met, among others, with municipal decision-makers, operators of sports and leisure facilities, architects and sports clubs. Julio F. Fadel, Head of Marketing & Communication at CONICA had this to say about the concept: “We are very happy with the feedback and quality of the conversations we’ve had here.”
In 2021, CONICA focused on track and field in particular. As a global driver of innovative cast athletics running tracks, Conica has partnered with the German Athletics Association (DLV) since April 2021, seeking close links with athletes, trainers and sports scientists as well as stadium operators. The trade fair was the ideal platform for this as well.