Show, for one and all
A noticeable trend this year has been the increased response from both the big and small hotels. All hotels today are on the look out for some cleaning equipment or the other in order to stay ahead. “This is the place where you get to see it all,” said a representative of Hotel Ambassador, Mumbai. “Earlier, mostly German machines were visible, but I am getting to see so many more companies from different countries here. The scene is changing.”
Aji Joshua, Executive housekeeper from Grand Sarovar Premier Hotel, subscriber of CIJ, was excited with the new technologies on display. “It is a very informative show. We are interested in some of the machines and have already called for demo at our hotel.”
Neha of Hotel Ashish Plaza felt that she could learn a lot through this exhibition. “I actually came looking for vacuum cleaners for the hotel.”
ITC Grand Central’s Pratik Majumdar and Pran Raina were equally excited with the world class international show. “We have gathered many new materials and information. We have to go back and see how we can implement them at the hotel.”
Show, a trading ground
All the exhibitors agreed on the high quality of visitors and the business transacted at the show. A cleaning chemical distributor from Delhi said, “I came looking for tools, as there is a bigger market for them in northern India.” Shridhar Rao, Business Head, Alano Mecmoto Pvt Ltd, said, “The exhibition has come at the right time and the excellent response we received at the show is proof enough for that.”
Some of the new entrants from abroad found it equally fruitful as they could meet up with prospective distributors under one roof. Haug Bürsten, Germany, exhibited its variety of brushes for specific applications for the first time in India. It was looking for distributors. Italian companies, some new to India, came with plans to establish themselves in the growing Indian market and meet Indian distributors at the show.
Changing market trends
As Jayaram Nair, Chairman, Virtual Info Systems Pvt Ltd, rightly said, Cleaning is not just for the upper strata of the community, it has to percolate down to the lower end too. CIP noticed many visitors from smaller cities and smaller hotels looking for solutions. Besides the keenness to gather information and knowledge about the cleaning technology, the trend highlighted a few more aspects:
- Demand for vacuum cleaners, scrubber drier and single disc machines
- Solutions through cleaning agents
- De-odourisers and other aerosol products for toilets
Among the innovative technology that noticeably attracted attention included the janitorial toilet seat, indigenous power sweeper machine, waste management units and specific housekeeping tools. More than 60% of the buyers were from the housekeeping and facility management companies. Newer technologies were looked at as cost effective and time-saving solutions. In keeping with the changed trend, besides specific cleaning agents, all-purpose agents and sustainable cleaning solutions generated interest.
There was a noticeable change in the attitude of the people, said Hydros Jassem, Technical Concepts. “Earlier, people used to enquire about the cost of the product, but today if the buyer finds the system meeting his requirement, he just goes for it.”
Said Gilles Troff, Karcher, “Ten years ago, it was more of manual cleaning, but today people are ready to invest in equipment for cleaning as it is more cost-effective and time saving. The awareness levels have improved.”
“The CIP show needs an applause, as it is the only show that brings the cleaning industry together,” said Archana Bhatnagar, Haylide Chemicals, adding that the response to the show had been very good. “It’s absolutely fantastic and incredible show and we are delighted to be exhibiting here. The visitors have been very responsive to our range of products,” said Joe Ovenden, Sales Director, Vectair Systems Ltd.
“It has also enabled us to make new contacts in the Indian market and we are looking forward to establish our cleaning systems in the coming two years,” said Nicola Negro, Marketing Manager, Idrobase Innovative HP Washer, Italy.
