Miroslaw Szydlowski, Managing Director, Donau Design: "The winning format for the future."

My first impression is that of a fantastic organisation. I've talked to other participants and they're all satisfied. The format is excellent because it allows you to make many contacts in a short space of time. And during the meetings, you're not disturbed by other visitors, as is the case at traditional shows. Sourcing & Innovation Days is the winning format for the future!

Christian Langvad, European Merchandising Manager, Otto Office, mail order - Germany: "Sourcing & Innovation Days is a melting pot of efficient meetings, innovations and networking opportunities."

This event is a must for international buyers and suppliers as it offers what both parties are missing from other shows: it brings buyers together with the suppliers they have always been looking for and vice versa. Sourcing & Innovation Days is a melting pot of efficient meetings, innovations and networking opportunities. It was very fruitful for us to participate at this unique event for the first time and we are already looking forward to attending again next year.

Harald Niederer, International Purchaser, PBS Holding, Austria: "Easy to do business."

We've met some interesting new suppliers who we could do business with in the future. The location is very pleasant which makes it easy to do business. Also, in the breaks and at mealtimes, I've been able to exchange useful information with buyers from other markets. I hope you ask me to attend next year !

Marius Avram, General Manager, Vector International, importer - Romania: "This event is perfect."

This is my third year at Sourcing & Innovation Days and I find it a very effective event. I have a lot of new suppliers that I have first met here. I have even just started doing business with a supplier that I met here two years ago. I have made a lot of friends and have established good relations with a lot of suppliers. For me, this event is perfect.

Haitham Durbie, Marketing Manager, Office Line, contract stationer/wholesaler/retailer - Kuwait: "I expect to find between 6 and 10 partners from the event."

This has been an excellent event for us and we've done some very good business. We even placed an order after 15 minutes with one supplier! Overall, I expect to find between 6 and 10 partners from the event. The atmosphere is wonderful and I feel that I have known everybody here for years! I hope we get the chance to come back.

Niels Friis Autzen, Purchasing Director, Office Supplies Denmark, Buying Group: "The selection of suppliers was even better this year."

The selection of the manufacturers was even better than in previous years. I made contact with some excellent suppliers this year, especially in commodity products that were high quality and attractively priced.

Stefan Hässig, Purchasing Director, PEG, wholesaler - Switzerland: "Original products to help us differentiate ourselves from our competitors."

Sourcing & Innovation Days is a very interesting event. We have found three suppliers with whom we are going to do business with, in particular smaller manufacturers whose original products will help us to differentiate ourselves from our competitors.

Michel Timmermans, Chairman, interAction, Buying Group, Belgium: "The organisation is perfect."

This year we have found more back-to-school and gift items which fits in well with the direction we are taking today. This is a good trend for distributors who are looking for better margins which they can no longer find in stationery products and computer consumables. At Sourcing & Innovation Days we have met several manufacturers whose products we are probably going to distribute in Belgium and Holland. As for the organisation - it's perfect!

Asanova Nurgul, Director of Imports, Asem, wholesaler/distributor - Kazakhstan: "We can find new European brands to distribute on our market."

Thank you to the whole Sourcing & Innovation Days team who make every effort to help and are always available. I have been surprised by the quality of the organisation. This event is a real opportunity for us to meet new suppliers, as opposed to traditional large shows where we only have the time to see our regular suppliers. Here, with 40 meetings in two days, we can find new European brands to distribute on our market.

Jean-Pierre Cayer, Managing Director, First Base, importer/distributor - Canada: "More than half of the meetings are worth following up."

I have already attended similar event in the USA, but here the organisation is better. I was looking for innovative products to increase our sales opportunities on our highly saturated markets. I have made some very good contacts and out of the twenty-five meetings that I have already had, over half are worthy of a follow up.

Ron Sperber, Senior Purchaser, and Johan Vlot, Buyer, Ahrend Office Products International, Holland: "Straight down to business."

These Sourcing & Innovation Days have enabled us to do business in a very pleasant environment, not just because of the location in the south of France, but also because of the efficient and helpful organisers. This atmosphere means that you are able to have more open discussions than in a traditional business environment where you need more time to do business. Here you have thirty minutes to decide on the future of your relations with a supplier, so you get straight down to business.

Antonio Taiocchi, Managing Director & Anna Figliuzzi, Purchasing Director, Arta, Buying Group - Italy: "We have discovered several new items that we intend to include in our catalogue."

This is the first time that we have attended and we are very pleased with the how the event is organised and with the contacts that we have made. We have discovered several new items that we intend to include in our catalogue.

Adam Szawlowski, Managing Director, Corex, wholesaler/importer - Poland: "The right choice."

I had the chance to meet suppliers again that I had seen at previous Sourcing & Innovation Days and with whom we are now doing business. This year, I have also found new suppliers that will enable us to broaden our product offering. All in all, we have made some very good contacts in an environment which is conducive to doing business. Cannes is a great location for this event.

Mark Hortobagyi, Commercial Director, Corwell, wholesaler - Hungary: "Sourcing & Innovation Days is much more efficient than a traditional trade show."

Compared to traditional trade shows, Sourcing & Innovation Days is much more efficient. The meetings are planned and you have thirty minutes together without being interrupted. It's a much more efficient way of working than at a noisy fair where you may have to return several times to a booth before you see the person you want. Plus at Sourcing & Innovation Days you also have the chance to have fruitful discussions outside the scheduled meetings. It is always very useful to be able to exchange information about company strategies and different markets with different suppliers and other buyers. And everything takes place in a very relaxed atmosphere.

Arnold Perndorfer, Purchasing Director, and Albert Van de Horst, International Group Manager, Despec - Holland: "Meeting potential suppliers."

Sourcing & Innovation Days is a quality event that enables us to meet many new potential suppliers is a short time. Each meeting is a chance for us to meet new manufacturers that we definitely would not have met at large trade shows. As for the scheduled breaks and meals, they are another chance to meet the suppliers and buyers here and to exchange information about our different markets.

Israel Vizel, President Guri Linero Color, wholesaler/importer – Israel: "I have met several supppliers with whom we'll finalise deals in the next few months."

It was because I had the chance to experience the event as a supplier that I decided to attend this year in my capacity as a buyer for a young company. The organisation is even better than two years ago, the event is more professional, and the quality of the participants has improved. For us, it is an opportunity to broaden our product range which will develop our sales. In particular, we are looking for suppliers for our own brand products. I have met several suppliers with whom I've opened negotiations and I predict that we will finalise deals in the next few months.

Ari Utriainen, Managing & Purchasing Director, Harrix, importer - Finland: "Three new suppliers."

I am highly satisfied with this year's Sourcing & Innovation Days. I have discovered at least three new suppliers who are offering products that we are looking for.

Dick Boom, buyer Heutink Primair Onderwijs, wholesaler/importer – Holland: "Some good contacts for our school supply business."

This is the first time that I have attended Sourcing & Innovation Days and I have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the event and the participants. Right from the first day, I made some good contacts for our school supply business.

Philippe Couineau, Purchasing Manager, Intropa (BPGI), France: "I've seen some products which we could introduce into our assortment."

I have been pleased with the number of innovative products at this year's Sourcing & Innovation Days, and I've seen some which we could introduce into our product assortment. Overall the mix of products is wider, which is a positive thing, and it's good that every year there are different suppliers.

Dobromir Antov, Range Development Manager, Office 1 Panda Co-op, Superstore Chain/wholesaler - Bulgaria: "We really have the time to speak with suppliers."

At Sourcing & Innovation Days we really have the time to speak with suppliers, to discover their products and to find out about their strategy. All this is not possible at other events. This enables us to find most of the products that we are looking for.

Alexander Smirnov, Deputy Director, Smistar, importer - Russia

With the interest in large international trade shows diminishing, I think that this relatively new kind of event has a future. The format is interesting because you are able to meet a lot of people in a relatively short time. Added to this is the pleasant surroundings and a warm climate, which I appreciate very much!

Chris Collinson, Managing Director, Superstat, Dealer Group - UK: "The location is fantastic."

We have had some very very good meetings and the location is fantastic.

Patrick Bivoert, International Office Products Manager, Turbel, importer - Belgium: "One of the best events in the office products industry."

Sourcing & Innovation Days is one of the best events that I know in the office products industry. It's a unique opportunity to meet high-level players, and the format also provides an excellent balance between business and relation-building. What I also appreciate is the relaxed atmosphere, which is ideal for doing business.

Gonzalo Mateo-Sagasta, Marketing Director, & José Otero, Product Distribution Manager, Unipapel, wholesaler - Spain: "More suppliers than we expected."

This is the first time we have attended Sourcing & Innovation Days and we have made some interesting contacts with several manufacturers that we will follow up. We have even found more suppliers than we expected to help us in the development of our own private label products.

Edgar Märki, Purchasing Director, Waser & Co, wholesaler - Switzerland: "Very efficiently organised."

After the first morning of meetings I had already found two new suppliers. The event was very efficiently organised. 30-minute meetings is the right amount of time to make contact and to judge if the supplier is interesting for us.

Richard Repecki, General Manager, Mafcote International, manufacturer, United States: "A very well managed event."

Sourcing & Innovation Days is a very well managed event and we have made a lot of good contacts. Overall, it's been very very good.

Wolfgang Ehrlich, General Manager, Mafcote Europe, manufacturer - United States: "I definitely think that we will generate some business out of this."

At a traditional fair 90% of the meetings you have are a waste of time from a business perspective. At Sourcing & Innovation Days, the buyers who come here are well-prepared, they know the business and they are interested. I definitely think that we will generate some business out of this.

Jocelyne Le Guidec, Managing Director, Locau, supplier - France: "Suppliers meet face to face with the decision makers."

I am highly satisfied with these 2½ days of work which have been extremely professionally organised. It makes a nice change for the suppliers to be taken care of in this way. In terms of the contacts that I've had, you can see that the buyers are here with exact needs and that they have prepared their meetings. Therefore, thirty minutes for the first meetings is sufficient, especially as the suppliers meet face to face with the decision makers who are responsible for international purchasing. The environment is also conducive to a more transparent communication between the buyers and suppliers, because everyone is on an equal footing. Furthermore, I appreciate the diversity of the buyers. Alongside some big power channel players, you also have buyers from emerging markets which we have been able to establish contact with here, whereas we don't get the chance to meet them at major international fairs. All in all, a very positive experience and we would certainly be interested in coming back next year.

Chantal Vancanneyt, Managing Director, Papeteries Mottart, manufacturer - Belgium: "Most of the buyers that I've met here, I just wouldn’t get the chance to meet at a big show."

I think that Sourcing & Innovation Days is a very professional event and I've met a lot of people who I think will be good customers for the future. Most of the buyers that I've met here, I just wouldn't get the chance to meet at a big show. They don't see me and I don't know them. Here, they have to see me, which is very positive for me !
The social side is also very nice and I mix easily with the buyers and other suppliers. As for the organisation, I just can't fault it.

Sonja Kronovsek, Export Manager, Aero, manufacturer - Slovenia: "A real opportunity to establish better relations."

We have met some potential customers at Sourcing & Innovation Days, and the mix of buyers was interesting for us. We had met some of them before, but here we've had a real opportunity to establish better relations with them.

Hakan Cambel, Marketing & Sales Manager, Artoz, manufacturer - Switzerland: "You are able to establish a better quality of contact."

The atmosphere here is totally different from a traditional fair. People are more relaxed and there is a good exchange of information. What is important is that you are able to establish a better quality of contact with the other participants. Now, I just have to call someone, and I'm sure that they would help me, ... and I would do the same. At the fairs, you just don't have the time to do this.

François Cheverry, Sales Manager Europe, Chemence Ltd, supplier - UK: "Between three and seven of the meetings have a strong chance of leading to an order."

This is the first time that we've attended Sourcing & Innovation Days and I found the whole event very well organised: from the information available before the event, the pick up at the airport, the comfortable hotel, to the scheduled meetings with well-selected buyers. I already predict that between three and seven of the 27 meetings that I had over the three days have a strong chance of leading to an order.

Don Jenkins, VP International Sales, Computer Business Works, manufacturer - United States: "I have made some very good contacts."

I have made some very good contacts here and I've been very pleased with the event. I'd seriously consider applying to attend next year.

Marian Dreszer, CEO Delta Graphix, manufacturer - Poland: "Good for our business."

For us, Sourcing & Innovation Days has been very good for our business. The buyers have been very competent and I have made very good contacts with buyers from Europe, The Middle East and South America.

Rainer Buld, Export Manager, Franz Veit, manufacturer, Germany: "A good opportunity for us to meet new customers."

I think that Sourcing & Innovation Days is a good opportunity for us to meet new customers. It helps us to make contact with people that we would not otherwise meet.

Radovan Grepl, Sales Manager, Kazeto, supplier - Czech Republic: "I would like to come back next year."

We have met several buyers with whom we have established very good contacts. Time will tell if they will lead to orders, but I have already decided that I would like to come back to Sourcing & Innovation Days in 2006.

Jean-François Martine, Export Manager, Ovelar, supplier - Spain: "A good return on our investment."

This concept of one-to-one meetings is simply perfect. The schedule is well-timed and the meetings can take place without stress. For me, it's the right format. Out of thirty meetings, there are five or six which are potentially interesting and no doubt two or three which will lead to orders. When compared with a large trade show where out of 150 contacts only two result in future orders, the return on the investment is much better.