Buyers' testimonials

Nathalie Limousi and Isabelle Van de Veire, Product Managers, JPG, France:

«Interesting opportunities in the filing segment.»

The event was particularly well organised. The fact that you meet so many suppliers in such a short space of time and also that the meetings are timed means that you have to get straight down to business. As for the suppliers, we have found several potential opportunities in the filing segment with non-European manufacturers who we would not ordinarily meet, and who could potentially be interesting suppliers for our Quill brand.

Salif Fall Ahmed, General Manager, LPS, Dakar, Senegal:

«Efficient business in a friendly atmosphere»

This is the first time that I have attended Sourcing & innovation Days and I have been pleasantly surprised by the efficiency of the business carried out in a friendly atmosphere. It's important to maintain this format and not to allow it to get too big. This event is an effective way of finding new suppliers, and means that we don't have to attend large shows such as Paperworld.

Philippe Couineau, General Manager, Intropa, France:

«More innovative products this year"

I was wondering, after having attended several times before, if Sourcing & Innovation Days would still have some surprises and innovations in store for me. I needn't have been worried. There were more innovative products this year, many leads with new product families and with suppliers who are geographically and culturally more accessible. I mean, not as distant as Asia in terms of mutual understanding. We speak the same language and these suppliers are more open to our needs.

Sandrine Régent, Stationery Buyer, Manutan International, France:

«95% of the meetings were useful»

The concept of Sourcing & Innovation Days is good from both a business and a social point of view. During the meetings, we get straight to business without wasting time. This is a very good way to meet new suppliers. I came with specific goals. I found a certain number of products that present good opportunities for our company, but not necessarily the ones I was expecting! Therefore the result has been very positive. Overall, 95% of the meetings were useful, particularly to complete our entry level product ranges which will enable to offer a full choice of products to our customers.

Stewart Brown, Purchasing Manager, Langstane Press, Scotland:

«Invaluable networking opportunities»

As previously, the 2007 Sourcing Days event was organised very professionally, the meetings efficient and focused, and the networking opportunities invaluable. In my opinion we are likely to get more from Sourcing Days than we did in Frankfurt earlier in the year.

Gillian Coates and Gayle Gregan, Bizmart Group, Ireland:

«A good mix of suppliers»

It's been very beneficial. Because of the atmosphere you are able to take more in than at a larger trade show and overall Sourcing Days is more informative. There is a good mix of suppliers and we have discovered several that we could possibly work with.

Amr Heleka, CEO Nile Herlitz, Egypt

The event is a great success. I have found several opportunities that could lead to business, both in the office supplies and in the back to school categories.

Lars Jensen, Purchasing Manager, Moller & Landschultz, Denmark:

I have found some new products that could fit into our catalogue selection.
I have also met some suppliers that we already do business with, and it has been an opportunity for us to see what we could do better. It's important to have face to face contact with suppliers.
It's good to hear to what other buyers are doing in their markets, and for them to know what we are doing in Denmark.

Rasheed Al Kaitoob, Managing Director, Dubai Library Distributors, UAE

I would like to thank you guys. The event has exceeded my expectations. It's well organised - perfect! I've met many suppliers that I can do business with. The timing of the meetings is ideal.
I've met some people with products that we could add to our assortment.
Here, you have time to actually sit and meet with all the suppliers. There are items that I have seen here; that I saw at other larger events, but just didn't have the time to stop and that is why we couldn't establish business.
Visions was a good event and a good chance to discuss with buyers, distributors, and suppliers.
Here, you feel like you are part of a family. We are exchanging our ideas.

Emad Youssef, Chairman, Intergraphic Creative Solutions, UAE

A very well-organised event. I've found several innovative items that could work in our market.
The website helped me have all the information I needed before the event started.

Haitham Durbia, Executive Manager, Officeline Establishments, Kuwait

We are happy with the range of suppliers and we have placed some orders. There have been some innovative products that have interested us.

Richard Taylor, Head of Procurement, O2O, UK

I've really been pleasantly surprised.
The quality of the suppliers has been a lot higher than I expected.
I've come away with lots of actions from the event, which is a good sign.
It's been well worthwhile attending.
They are some useful products, including commodity products.
I would encourage other buyers to think about attending at least.
Because everyone is briefed before they come, that makes quite a big difference, so you can be a lot more focused and get down to business more quickly.
From a buyer's perspective, the number of suppliers is just about right.
A good and well-managed event.
It's been hard work. There's a good balance between work and the social aspect.

Patrick Bivort, International Office Products Manager, Turbel, Belgium

This has been one of the best editions that we've attended, in terms of the balance between buyers, suppliers & innovative products.
We are looking for products which can provide added value, with some services. We have seen some very interesting examples at Sourcing Days 2007.

Suppliers' testimonials

Rafael Alberola, Export Manager, Gabol, Spain:

«A positive first participation"

As a manufacturer of bags and luggage articles, we wanted to diversify our distribution channels and expand our network in stationery and office products. We were given the opportunity this year to take part in Sourcing & Innovation Days. It was less expensive than Paperworld. So we decided to accept. This first participation has proved very positive. The event is very interesting, well organised and it has enabled us to meet buyers who are extremely busy and unavailable for the rest of the year.

Bernard de Fabribeckers, Sales Manager EMEA, Iris, Belgium:

«In 48 hours, we were able to meet 50 buyers from Europe & the Middle East»

We came here to open new markets in the stationery and office products sector. We have been seeing a convergence between the computer and stationery sectors. Our participation at Sourcing & Innovation Days comes at a good moment for us as it allows us to better understand this market and to make contact with new buyers. We have achieved our aims. Over 48 hours, we were able to meet 50 buyers from Europe & The Middle East who were interested in our new added value products.

Stéphane Wilpart, Director Visu-Ad, France:

«Six months of sales prospection in two days»

I had two main goals at Sourcing & Innovation Days: the first to find European distributors for our badges, and the second to try out and get feedback on the innovations that we were launching here. I have achieved these goals. I predict that more than 50% of the meetings will lead to business over the next two years. As for the new filing products that we introduced, the reaction has been very positive. Sourcing & Innovation Days enabled us to present our products to buyers who otherwise would have been hard to reach. We have saved six months of sales prospection on markets where we would have never gone, such as Kuwait.

Philippe Courtois, Sales Director, AF France:

«Busy schedules»

We have been pleasantly surprised by our first participation at Sourcing & Innovation Days. We have found the concept very appealing. It has been run very well. The organisation has been first class... and the schedule is very hectic. 15 meetings a day amounts to a lot of work. However, it's all the preparation work done by the Sourcing Days team which is impressive. Having the buyers' profiles before the event is extremely helpful in preparing for effective meetings. Plus, having the handbook with the photos of all the participants is a good idea. It might seem a small detail, but it allows us to save time. It seems almost surprising that so many people can meet and exchange business cards so quickly.

Jürgen Koppenhöfer, Export Director, Werner Dorsch, Germany:

"Improved quality among the participants"

The experience I have gained in previous years enables me to see the progress made. The quality of the participants has improved. This year, 90 to 95% of the meetings were of a high quality. It's now up to us to do our «homework» and to follow up on these good contacts over the next six months.

Dimitris Damoulas, Managing Director, Dmold Damoulas, Greece:

It's the first time I have attended so I did not know what to expect. I have a very positive feeling about this event. I met companies that I couldn't meet before in bigger fairs. The most important thing for me has been the knowledge that I have learned. We are a new company in this field, and it was very important for me to know how big companies think, in what ways they buy, and to find the kinds of buyers that my products would suit. I have had some very interesting meetings that I hope will develop into future partnerships.
Everybody has been honest. If a buyer thinks that a product will not fit into his range, they just told you so, and explained the reasons why not. So you know where you stand.

Stuart Seymour, European Sales Director, Hopax Europe Ltd, UK:

"Two very good days of meetings"

The organisation has been fantastic as usual. All the meetings took place on time, there was nobody who did not turn up.
Again, I've met a good range of prospective buyers.
The timing is great to remind people about our products before they finalise their catalogues.

Benoit Forsans, International Sales Director, Jakob Maul, Germany:

The potential and the opportunities are great. I've seen more new buyers in two days here than at 5 days at large trade shows.
The organisation was perfect. The concept is very good and the time is well spent.