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Beddings, household appliances and spices were among the many products on sale at the 2014 Autumn Fair, attracting shoppers from not only the island but from across the region, too.
Business was definitely booming at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre as the annual event witnessed a 14.4 per cent increase in visitors in comparison to last year. The number of shoppers during the nine-day showcase totalled 191,188.
The exhibition, held under the patronage of Minister of Industry and Commerce Dr Hassan Fakhro, featured 750 local and international exhibitors from 21 countries including Kuwait, Yemen, Pakistan and China, spread out in an area of 14,800 square metres.
While things may have been different this year one thing still remained and that was the long queues to get anywhere.
Finding a place to park, for example, was a nightmare. Many vehicles resorted to either circling the centre until they came across a spot or parking on waste grounds and walking to the event.
Once through those gates, there was a line to purchase the 700fils ticket, followed by the security check.
The table near the metal detector was covered with lighters, nail clippers and anything else that could be deemed harmful.
Once through the exhibition doors, the haggling game began. There were vendors selling clothing, make-up, accessories, electronics, furniture, herbs and spices, perfume, beddings, food, canned goods, knick-knacks, carpets and more.
There is always something for everyone at the fair and rarely does anyone leave empty-handed.
An Egyptian retailer, selling hand-carved Quran verses and quotes inscribed on wood and copper ranging from 500fils to BD50, was pleased with the sales at his stall.
Mohammed Ahmed, an employer at Capy Group, from Egypt, said: “It’s been really good. It started a bit slow, but once people started to get their salaries the exhibition filled up. Now we are overrun with business.”
Aside from international vendors, there were 121 Bahraini companies and institutions present. For example, luxury local retail group, Al Hawaj, who have been setting up stands at the fair since its inception, offered special discounts on its perfumes and make-up.
Harish Rajusth, brand manager of Al Hawaj, said: “The Autumn Fair is very good even for us as retailers because it attracts many customers. They know the portfolio of what we are carrying and what to expect. This year seems to be better than last year.”
Syrian Ali Nizam, the agent of the Autumn Fair for the Syrian pavilion, also found it to be a success.
Mr Nizam said: “I am an agent for the Arabian Exhibition Management of the Autumn Fair in Bahrain.
“We have been participating with them for the past 20 years. It’s a great event and perhaps one of the most important events in Bahrain.
“We realise that visitors are enjoying this experience. They find a lot of fancy goods at very competitive prices. It is also like a social event in addition to being a trade event.
“You find participation from so many different countries with various goods. People adore it and make sure they never miss it. They even save up money for it.
“The management of this show is great and very professional. Every year they bring something different that keep people coming.”
While some may have enjoyed the exhibition, this wasn’t the case for good friends, Snazana Jankovic and Nicolene Bahnemann.
Mrs Jankovic, a housewife from Adliya, said: “I didn’t like the event. I had heard from friends that a couple of years ago it featured a lot of art and craft from the Middle East, woodworks and other products that were locally made. That is why I went to the fair. But after roaming around I noticed that 60 per cent of the stalls were from China.
“It’s not even as cheap or budget-friendly as people have made it out to be.”
Mrs Bahnemann, also a housewife, from Saar, added: “I expected more local products. I know the Arabic culture has a lot of copper, silverware, basket weaving and pottery but I didn’t find any of those here.”
Nonetheless, many visitors left the centre with trolleys filled to the brim with goods and some even had workers lugging large shopping bags to their cars which were parked far away.
