FEATURE | EFTTEX 2018
EFTTEX 2018 This year’s event was held in Amsterdam aft er only a couple of year’s absence
and for its 13th time in its history. The 37th edition of the European Fishing Tackle
Trade Exhibition was hosted at the Rai Amsterdam which provided easy access to
and around the city and was an ideal location considering its proximity to many of
EFTTEX 2018 attracted 222
exhibitors and over 2,940 trade only
industry guests. The total number
of unique visitors over the three
show days was 1,674 with 946 visitors
on Thursday 28th June; 874 visitors
on Friday 29th June and 368 visitors
on Saturday 30th June, not including
visitors who came into the show
wearing exhibitor badges.
The new visitor registration scanners
meant that EFTTEX could accurately
count how many visitors entered
the halls on all three days of the
exhibition. People were only counted
once no matter how many times they
entered and left the hall per day. The
new system allowed EFTTA to fi lter
the statistics required so there can be
accurately reported fi gures relayed to
the trade.
The total space occupied was 6,266
sqm with a total of 222 exhibitors
and co-exhibitors in Hall 1 at the Rai
Amsterdam. Visitors and exhibitors
once again met and created business
for the duration of the show while
they also discovered new products and
market trends from other territories.
Over the three days there were a
number of seminars including advice
from the IP attorneys Russell Edson,
Senior Associate and Patent attorney,
and Alessio Brotto, Trademark attorney,
both from Withers & Rogers LLP.
EFTTEX 2018 also welcomed Stuart
McLanaghan, Director of Sustainable
18 www.tackletradeworld.com
Europe’s strongest angling markets.
Angling, fi sh 21, to talk about
sustainability and the tackle trade. Here
he explained the impact of current
and future business profi tability, global
trends such as rising levels of oceanic
plastic and climate change, among
others.
EFTTEX Manager, Victoria Seymour
said, “We were happy to offer the
seminar talks on trademark and
patent registration as well as one on
sustainability and the tackle trade. We
dedicated the presentation stand to
four talks over two days and we were
happy to see that some of the most
senior players in some of the biggest
companies stopped by to hear some
important information. We are looking
to host more talks for 2019 and would
love to hear from any exhibitors and
visitors on what they would like to hear
about.
THE ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The 36th EFTTA’s Annual General
Assembly was held on Friday the 29th
June, the second day at EFTTEX. In
attendance there were a total of 68
representatives from EFTTA member
and non-member companies, along
with the EFTTA Board of Directors.
EFTTA’s President Robin Morley
(Daiwa Sports Ltd) and Jari Kokkonen
(Rapala VMC Corporation) were reelected
for another three years on the
Board of Directors.
EFTTA’s Public Affairs Offi cer Jan
Kappel and EFTTA’s Environmental
and Fisheries Legal Advisor Anna
Szczodrowska reported on the last
year’s Lobby situation, progress and
improvements.
Both presented the purposes and
challenges that EFTTA faces each day
in Brussels on behalf of the fi shing
industry and the achievements that
have been accomplished.
Jan Kappel, EFTTA’s Public Affairs
Offi cer said, “This was my 17th EFTTEX.
I was very happy to see so many
people showing up at the Annual
General Assembly on Friday morning,
more people than ever it seems. It is
important that the EFTTA members
are informed about what is happening
with regards to policy and legislation.
The tackle trade is faced with many
old and new challenges such as more
restrictions or bans on the use of
lead and some plasticizers, and new
legislation to reduce the amount of
marine litter - single use plastics in
particular. Anna and I monitor these
and other issues from the EFTTA offi ce
in Brussels and react on behalf of
EFTTA as needed.”
Anna Szczodrowska, Environmental
& Fisheries Legal Advisor added, “It
was great to be part of the EFTTEX for
the second time. Next to the hard work
of the EFTTEX team, you can observe
friendships established throughout
the years. I guess this is what makes
EFTTEX so special; it is not only
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