To date, the number of retail companies heading to Cannes is up by 200 compared to the same time last year, with more than 1,500 retailers expected in Cannes. MAPIC, the International Market for Retail Real Estate, will be held from 15 to 17 November in the Palais des Festivals in Cannes.
MAPIC provides a complete range of local-to-global sites available in shopping centres, city centres, rail stations and airports. The tradeshow will be hosting a number of original, trendy retail concepts such as the Atelier des Chefs where people can learn to cook, Lézard Créatif, a fine arts and creative leisure activity workshop, Planétalis, an environmentally-friendly French organic catering retailer, Il Esthétique pour Homme, a beauty salon for men, Build a Bear (USA), specialized in making your own teddy bears, and the Belgian firm The Foodmaker, a new high-quality fast food concept.
Further new concepts this year that address the emerging need for personal creativity and well-being include exhibitors such as the Dutch retailer Rituals Cosmetics, which teaches consumers how to combine body and home-care products and which is nominated for the MAPIC Awards 2006, and the biscuit-maker La Cure Gourmande. Japan's Daiso, retailing 'everything-for-a-dollar' products is planning to expand into Europe and will be attending, as will the Russian clothes chain Sela, a first-time exhibitor this year.
Selected retailers will have the opportunity of presenting their new projects and concepts as part of the 'New Brand in the City' workshops taking place in the City Club at MAPIC.
Once again, a number of retailers will be supporting their development strategy by attending MAPIC 2006 for the first time.
First time attendees include Swatch Bijoux, the toy shop Intertoys, the leisure space Fun Plaza which offers video games, films hire, and Internet access, and Smartplay which builds play areas for children inside shopping centres. CWF Children Worldwide Fashion, a top-end children's clothier concept, will also be present.
Underlining MAPIC's international scope a month from the event 56 countries are already represented Germany will be presenting its special "Retail Space. Turkey will be exhibiting its Koton clothing retailer to exemplify its strong commercial potential. South Africa will also be bringing a number of retailers such as Mr Price Group, Mr Price Home, and Mr Price Sport. And a new Luxembourg brand, Il Gusto Italiano, will be showcasing its pasta specialities.
MAPIC's growing globalization and the presence of a number of exhibiting cities are generating a rush from high-end and luxury retailers such as Dolce Gabana, Versace, Zadig et Voltaire, Marithé & François Girbaud, Cacharel, Nespresso and Valentino.
For more information: www.mapic.com
