Agricultural machinery shows are facing challenging times as manufactures continue to question their value as a marketing tool and seek other ways of informing customers of the existence of their products and the benefits they may offer.
During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was generally held that shows and exhibitions were dead, that they were relics from the past and that all was going to be online with virtual reality leading the way.
This belief lasted until exactly the time that restrictions were lifted and exhibitors immediately discovered that actually, the machinery business is a people business and it is best done face to face
Hence we saw the return of the big shows such as Agritechnica and EIMA, but the equally prestigious SIMA failed to put in an appearance and doubts were cast about its continuing viability.
The new event will be known as ‘AgriSIMA’ and a new company known as AgriVitiEvents, has been created with AXEMA to organise the new look show. It will be co-chaired by two professionals from the world of exhibitions .
AgriSIMA
The first is Frédéric Bondoux, president of ProField Events Group. He is the creator and organiser of several agricultural and amenity fairs including the Salon de L’Herbe (grass and fodder) and the Salon-Salingles (amenity and open spaces).
The second is Gaetan Ménard who comes from outside of agriculture. He is co-founder of EspritMeuble, a show devoted to the furniture industry which he is said to have revitalized to create an efficient and user friendly event.
President of AXEMA, Danielle Dubrelle, explained that “an international agro-equipment fair in France is essential for agriculture.
“Together with AgriSIMA, we want to breathe new life into our event, focusing on concrete solutions for the daily lives of farmers, agricultural contractors and distributors.”
Further details of the new AgriSIMA show will be presented at a press conference in Paris this coming December.
