Paperworld Middle East to highlight growing markets for stationery, paper, and office supplies
Paperworld Middle East 2017, to be held on March 14–16, 2017,will cover the entire range of stationery and office supplies, from school and gift articles, office and household paper, art supplies and creative materials, to toys, party and festival articles, and printers and multimedia.The show will feature more than 300 manufacturers and suppliers from 42 countries.
Among the long-time supporters of Paperworld Middle East is Austria-based Vienna Office Supplies (VOS), which came on board the inaugural edition in 2011 as a launch partner, and exports eight European brands across the region, such as Schneider Writing Instruments, Cretacolor artist supplies, and Sax office accessories.
Karl Vytiska, managing director of VOS, said the company has approximately 70 distribution partners across the Middle East, and met its local partner Dubai Library Distributors at the first edition of Paperworld Middle East seven years ago.
“VOS has built up its presence in the region based on long-term relationships, including ones established at Paperworld Middle East,” said Vytiska. “We’ve placed increased emphasis on exhibiting at the show, as it helps us reach over 95 per cent of our clientele across the region, whether they be small owner-operated stores, retail giants, wholesalers, corporate business, or hypermarkets and online stores.”
Another regular exhibitor at Paperworld Middle East is Australian company Calidad, which manufactures toners and ink cartridges for printers and copiers. It will look to make a big impact on a Middle East region which ships more than four million laser and inkjet printers and 19 million toner and ink cartridges every year.
“Paperworld Middle East provides Calidad with the opportunity to meet existing international distributors and potential new distributors,” said Jamie Kenyon, marketing manager of Calidad Distributors. “We’re fast to market with new cartridges, and have our research and development in Australia. We’re seeking exclusive distributors that need a reliable supplier in the complex but rewarding toner and inks category.”
UAE-based Capital Envelopes, the largest manufacturer of envelopes in the Middle East and North Africa, will approach the region’s growing e-Commerce industry with its packaging solutions such as the Gusset range of expandable envelopes and Tyvek Bubble Envelopes in Golden Kraft and White Paper.
RifaatBokhari, manager of sales and marketing at Capital Envelopes, said: “The conventional envelope as a packaging solution will always have its place in every market segment, such as stationers, retailers, e-commerce, offices and wholesalers.Dubai has emerged as a major supplier of stationery and has developed an extensive network of retailers, wholesalers and stockists. Transportation links to all parts of the globe, low freight rates, wide variety, high quality goods and very remunerative prices make Dubai and Paperworld Middle East the ideal location for buyers to procure all their stationery requirements.”
Also returning this year is Hoshan Pan Gulf (HPG), the Saudi-based distributor of 50 stationery, school and office supply brands, and a regular exhibitor at Paperworld Middle East.HPG signed an agreement during Paperworld Middle East 2016 with Arabian Licensing Company, the Middle East licensee of Sesame Workshop – a non-profit organisation and creator of children’s TV programme, Sesame Street.The partnership saw HPG distribute its portfolio of school items – including glue sticks, school files, and bags – throughout the Middle East and North Africa, branded with popular Sesame Street characters, such as Elmo, Big Bird, and Ernie.
Abdulrahman Ibrahim, HPG’s CEO, said the importance of Paperworld Middle East had changed over time: “In the beginning, Paperworld Middle East was very important for us to engage with our customers from Africa and Asia, because we re-export to these markets from our Jebel Ali warehouse in Dubai.Now we use the show more as a platform to increase our brands’ visibility, and to communicate our corporate strategies and new business alliances. Our largest market is Saudi and GCC, followed by North and East Africa, particularly Kenya.”
The 2017 edition will also include popular features such as the Green Office Area, where the spotlight will shine on sustainably produced essential office supplies, and the Wrapstar gift-wrapping competition.
