Exciting products, a creative atmosphere, winning smiles, flying sparks – the premiere of the HAPTICA? live 2013 on March 20 at Cologne’s E-Werk showed in a number of ways just how much potential haptic advertising media have as communication and brand messengers. The novel event concept unites a trade show with a lecture programme, special exhibitions, an award ceremony and networking. The debut event went very well: 614 visitors accepted the invitation to “experience haptic advertising”. Guests not only travelled to the event from all over Germany, but also from Finland, England, France, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland.
The HAPTICA? live addresses marketing specialists, entrepreneurs and all professionals associated with the theme of promotional products. Michael Scherer, managing shareholder of the HAPTICA? live organisers, WA Publishing, had announced an “image profiling campaign for the promotional product” in the run-up to the event. “The aim behind launching our HAPTICA? magazine two years ago was to underline the huge effects of promotional products. The marketing decision-makers’ positive response to the magazine encouraged us to initialise the HAPTICA? live event.”
42 exhibitors had erected their stands in the main hall of E-Werk and in its lobby. The exhibition mix included classics such as writing instruments, notepads, bags, umbrellas, sweets or watches as well as well-known brand items from the consumer sector. “There are lots of stands at which we can gain inspiration for ideas,” praised Stephanie Pielsticker, Marketing Manager at EurimPharm. And Walter Gehlen, Director of the art exhibition, Artfair, was also “impressed”. “I wanted to explore which gift options are available for our customers and have seen many interesting items.”
Haptic messengers as campaign stars
In the adjacent hall exceptional creations and realisations of and with promotional products were on display.
The second exhibition, which presented the winning products of the Promotional Gift Award 2013 set further impulses. These exhibits also produced many “aha” effects among the visitors.
32 winning smiles
In the afternoon the stage belonged to the prize-winners of this year’s Promotional Gift Award: WA Publishing had awarded this prize to promotional products and promotional products concepts for the eleventh time in succession. 32 of the 37 award-winners travelled to Cologne in person to collect their trophies.
Creative flying sparks
The HAPTICA? live also took on the role of a networking event: Manufacturers and distributors, designers and product developers, marketing and agency professionals came together to discuss ideas or jointly develop new projects.
Published on: March 23rd, 2011
