Playworld and Paperworld Middle East to feature latest international product trends and developments in Dubai

Special occasions such as the upcoming Valentine's Day can have a major impact on the sales of gifts, stationery, and party products. Retailers and manufacturers of these products factor these into their projections for estimating their annual sales targets.

Valentine's Day is renowned the world over for driving a surge in spending on cards, gifts, wrapping and special stationery worldwide. Recent research indicates that over $17.6bn was spent for Valentine's Day purchases in the United States in 2010, a 3.3% increase *over the previous year. 

"Occasions such as Valentine's Day drive up sales of gift items, wrapping paper, special stationery and greeting cards," said Ahmed Pauwels, Chief Executive Officer of Epoc Messe Frankfurt, who are debuting Paperworld Mid-dle East and Playworld Middle East in the region in March. "Special promotions and offers are generally timed around these occasions by retailers and suppliers to take advantage of the spending surge over this period."

"Regionally too, people tend to go on picnics and outdoor parties a lot more at this time of the year, thanks to the spell of excellent weather we are enjoying currently. This drives demand for party products such as paper plates, paper napkins, cups and party hats," he added.

"Paperworld Middle East and Playworld Middle East will bring a wide range of leading international manufacturers and suppliers of paper party goods, greeting cards, stationery, wrapping paper and party favours to the region. This will give local retailers and consumers a first-hand glimpse of the latest developments and trends in the market," Pauwels stated.

Among the notable exhibitors at the event will be Party Centre LLC, who will be exhibiting party products and ac-cessories from Amscan and Anagram. Amscan Inc. are the largest leading designers, manufacturers and distribu-tors of decorative party goods and accessories around the world. They are also distributors of home decor, tabletop products, gifts, stationery, gift wrap and gift bags. Anagram is a world leading producer of foil balloons. They also manufacture the full range of Disney licensed balloons. 

Paper+Design Tabletop, world leaders in the production of printed paper napkins and tabletop products, will be exhibiting at Paperworld Middle East. The Germany-based manufacturers of high quality tabletop products are cur-rently present in over 80 countries and are hoping to strengthen their reach in the Middle East through their partici-pation in the trade show.

Also present at the show will be Gulf Greetings General Trading LLC, the exclusive representative for Hallmark in the GCC, and owner of Brand House, its specialist wholesale division. In addition to displaying its main product ranges at Paperworld Middle East, including greeting cards, gift wrapping and accessories, gifts, albums, station-ery and soft toys, Gulf Greetings will also present its Hallmark GCC retailer program and provide details of how Brand House can develop growth opportunities for partner businesses. 

Co-located at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Paperworld Middle East and Playworld Middle East will run from March 7th to 9th. Paperworld is a trade event for the world of office and paper products, while Playworld presents the world of kids including toys, games and children's lifestyle products.