The most comprehensive mass consumer offer at Multiproducto Selección

Over 450 exhibitors will display an innovative and original offer of products at competitive prices

An essential meeting point for the sector that will allow the campaigns for the Summer, Back to School, Christmas and Halloween to be programmed.

The structure of the retailer sector has radically changed, due to the evolution of the Spanish society and its new consumer habits. Likewise, the multi-price establishments, large department stores and the specialised retailer trade in decoration, gifts, stationery, cleaning articles, etc. have joined this edition with up-dated and plural showcases that offer a response to these changes due to their dynamism, flexibility and competitiveness in prices. Multiproducto Selección, a comprehensive showcase for mass consumption and bulk sales products, is an excellent platform for a sector that features a strong potential.

The show, organised by IFEMA, will hold its sixth edition between 24th and 26th May, has established itself as an efficient tool for promotion and business within the sector. A forum for manufacturers, wholesalers, importers, distributors and retailers from the sector which in just five editions has become one of the most solid and representative reference points on the international scene.

To date, already 90 percent of the companies that took part in 2006 have confirmed their presence at Multiproducto Selección, as well as the incorporation of new national and foreign companies, which will exhibit the latest trends in decoration, homeware, gifts, stationery, textiles, products for the home, bathroom items and ironmongery, amongst other sectors in an exhibiting area of 21,000 square metres.

According to the chairman of the Organising Committee and general manager of the company Atosa, Angel Tomás: "Multiproducto Selección is progressively growing and now it has become an essential meeting point for all the agents from the sector due to its influence rate on sales volume for the participating companies. Furthermore, this fair is necessary and highly convenient due to its staging dates, after air also due to the dates when it is being held, after year closing and stock inventories. The perfect moment to plan the second quarter of the year and ensure the stock is ready to face up to the orders for the summer campaign with a quick service".

This time, the show's contents will be appreciably increased with the offer aimed at the world of children and teenagers - toys and games, stationery, sports and school articles... which will be presented together in Hall 1. On the other hand, Hall 3 will devote a large exhibition area to fashion jewellery, cosmetics and fashion accessories sectors, another strong point of the forthcoming edition.

New consumer needs:

Multi-price stores have emerged to meet consumer demand after a series of changing in lifestyles such as the incorporation of women within the world of work, the need for longer shop opening hours; the possibility of shopping at the weekends; the arrival of immigrants and the expansion of tourism, with all their consequent new demands.

The origins of the multi-product trade go back to the end of the 19th century in the United States, although the sector recorded its main increase in the nineteen eighties with the so-called Everything for a Dollar Stores that were reflected in the rest of developed countries using each state's currency. In Spain this new distribution channel was introduced by an advance party of companies with an eye on European trends in the middle of the nineteen eighties, but it did not take on the current name of Multi-product until 1998. A new concept to define the current situation of the new distribution system that is characterised by the wide variety of proposals, the substantial improvement in the quality, its innovative development and the excellent price/quality ratio.

Currently, according to the results obtained in the study prepared by the Ministry for Industry, Tourism and Trade, there are over 16,000 establishments of this type in Spain with a larger concentration in the most important towns. The Regions of Madrid, Andalusia, the Canary Islands, Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia and the Basque Country record a greater density of multi-price businesses.

New trends at Multiproducto Selección:

Over the past few years, the sector has evolved featuring a strong diversification of its offer and the opening up of new market segments that will also have a significant presence at Multiproducto Selección 2007.

To meet the demand for the summer campaign, the show will present all the articles related to bathing, the beach and camping, homeware and a complete repertory of products made in plastic materials perfect for summer use - handbags, bags and flip-flops, inflatable articles... etc.

This edition will feature a large space devoted to Back to School in Hall 1, where professionals will be able to discover the latest new products in stationery, school materials, rucksacks or sports articles that are useful and necessary for the start of the new school term. The world of children and teenagers will also have an important representation at this edition where a complete offer of toys and games, soft toys, dolls, as well as original gadgets for all tastes will be on display.

Another strong point of the event will be the area devoted to fashion jewellery, cosmetics and fashion accessories, where top companies specialised in this segment will give a preview of their new lines, designs and latest trends.  Traders and gift stores will also be able to plan the Christmas campaign thanks to the extensive range of Christmas decorations, lights, Christmas trees, nativity scenes and Christmastime ornamental figures which will be on display at the fair.

At the same time, the fair will show the dynamism and capacity of its exhibitors to be one step ahead of the trade's demand and to define a pre-selection of proposals to cover sales periods that are becoming more and more important, such as Halloween and Carnival week. From fancy dress, masks and wigs to an endless supply of accessories and articles also conceived to cover the demand for local festivities, private parties or end of term parties, amongst many others.

The offer at Multiproducto Selección also encompasses the latest new features in household equipment, both the auxiliary furniture, and decorative elements with a detailed list of artificial flowers, photo frames, lamps, prints, vases, decorative boxes; homeware, kitchen and bathroom fittings and a wide range of textile articles for bed linen, bathrooms and tableware.

The main sectors of the exhibition will be completed with an extensive range of travel articles, gifts, hygiene and cleaning products as well as all kinds of D.I.Y. tools and electric equipment.