After scooping a host of awards for it’s Grand Designs Live show, Media 10 turned its attention to staging what it terms “a new concept in retailing”: dubbed the Great Big Home and Furniture Store. Taking, reportedly, just 12 weeks from conception to birth Media 10 turned the NEC into a furniture store over three days in the height of the January sales.

The event was marketed not as an exhibition but as a ‘no frills’ shop floor, eliminating the need for stands, shell schemes, lots of staff and all the usual exhibition associated costs and potential problems. This in turn lead to savings for the organiser, exhibitor and customer.

The store offered consumers over 440 room sets instead of stands with what the company claims was the widest range of price, colour and style from leading manufacturers, all under one roof. It also had the added benefit of free entry and parking.

Media 10 turns the NEC into a furniture store

In excess of 24,000 visitors came through the doors over the course of the event, and over 50% of the room sets have already rebooked for January 2008.

Lee Newton, MD of Media 10 Ltd, said: “Our intention was to create something that really did feel like a great big furniture store and that is exactly what happened. With leading brands as well as smaller less well-known companies, visitors were offered an unrivalled choice of sale bargains, many of which you can’t easily find on the high street.”

Exhibitor reaction was equally as enthusiastic: Colin Slaymark, Fender Group, said: “This was the best show I have ever exhibited at; we sold out of practically everything.”

While Martin Norwood of Oakapple Furniture, opined: “Fantastic show, exactly as it was sold to me. The advertising was great, it seemed like I couldn’t put on the TV/radio or pick up a newspaper without being made aware of the event. I have already re-booked 24 room sets for 2008.”