GITEX Shopper all set to showcase Dubai’s prowess in catering to the MICE Segment Dubai’s reputation as one of the most complete shopping destinations is rather unmatched on the planet. No other place offers such breadth and depth in its shopping experience. Brands big and small, catering to almost every consumer category and niche have made Dubai their home over the years. If they haven’t, rest assured that they are either planning to set up shop in the near future or else, they are redundant to Dubai’s shopping clientele. It plays host to the most iconic of shopping extravaganzas in the world – the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF as it is popularly known). Besides this, there are quite a large number of other shopping festivals being held around the year. Among these is the GITEX Shopper – a festival that is well known among the gadget loving cognoscenti for featuring the who’s who of the consumer electronics world. It attracts quite a wide fan following that stretches from actual end users to brand influencers and enthusiasts. The GITEX Shopper is a week long celebration of all things consumer electronics. Visitors are treated to exclusive product launches, special promotional offers, product giveaways, tryouts and lots more. It is also a strong platform for brands to showcase their Research & Development efforts in the form of product mock-ups and consumer trials or clinics. The popularity of the GITEX Shopper has been growing by leaps and bounds each year and a prime example of this lies in the shifting to a bigger venue starting 2012. The GITEX Shopper that is scheduled to take off from 29th September this year at the iconic Dubai World Trade Centre features a whopping 25% increase in space being available for various brands. Last year, in 2011 the GITEX Shopper helped retailers generate sales worth AED 193 Million, marking an increase in sales that was in the
region of AED 53 Million over 2010. A shade over 169000 visitors passed through the doors at GIFTEX Shopper in 2011. Out of these, only 4 in 100 shoppers felt that their expectations weren’t met. Nine out of Ten shoppers reported to have saved money while shopping at the GITEX Shopper. Eighty percent of visitors were in the key influential age bracket of 21 to 44 years. Corporate travel agents are reporting increased booking inquiries from gadget enthusiasts from around the world. Thus, it appears that this year’s edition of the GITEX Shopper extravaganza is all set to outshine the dazzle and jazz of the kinds that was seen in the previous editions. Shopping festivals like the DSF and GITEX Shopper are stellar examples of the growing influence of Dubai in multiple sectors of commerce. The Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry has found a willing ally in this wonderful city. It’s well developed infrastructure and plentiful leisure opportunities have given it an unbeatable advantage in yet another sphere of influence.