LOFA Hall At Glee
LOFA Hall 2 to get a new look at Glee
PRESS RELEASE June 2002
New look LOFA Hall 2 at GLEE
To ensure that the growing numbers of visitors to the expanded eight halls of GLEE find the best in garden furniture, barbecues and outdoor leisure, LOFA has ensured that its exclusive Hall 2 is even more distinctive for 2002. The Leisure and Outdoor Furniture Association are planning to make this dedicated venue a unique haven of co-ordinated colours and themes that continues to offer extra visitor-friendly facilities.
LOFA will retain a relaxing open plan structure, its own welcoming LOFA Lounge and exhibitors stands of the highest standard. New this year will be huge arches at entrances, purple carpet under foot and miles of purple and green drapes overhead. These will ensure every visitor will be able to easily find the very best in garden furniture, barbecues and outdoor accessories. The purple and green colours of the LOFA logo will be used throughout Hall 2 and the logo itself will appear prominently hanging from the ceiling, above entrances, on entrance steps and in Show Guides and literature.
Working very closely with the Glee organisers and incorporating ideas from a meeting with LOFA exhibitors, the LOFA Hall will have some other unique features.
An attractive LOFA Assistant will hand out specific plans and guides to the LOFA Hall at each of the three entrances. All LOFA exhibitors will be invited to display product innovations in a central 'New Products' area. Mike Wyatt, editor of Glee News and GTN together with a well-known retailer will be asked to judge entries to find the best LOFA new product at Glee. A visitor’s competition of "Win a weekend in Paris for two" for identifying the best new product is also planned.
Richard Plowman, LOFA Secretary told us, "We recognise that getting round huge exhibitions like Glee can be stressful. That's why LOFA are working hard to make every buyer's visit to Hall 2 pleasurable, relaxing and rewarding."
Another new major benefit for selected key visitors nominated by LOFA Exhibitors will be the new LOFA Gold Pass. The benefits of the pass include Early Bird entry at 8:30 to the LOFA lounge, allowing them immediate access when the show opens; a discount off the show catalogue worth £2; free cloakroom facilities and refreshments at the LOFA lounge.
Many of these new plans will be shown in detail at the LOFA AGM due to take place on 11th July, 2002. Guest speaker at the AGM is Nigel Linsay, senior partner of Clarke Willmott & Clarke, who will give a talk and presentation on the new EU legislation affecting agents and agencies. Nigel has many years experience of assisting both public and private companies on a wide variety of commercial legal issues including terms of business and the appointment of agents and distributors.
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For more information about LOFA or if you need a photographs please contact:
Richard Plowman, SECRETARY LOFA
113 Worcester Road, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 5EE
Tel: 01243 839593 Fax 01243 839467 Email info@lofa.co.uk
Notes for Editors
LOFA is the Leisure and Outdoor Furniture Association and represents over 80% of UK manufacturers and suppliers to the trade of garden furniture, barbecues and other products associated with outdoor leisure. These include parasols, gazebos and outdoor lighting.
The LOFA seal, the logo of the Association, has come to represent quality and excellence.
The aim of LOFA is promote the trade of garden furniture and barbecues but also has a wide range of benefits for members.
The Association began on 2nd November 1967, over 33 years ago, with Frank Odell as the first Chairman: there were 19 Companies represented then. LOFA now has over 60 members under the Chairmanship of John Smye from Cosmo Ltd. A Board, usually 10 members, governs the Association. The LOFA office is in Chichester and there is a full time Secretary, Richard Plowman,
Representatives of the Association consult and negotiate with Government Departments e.g. DTI, on both UK and EU legislation that impacts on the Industry. The Association is also represented on BSI and CEN Committees developing standards in relation to the Industry's products. In addition, LOFA has signed up to Law Care, which provides all LOFA Members telephone and written access to a defined period of free legal advice. Members each year also receive, 2 LOFA Desk diaries and 2 LOFA Pocket diaries
LOFA runs regular round table meetings to give Members the opportunity of an exchange of views and information on matters of common concern. As well as an Annual General Meeting, and Christmas General meeting, traditionally, there is also a Weekend Conference, usually just after the GLEE Exhibition.
LOFA was indeed a founder member of GLEE, the International Garden and Leisure
Exhibition, now held at the NEC, Birmingham.
The original LOFA web site was launched back at GLEE in 1997 and it listed all LOFA Members’ details and product range. Just before Christmas 2000, the LOFA website was totally re-configured, to facilitate simple, direct requests to members for catalogues of their products. The website also provides for a direct link for those Members who have their own website on the Internet. The new developments will make www.lofa.co.uk the main entry or portal site for anybody wanting to know about garden furniture and barbecues in the UK. There is information on the site for the public to help in their choice of furniture, barbecues and other leisure outdoor products but also advice on how to look after and care for the products. |