Decorex Joburg, which now includes 100% Design South Africa, runs from Thursday, 6 to Wednesday, 10 August 2015 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midranda.

The new trade programme takes place over the first two days of the exhibition. Decision makers and buyers in the following industry sectors are invited to form part of the trade programme: architecture; building contracting and specification; furniture supply and manufacturers; hospitality buying; interior decoration and design; landscaping; online retail; product design; property development; retail buying; spatial planning; tradesman and installers; visual merchandising; and styling are invited to register now as a trade visitor.

The two-day programme includes a first ever trade-only preview morning at Decorex Joburg and 100% Design South Africa on Thursday, 6 August 2015 from 10:00 to 13:00.

This preview provides a platform for key industry players, VIPs and media to engage with exhibitors in a professional and focused environment. Decorex Joburg and 100% Design South Africa will open to the public at 13:00.

In addition to the trade-only preview, all trade registered to attend will have the opportunity to participate in the on-line business matchmaking programme. This pro-active, pre-show platform provides access to the profiles of businesses as they are signed up, as well as the opportunity to select exactly who to meet at the event itself.

The business matchmaking programme is designed to give exhibitors and trade visitors the opportunity to meet and engage on a one-on-one basis.

Architecture + Interior Design Africa is the only paid for element in the trade programme, a conference which is aimed at inspiring conversations and teachings in the fields of architecture, interiors and building with a particular focus on Africa.

Presented by industry professionals who have successfully established themselves within the Southern African and African market, the talks will be of interest to the interior design, architecture and building industries. Speakers will deal with subjects like design and development, as well as sharing key business knowledge and highlighting creative collaborations in Africa. The speaker line-up will be unveiled in due course.

All trade visitors who form part of the programme and those who attend the conference will also be invited to join exhibitors at a networking cocktail function on the afternoon of Friday, 7 August 2015.

Cairey Baxter Bruce, head of Business Development at Decorex SA says the trade programme came as a response to a need expressed by both members of the trade as well as exhibitors, wanting to do more business. “The introduction of this formal trade programme will take engagement between exhibitors and the two worlds of trade and consumer, to an entirely new level,” she added.

Laurence Brick, creative director of 100% Design South Africa, added that South African companies still required networking across the board, from local business to business, to the huge potential of the emerging African market, to the established international markets. “South Africa has proved we are major players in the design and interior design industry and our exhibitors understand the value of interactive with the relevant trade - we know this programme is going to work for all parties involved.”

Baxter noted that one of the key aspects of the trade line up was the Business Matchmaking Programme which was aimed at assisting trade visitors to establish useful and sustainable relationships and connections with suppliers.

“We are setting up an online profiling and scheduling system to facilitate a process of smooth matchmaking but we will also have systems on the ground to support all our trade visitors as we roll out this innovation,” she said.

Registrations for the Decorex SA trade programme are now open. Applications are strictly vetted.

Event: Decorex Joburg
Dates: Thursday, 6 to Wednesday 10 August
Times: 13:00 to 18:00 on Thursday, 10:00 to 18:00 everyday from Friday, 7 to Thursday 10 August
Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand
Cost: R100 for adults; R85 for pensioners and scholars; and R15 for children under 12-years-old

For more information and to book tickets, visit the Decorex SA website or email decorexsa@ThebeReed.co.za. Alternatively, connect with the convention via Facebook and Twitter.

Decorex Joburg forms part of the Decorex SA portfolio and is owned by Thebe Reed Exhibitions.