Birmingham A Place in the Sun Show 2015
Friday 02 October 2015
Over 8,000 visitors turned out for the Birmingham A Place in the Sun Live overseas property exhibition last week, a record for the show.
Before the doors opened at 10am on the first day of the show on Friday 25th Sept, there was already a substantial crowd waiting to get into the venue, a scene that was repeated on Saturday and Sunday.
As usual the French Village was one of the main attractions, and over the three days our exhibitor stands and seminars were teeming with visitors.
For many of the presentations there was standing room only as can be seen from the photo image.
Vatsal Trevidi, Head of Marketing with FC Exchange currency brokers, sponsors of the French Village, stated: "One of the best shows we have attended. The French Village was by far the best area and best executed part of the whole exhibition. The seminars were a huge draw for serious overseas property buyers. It is the best lead generating exhibition we have attended. We were amazed at the popularity of France in comparison to other countries. And over 90% of individuals we talked to at the show were serious prospective buyers. We’ve already reconfirmed our place for all exhibitions next year."
Our audience survey of the visitors showed that most were seeking to relocate to France on a permanent basis, rather than to purchase a holiday home.
Few visitors expressed any interest in buying a property that was in need of major restoration, a trend that has now become established in recent years.
The South-West of France continues to be the destination of choice for most buyers, but the South-East also had a reasonable sprinkling of interest. Some also indicated a wish to remain closer to the UK, so were looking to buy in Brittany and Normandy.
Not unexpectedly, the seminars attracting strongest interest were on the legal and tax implications of buying property and living in France. There were also well attended seminars on currency management, starting a business in France, the French planning system and getting health cover.
The next show is at Manchester Central, 11th-13th March 2016, where we have already sold out of most of the exhibition stands that are available.
After Manchester we move on to Olympia, London, between 6th-8th May, where we shall once again be present in our 'French Village'.
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