SUNLIT ADVERTISING is hoping to top its previous record of participants and attendees for its flagship Consumer Fair with the next edition scheduled for early next year.

The 9th Consumer Fair, dubbed Consumer Fair 9 (CF9), is already slated for an early January event that is hoped to attract the public during the end of the holiday season and the end-of-year bonus season.

Sherly Tan, Sunlit's Assistant Marketing Manager yesterday told The Brunei Times that the next consumer fair hopes to draw even more visitors following the record-breaking event held earlier this year.

According to Tan, the Eighth Consumer Fair, which was held in May, drew in over 100,000 visitors, which was a new record for the fair since it was first introduced in 2008, and that the organisers are anticipating that CF9 would top that record.

In addition, CF9 will also boast more participating companies that would exceed last event's record, as the next event will fully utilise the International Convention Centre (ICC), the venue in which the fair will be held, with more booths and activities.

"We expect to draw in even more people this time and exceed our previous record, so we want to make it even bigger and better. In terms of activities, we are going to bring something new to the public," she said.

She said that a total of 330 booths have already been confirmed to be showcased at CF9, but the space is still open for more vendors to sign up.

The total number of booths in the previous fair was 320.

International participation has also been increased, with companies representing up to 10 foreign countries already signed up for the fair, including participants from Singapore, Indonesia, China and India.

CF9 will also be the second time to be held for five days, an increase in the length from the usual four days, due to popular request from the public and the exhibitors, as well as an act of recognition for the event's immense popularity which the previous fairs had received over the years.

The challenge remains however for the organiser in handling the increasing turnup of visitors, but Tan said that the next Fair is hoped to improve in managing crowd-control, particularly in the issue of parking space.

"The Shuttle Bus which we have introduced in previous fairs have helped solved that tremendously, but we will continue to improve on this area so as to ensure a more convenient experience for the visitors," said Tan.

CF9 will be held from January 4-8 next year.

The five-day fair is supported by the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources.

The Brunei Times