C-Star Retail-focused Show Launches in Shanghai with 5,721 Visitors

May 23, 2015

The first edition of C-star, Shanghai's International Trade Fair for Solutions and Trends all about Retail, featured 162 exhibitors from 23 countries, presenting the latest retail technologies and trends for the Chinese market on 53,800 square feet of net exhibit space.

Exhibitors included industry leaders such as Sibu Design, Schlegel Concept, Interstore, Ezidone, Changhong Decorations, Octanorm System and LS Lighting as well as Nedap, Bizerba China, and Mettler Toledo.

With nearly 50 percent of the companies having overseas headquarters, C-star is the most international retail trade fair in Eastern China and emphasizes the show's significance to leading retailers from abroad.

Visitor participation also surpassed expectations: 5,721 visitors from 59 countries and regions took part over the three days, with 18 percent coming from overseas.

Most international trade visitors were from the U.S., Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, India, Russia and Canada. This result further underscores C-star’s status as China’s most international retail trade show.

As the official satellite show of EuroShop - the world's No. 1 retail trade fair – C-star 2015 was organized by Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. with the support of the EHI Retail Institute.

“I think it is not exaggerating to say that C-star has made a successful start and we are very confident that the show will further develop and become the leading retail show in China. This is only the start,” sais Axel Bartkus, general manager of Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

“The number of shopping malls in China is set to double over the next years and Shanghai is the top retail spot in China, setting the benchmark for the country's retail business. It only makes sense that we came here to start C-star. We have brought our expertise from Düsseldorf to Shanghai and everyone believes in the potential and the future growth of C-star,” said Hans Werner Reinhard, managing director of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH and chairman of Messe Düsseldorf China Ltd. 

Michael Gerling, CEO of the EHI Retail Institute, added: “China will soon become the world's largest retail market, so it was the right time and the right decision to start C-star now.”

C-star 2015 attracted many companies who have been exhibiting at EuroShop (held every 3 years in Düsseldorf, Germany) for many years.

“When C-star was launched at last year's EuroShop we were very excited to exhibit in China for the first time. We have been on board with C-star from the very beginning and we want to develop the show together with Messe Düsseldorf. You will definitely also see us next year at C-star,” said Mike Boeffert, managing director of Schlegel (Ningbo) Co., Ltd.

The C-star exhibitors were pleased with the high quality of the trade visitors. Wang Yue, director of Changhong Decorations, said, “It is very fascinating to see the never ending visitor flow in the hall. We also had many potential clients at our booth in the past days and are more than satisfied to be here at C-star.”

In addition to the exhibits, C-star 2015 included an informative supporting program. The C-star Retail Tour provided a full day guided tour of Shanghai's most exciting shopping destinations.

At the C-star Retail Conference, leading industry professionals came together for two days to discuss solutions for retailers to turn their physical stores into preferred shopping destinations again, despite rising e-commerce and online shopping.

The conference featured numerous keynote speakers from international and Chinese retailers such as METRO, Walmart and Yi-Hao-Dian.

The next staging of C-star is scheduled for May 18–20, 2016, in Shanghai.

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Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. 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Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.