All in all the organisers - the international retailer and manufacturer associations Edra/Ghin and Fediyma - are expecting an attendance surpassing last year's record figure, when 750 delegates came to London. A group of 45 participants from Asia alone will be present this year, drawn from Japan, Taiwan, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Indonesia.
The list of speakers reads like a Who's Who of the international DIY and garden sector. Véronique Laury, CEO of Kingfisher, has been announced as top keynote speaker and will appear on the first day. High-calibre speakers from online businesses are also appearing, with presentations on the second day by John Gerosa, retail director of Google, and Kris Beyens, COO of Ebay International AG / VP Operations Europe Middle East and Africa. The managing director of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce, Maria Rankka, will give the welcome address.