FOREL’s Joe Hague on why FIT Show matters now more than ever

Joe Hague, International Business Development Manager, FOREL, discusses why face-to-face meetings, such as at FIT Show, is as integral as ever.

There is still nothing quite like meeting face to face.

We’ve just come off the back of a hugely important celebration at FOREL’s headquarters in Italy to kick off our 50th anniversary year.

Bringing people together in one place gave us the opportunity to celebrate our history, share ideas and look ahead to what comes next.

It reminded me that some conversations simply work better in person. You can build relationships, exchange ideas, see technology first-hand and have the kind of spontaneous discussions that often lead to the biggest opportunities.

That is the power of face-to-face engagement, and it is exactly why trade shows matter.

I’ve been involved with every edition of FIT Show, and I’ve seen first-hand how much the event has developed over the years. I’ve also seen what happens when major industry shows disappear.

When an event closes its doors, the impact is much bigger than losing a few days in the diary. The industry loses a meeting place, a shop window, a source of information and an opportunity for the whole supply chain to come together.

That is why FIT Show matters.

FIT Show is the only dedicated UK event bringing together the fenestration, glass, glazing, building and installation communities in one place. That is something we cannot take for granted.

As FOREL looks ahead to the next 50 years, we’re proud to support FIT Show 2027 and the opportunity it provides for our industry to come together, face to face, once again.

A call to arms

The industry is operating in a challenging environment. There is uncertainty in the market, pressure on margins, ongoing regulatory change and constant demands to work more efficiently.

But difficult conditions do not mean we should step back from the opportunities available to us. In many cases, they make those opportunities more important.

A trade show gives businesses the chance to step away from the day-to-day, see what is changing, understand what is coming next and have meaningful conversations with the people who can help them move forward.

FIT Show only works when every part of the industry gets behind it.

We need the full supply chain represented, including:

• Machinery manufacturers.
• Glass processors and suppliers.
• Systems companies.
• Component and hardware manufacturers.
• Software and technology providers.
• Installers and fitters.
• Training providers.
• Trade bodies and industry associations.
• Distributors and service providers.

Every link has a role to play, and every link benefits when the industry has a strong, relevant and properly supported meeting place.

Why exhibitors should be there

For exhibitors, FIT Show is not simply about putting a stand in a hall.

It is an opportunity to demonstrate what you are delivering for customers. It is a chance to show how your products, machinery, services and expertise can help businesses improve productivity, solve problems, meet new requirements and take advantage of emerging opportunities.

The most valuable conversations often happen when people can see something relevant, ask questions directly and compare the options available to them.

That is particularly important now, when businesses are making careful decisions about where to invest their time and money.

If you have something that can help the UK and Irish industry work more efficiently, improve quality, address skills gaps, meet regulatory requirements or unlock new opportunities, FIT Show is the place to bring it to the market.

Why visitors should come

For visitors, the value of FIT Show is about more than discovering new products.

It is about finding practical answers to the issues businesses are facing every day.

It is about understanding the latest standards and regulations, seeing new machinery and processing solutions, exploring products from existing and potential suppliers, and learning from likeminded people who are dealing with the same challenges.

It is also about making new connections.

You may come to the show looking for one particular product or supplier, but you often leave with ideas, knowledge and contacts that can influence your business well beyond the event itself.

‘We need the whole industry’

The future of FIT Show is not something that belongs solely to the organisers.

It belongs to the industry.

If manufacturers want a platform to launch products, suppliers want access to customers, installers want relevant education and visitors want to see the latest solutions, then we all have a responsibility to support the event.

That means exhibiting, visiting, sharing information, encouraging colleagues to attend and being prepared to have an open conversation about what the industry needs next.

We need companies to ask themselves:

• What can we bring to FIT Show?
• What can we learn from the people who attend?
• What can we do to make the event more useful?
• How can we help ensure every part of the supply chain feels represented?

Don’t wait for the opportunity to disappear

I’ve seen the industry without the shows it once relied on.

Once an event has gone, it is incredibly difficult to recreate the same level of momentum, engagement and participation. The best way to protect the future of a major industry event is to support it while it is here.

This is not about looking back. It is about looking forward.

FIT Show is an opportunity to lift our heads, share what is working, understand what is changing and help shape the future of the industry.

Every link in the supply chain should be part of that conversation.

So, whether you are a machinery manufacturer, a glass company, a systems house, a component supplier, a fabricator, an installer, a training provider or an industry body, I would encourage you to get involved.

Exhibit. Visit. Share your experience. Bring your customers. Bring your team. Start the conversations that will help move your business and the industry forward.

FOREL will be supporting FIT Show 2027 because we believe in the importance of the industry coming together.

As FOREL reaches its 50th anniversary, it feels especially significant to be part of an event that connects our experience and innovation with the future of the UK market.

We look forward to meeting customers, partners and the wider supply chain at the show.

Because FIT Show is not just another event in the calendar.

It is our industry’s UK meeting place.

And its success depends on all of us.

Joe Hague
International Business Development Manager, FOREL

For more information about FOREL UK and Ireland, visit: Forel UK & Ireland – Forel

Or for more information about FIT Show, visit: FIT Show 2027 | 18 – 20 May | NEC, Birmingham