Success@IIPTF 2014
A Truly International Affair!
As the day drew to a close on January 19, 2014, the third and final day at the 7th India International Pet Trade Fair, a problem cropped up: The visitors kept pouring in! It was the fair's first edition in Pune and the response was overwhelming. Tickets ran out, and the fair organizer Creature Companion, were battling a litmus test of a new playground with aplomb. In all we crossed 15,000 footfalls. IIPTF is South Asia's only pet trade fair and India's largest pet event. An exhibition-cum-trade show dedicated to the pet vertical in India, it is a quality-driven event at par with international standards.
IIPTF 2014 saw the participation of 85 companies from across India and overseas. The fair showcased an exhaustive range of pet products and pet-pertinent services. From the essential to the eccentric — from pet health and nutrition products to vacation and exclusive styling studios.
The first-ever 'Pet Counselling and Breeding Seminar', was an absolute success, with 80 participants. It served as an ultimate guide for puppy buying, rearing and breeding, aimed at spreading awareness about the importance of training, grooming and regular health check-ups of pets. The seminar-cum-counseling session addressed important issues about companion, therapy, service, breeding and show dogs. Yashbans Kennel, Yashbans Kennel, a well-known breeder from Bangalore with 32 years of learning under its hat, emphasized the need for "humane" and ethical treatment in a business like breeding.
The Pet Counselling Sessions received a fair amount of indulgence by Delriques Kennels and Pet Practisioners Association of Mumbai (PPAM). The seminar educated pet owners and breeders about many important aspects of pet ownership — nutrition, medical care and treatment of a pet.
An exclusive Veterinarian Seminar, attended by 70 PPAM members, saw discussions on Companion Animal Neurology and Neurology Examination, Neuro-radiology, Diagnostics and Pain Management in Spinal diseases, and Veterinary Acupuncture. The Speaker of the talk was Dr Pratmesh Deshmukh.
The highlight of the three-day fair was definitely the Pet Owners' Engagement Programme. From fun games, grooming and agility demonstrations, fashion show were a much participated event by pets and their owners. In all 835 registrations were recorded under this activity.
We registered over 60 business meetings (mostly buyer-seller meetings). International companies like Fish4Dogs, Tatrapet, Taiwan Petcomb, Vegco India received overwhelming business interest from Indian vendors. The IIPTF Buyer-Seller Meet encourages both overseas and Indian companies to meet and discuss common areas of business on the side lines of the fair. The meet represents an ideal platform for Indian buyers and sellers. Through the meet, international trade visitors seeking potential buyers in India can meet prospective clients and forge business relations. At the IIPTF 2014 Indian exporters looking for foreign buyers networked extensively with international businessmen. Further, Indian manufacturers and importers also availed an opportunity to sell products within the country networked with retailers and distributors to generate viable business leads.
The obedience workshop by Delriques Kennels and the Pet Hygiene by Sooth-n-Shine on three days saw several consultations. Our partners, Priya and Roshan Poduval of Peppy Paws, Pooja Sathe-Gawande, a dog trainer and behaviourist, who also specialises in obedience and agility training, hosted activities for pets at IIPTF. Neeta Godambe, founder of 'Itspawssible', a professional service providing agility and obedience training, also organised an agility show.
Pet adoptions of homeless pups was initited by Prani Project, a Pune-based NGO active in adoptions. By the time the show closed, over 25 pups were adopted.
But show stopper was definitely the fashion shows and agility and obedience shows that brought out the funny side of pets and their owners.
All in all, the IIPTF, South Asia's only pet trade fair and India's largest pet event, an exhibition-cum-trade show dedicated to the pet vertical in India, a quality-driven event at par with international standards, truly lived up to those standards. All of this wouldn't have been possible without our Title Partner Venky's, Grooming Partners Sooth-n-Shine, and Fair Guide Partner Taiyo. Our special thanks to our venue partner, Magarpatta City, and our group of volunteers without whom the 7th IIPTF wouldn't have been the success it became.
