Upon entering the large and sprawling complex I was struck by the joviality of it all. Popcorn stalls adorned with balloons stood outside the entrance whilst music, both live and recorded, permeated the grounds. A cinema-sized screen stood in the middle of the outdoor courtyard surrounded by bright lights and lent itself to the fun atmosphere. In the home furniture department I was greeted by a saxophone player and a selection of leather sofas, some adorned with cow-skin rugs. Although the product designs indicated a move towards a more modern and sleek style, the wobble I felt as I sat on one of the sofas on display left me wary of the strength of craftsmanship.
A taste of the oriental and traditional still found its place in the show with Lahham’s Rug stall having on display a vast collection of Oriental rugs which you could sift through at your leisure on the large computer screen which held over 2000 designs. On display in the rather small Bath and Bed section was Sleep Care’s 100% Latex mattresses designed to mould around your body for a more restful sleep. The stand’s hosts were friendly and professional. This fair was a marked improvement from those held in the past and there were clearly improvements in the quality and choice of products on offer.
Most of the outdoor furniture on display was of a high standard, sleek and made of wood. A large jungle-gym for children stood out from among the furniture. Despite the promising display, one stall-holder’s failure to mark or to know the prices of any goods was someone odd.
By far the section with the widest choice of suppliers and styles on offer was office furnishings, perhaps due to the profitability of corporate supplies. The fair was, on the whole, a successful move forwards in the production and execution of such events in Syria. Futre exhibitions will hopefully see more guides between buildings, more staff to ensure stalls are manned at all times and product leaflets.
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