THE Association of Negros Producers (ANP) is working on “rebranding” or creating a new look for 2017 Negros Trade Fair by offering products that are different from the previous years.
Event chairperson Catherine Cusi-Lobaton, who spoke at the launching of this year’s trade fair at Benjamin Hall in Bacolod City Monday, said Negrense producers are being challenged to produce and present “something new” to the taste of the market.
“We want to rebrand the event, the look of the whole fair, including the layout and set-up,” Cusi-Lobaton said, adding that participating-entrepreneurs are urged to really develop better products and improve visual presentation like packaging.
She also said that the trade fair is being launched months before its actual schedule to provide producers enough time to prepare and promote more the event.
The Negros Trade Fair, now on its 32nd year, will be held at Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City on September 27 to October 1.
This year’s theme is “Food for Thought” with the tagline “Feast your Eyes, Fill your Heart, and Feed your Soul.”
During the launching, Cusi-Lobaton said the ANP noticed that most people come to the Negros Trade Fair because of the food thus, the organization has come up with the said theme to attract more visitors.
She said the term “thought” is a way of telling the people that Negrense products are something they should consider buying.
“They have to look beyond our products, know our products as well as the interesting stories behind it,” Cusi-Lobaton stressed.
The word “food,” meanwhile, means Negros does not only offer edible delicacies but also products and creations that nourish the heart, sustain creativity, and supply livelihood to the people, she added.
The ANP is optimistic that with better and more innovative products, they can surpass the last year’s generated sales of almost P20 million.
The organization is also eyeing more participants this year, from about 90 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in 2016.
“The Negros Trade Fair has been a platform for us, Negrenses, to show to the world and be proud of our creativity, ingenuity and talent through our products,” Cusi-Lobaton said.
This is also a manifestation of a strong private sector with supportive government and non-profit organizations, she added.
