Product, innovation and invention fairs are an opportunity to present product-oriented developments, or at least having the characteristics of such. Participation in the first fair is always justified, even if there is no concretely measurable effect, but in each subsequent one, one must gradually seek meaning and create fruitful contacts. Along with participating in fairs with an exhibition stand, I also add visits to fairs, in the direction of conversations and discussions about joint activity – provision of services or long-term business relationships. Of course, everything depends on the goals and priorities, as well as what are the expectations from such events, from a professional point of view. The indirect benefits of participation with a stand cannot always be measured in the short term, but rather it is viewed in a medium and long-term perspective – an opportunity for advertising, building an image and reputation, communication with specialists and companies in various fields, marketing analysis, the direct impressions of visitors to the stand, etc. When looking for direct benefits from participation in the fair with a stand, one can also look for a purely commercial effect from the participation itself – some specific cases allow direct sales of a limited number of available products, if of course the nature of the products allows this. It is also possible to reach the conclusion of preliminary agreements and deals relating to future product deliveries. Establishing long-term business relationships along the lines of providing services should also not be underestimated, as well as creating new opportunities to work with subcontractors, in connection with the implementation of future product developments.

In case of subsequent intentions to participate in the same or another fair, the increase in costs is inevitable – improvement of the quality of presentation, construction of a new exhibition stand, use of various types of presentation and advertising techniques, etc. In this regard, it is also necessary to look at the short-term financial effect of the participation, so that subsequent participation in fairs can be realized. The trends in the constantly digitizing world must also be taken into account, because fairs gradually acquire a different character and do not have the element of necessarily and mandatory participation in order to be recognizable, advertised and well represented. Due to the availability of extremely many and accessible opportunities for presentation and advertising in the virtual world of the Internet space, it is now necessary to very carefully select the participations in various fairs; setting specific goals for the presentation of new developments or finished products, as well as for direct contact with a certain type of target group of clients. Visiting a fair brings more objective information about the atmosphere and benefits surrounding the specific event, in addition to the preliminary research of the respective fair – what is its potential and possible opportunities before taking concrete steps to participate. The public presentation of the development must have sufficiently adequate arguments, be oriented towards the implementation of a real product, or at least approximate the characteristics of one. This should be a mandatory condition before presenting at a fair – own or partner development.

The short-term goals, in the direction of possible participation in fairs, will be related to the overall presentation of the main Solo Form brand – philosophy, process, sub-brands, priorities and development, in the field of product design, development of products and product innovations. This is part of a comprehensive development strategy – for own product developments, creating high added value, generating intellectual property, striving for real products, organizing product processes and partnerships with subcontractors in various developments. The goals in the medium and long term are not to have self-serving or mandatory participation in fairs, but to look for suitable events for the presentation of profiled developments, a fairs of a more general nature – fairs with a technical focus, fairs for innovations and inventions, fairs for products developments in various fields. This should be product developments in a cycle for implementation in production, which have the arguments for a final product, and with realistic chances to enter a serious European market, and from there to a global one. Targeted participations, with products worth presenting well, giving value, image and growth to the main Solo Form brand as well as its sub-brands. Nothing will be necessarily and at any cost, it will be well analyzed before the appropriate steps are taken. With a significantly improved presentation and professional preparation of the exhibition space, quality visual and multimedia tools, aimed appropriately at marketing, to the relevant target group of potential clients. The building and bringing to final versions of products, of the already started developments, will be the decisive steps in the coming years, towards possible future participations in fairs of a different nature. In 2024, the first 5-year cycle of transformation and changes in various directions, which are part of the new long-term strategy, will be completed. This is a cycle of upgrading, comprehensive development and increasing the value of the main Solo Form brand, launched in mid-2019, with an eye towards the upcoming new 15 years of staged development – a strategy called “5 + 5 + 5 years”. Based on an initial 15-year cycle already completed, to build a base and a stable foundation, which started in mid-2004 and ended in mid-2019.

In this case, three such participation at fairs, in different fields and directions, are shown as examples – with one own development and two partner ones, with the partner ones covering the HTEconomizer and Uniergo brands. These participations are part of the cycle of laying the foundations and building the main brand Solo Form, as well as its directions of development – provision of services, development of own products and participation in partner projects. All this in the areas of product design, development of products and product innovations. This was an acceptable beginning, but of course completely insufficient, in view of the development in different directions, after the respective participations in fairs. Due to undertaking subsequent changes, upgrading and following a development strategy of the main Solo Form brand and the resulting own product brands – Boater Design, Fulmech Design, Rotactio Design and Vehimotus. Here you can find more details about own and partner brands – https://solo-form.com/en/sub-brands/

“I, the Engineer” – 2017 – Inter Expo Center, Sofia

The photo is from 2017, in the city of Sofia. We presented a joint project with another partner of mine – Vencislav Angelov. We participated in an exhibition with the project “Multifunctional crutch” – https://solo-form.com/en/project-selling/multifunctional-crutch/. This was the “I, the Engineer” event in 2017, which was held at the “Inter Expo Center” in parallel with “MachTech & InoTech Expo”. In addition, I took part in a block of presentations by various specialists and entrepreneurs, with different topics. I participated with a specific topic that I had announced in advance – “Product Design and its Role in Innovation”. This event unfortunately no longer exists, but it is one of the best of this type held in Bulgaria, if not the best. Because of the specifics and the theme, it was worth it – innovations and developments. Something that is extremely useful for the economy and business in Bulgaria. In view of the future development of various types of industries and spheres in the economy, in which the implementation of innovations, the generation of added value and intensive diversification should be intensively developed. The creation of added value is the most important part of an economy.

Presentation of the topic “Product Design and its Role in Innovation”:

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The Project “Multifunctional Crutch”

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“Inventions, Transfer, Innovations” – ITI ‘2014, NDK, Sofia

The photos are from 2014 – in the city of Sofia. We presented a joint project, with a partner in two more projects – eng. Todor Nestorov. We participated in a kind of exhibition – for inventors and innovators, with various developments of their own and possible future products. The event was held at the NDK, on the initiative of the “Union of Inventors in Bulgaria” – “Inventions, Transfer, Innovations” ITI ‘2014. It is about the “System For Energy Savings” project. It has undergone significant transformation and development – from 2014 to today – https://solo-form.com/en/project/system-for-energy-savings/. During this project, we developed another one, which is a continuation of the concept of using residual energy from hot water. The “Bathroom System” project was born in 2015 – https://solo-form.com/en/project/bathroom-system/. These are real innovations, but at the same time products that solve a specific problem. A product tested over the years and working in specific conditions – substantiated with operation, data analysis and real indicators. Besides its basic concept of “regenerating heat energy from waste hot water”, it also has a social element. The effect can be felt if it enters buildings en masse.

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The Project “System for Energy Savings”

“International Fair of Crafts and Arts” – 2007, Varna

Participation in exhibitions and competitions – “International Fair of Crafts and Arts”, in 2007, in Varna. In 2008 – participation in an online bag contest, held annually in Hong Kong. The goal of the development was to make each model and its styling by hand – with different compositions of folklore elements – https://solo-form.com/en/project/folklore-bags/ The bags became the property of people from Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Africa and Australia. Eleven basic designs were developed. Each styling solution was strictly individual for each design. About 120 different visual compositions were assembled, and the repeatability of each bag model reached no more than 15 pieces. Several hybrid designs outside the 11 main concepts have also been developed. The basic folklore motifs used to make the bags are made of 100% natural cotton, linen canvas, wool and linen – carefully selected and adapted for the purpose of the project. All embroideries and more massive wooden details were made individually, following the shape, visual characteristics and theme of each model. The bags are a combination of high quality materials, traditional techniques for handmade and following a certain design for the basic structure of the bags. In the front part of some of the models – the embroideries and knitted elements were restored and adapted to the respective models.