The gulfInteriors 2012 exhibition, which opened yesterday, was by far the largest edition of the event to date and was voted a success on the first day with exhibitors reporting brisk business amid a good visitor turnout.

IDdesign, which was making its debut at the event, was busy with visitors from the start of the day.

The company operates three showrooms across the country where it offers its furniture and lifestyle products.

'We have been in business since 2004 but even after seven years in the market, there are people who do not know us,' said managing director Naeem Karmustaji.

'This is our first time here but so far I am very positive about this event,' he said.

'It is a place where we can meet individuals and contractors and direct them to our showrooms where they can see the quality of our products. I am certainly thinking that we should come back next year,' he added.

Building construction company New Block makes internal bricks that light up and can be used for illumination and remove the need for internal lighting.

'These products are good for your health and good for your eyes and we have been receiving a lot of interest on the first day,' said chairman Riyadh Yousif. 'This is the first time we have been here but it has been excellent so far and we shall certainly be taking part again.

'I can't believe the number of visitors we have had. For a first day it's just amazing,' he said.

Furniture specialist trends haus was exhibiting its wide range of German furniture at the event.

'We are looking at the project sector as well as residential, offices and hotels,' said operations manager Yagna Damani.

'We cater to the business sector. In Bahrain, a lot of contractors will just go along to a mall or furniture shop for their needs but from our showroom in Sitra we can offer contractors and designers full service for an entire project,' remarked Damani.

'We operate through appointments only and are not looking for a high footfall. What we offer are the highest quality products at project prices,' she added.

'No one else here does this kind of high quality design of German furniture and we are experiencing interest here. This is the first time we have participated but there is growing awareness of this in the industry and that is why we are here.

'We are looking at both the Bahrain and GCC market and this is an ideal venue to make the contacts we need,' Damani added.-TradeArabia News Service