By Ndaba Dlamini
BRAVING drenching rain and cold weather, thousands of people flocked to the 2005 Rand Show at the Expo Centre in Nasrec, south Johannesburg, on the last two days of the 17-day event to attend the final two music concerts and cash in on closing bargains.
A record 78 391 visitors, the highest daily figure since 2002, passed through the gates on Saturday, 2 April, many planning to attend the Metro FM Music Festival. On Sunday, the day of the crowd-pulling YFM Youth Music Festival, attendance figures already had reached 43 000 in the morning and were expected to climb to 60 000 by the time the show closed at 8pm, according to the organisers.
The showgrounds thumped to the tunes of Brown Dash, MXO, Tokollo and Malaika and the hip-hop beats of Skwatta Kamp at the Metro FM concert, which drew a record 25 000 fans. The following day, the YFM Youth concert featured popular kwaito artists like Mandoza, Kabelo, Lebo, Hip Hop Pantsula and Brothers of Peace.
Visitors also had a last chance to snap up bargains. With more than 32 000m² of prime shopping space - 22 000m² indoors and 10 000m² outdoors - the hot sellers were furniture; appliances such as DVDs, TVs and hi-fis; educational software and books; leather clothing; Verimark products; carpets; and original artworks and paintings. Bryan Brett, the Rand Show manager, said the show had been successful on all accounts.
"Sales have been excellent, with exhibitors citing their satisfaction with the buying power of the visitor profile. Many have also been impressed with the potential for post-show business over the coming months as a result of the exposure and inquiries they have received at the Rand Show."
Organisers said attendance figures soared from the first weekend of the show, with total attendance figures at 5pm on Sunday, 3 April of 513 824, with more expected before the 8pm close. They had targeted 500 000 visitors.
Brett said the Rand Show's success rested on solid advertising and marketing; "overwhelming media support"; more than 500 local and international exhibitors; an accomplished line-up of artists, dancers and musicians; Xtreme sports and athletes; an animal carnival; adrenaline rides; amazing products and "good deals". "Put it all together and you get South Africa's best loved and longest standing consumer event - the 110-year-old Rand Show."
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