Tekmilé Kara is the director of the Montpellier International Fair which opened this morning for eleven days, which has become a real phenomenon after 73 years of existence! More than 100,000 people are expected! Interview.
How can the longevity of this Fair be explained?
At the time it was called the Vine and Wine Fair. It entered the traditions. This is the usual business meeting of the year. This affects the whole family; we go there every year, we take our family with us. I hope the Fair’s longevity continues. Every year, despite everything, we try to innovate. To bring new things to this event. Especially since there is now the Internet.
How many people does the fair welcome during its eleven opening days?
Present, in 2021, we were 95,000 people but we were in the era of restrictions and the health pass linked to the covid. In 2019, we welcomed 129,000 visitors. For this year, we expect 110,000 between the two. I must admit that as soon as it opened this Friday morning, there were already many people waiting for this first day. The lights are green. And we are happy.
Is it a bit like Proust’s madeleine?
That’s it: it’s Proust’s madeleine. There are about ten international fairs in France with Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg, Metz… In the big cities we manage to keep this appointment.
Isn’t there a gap between this temple of consumption and the sobriety we are heading towards?
We see ourselves as a market. It is a large ephemeral shopping center over eleven days with 450 exhibitors; we still have several universes : home and gardens, shopping, gastronomy, nations of the world. In the same place, visitors can buy their sofa, their kitchen, redo their facade but also small daily products, their cosmetics …
But isn’t it an inconsistency …?
No, we are in our time. We evolve; we are very eco-responsible. There are traders and visitors, it shows that we are of our time. We will take stock but for the moment we feel we are in our time.
In the age of the Internet, of e-commerce, how is the Foire de Montpellier positioned?
For us they are two different things. E-commerce allows you to buy anything you want on the internet and then a moment of sharing. The Fair is also a place for sharing and fun. We have nights; it is an experience that you cannot live in e-commerce.
This year is the universe of the Celts in red thread …?
After New York and Tokyo, in recent years yes, it is the universe of the Celts, Land of legends. We are always in the countries. This exhibition of over 1,500 square meters is of interest to children and adults. There are several universes: the legends of castles, the place of evil spells, the forest of dreams … There are magical characters, such as the dragon hunter, but also historical characters such as King Arthur; we discover their history up to modernity with Celtic Street, with shutters, to arrive in a pub to taste whiskey and Guinness!
What evolutions do you want to give to this fair?
It is international with this part of the nations of the world and our Italian, Canadian, Moroccan and Tunisian pavilions, etc. But it is also a local fair. And we will continue to accentuate its local color. Specifically through the place of crafts; we also collaborate with the CMA, the Chamber of Crafts of the Hérault. This year they have tripled their place at the Fair: a hundred artisans are with us in these 11 days. And when we count the local artisans, we realize that more than 60% of our exhibitors are from here. And local artisans will take up more and more space.
We have also organized pop-up events to really reach all audiences. This weekend, for example, is that of creative hobbies; in three days for lovers of do it yourself with about forty workshops to discover couture; scrapbooking (photo enhancement with different techniques); how to make cleaning products or cosmetics.
For the second weekend we will have a medieval camp – which echoes the Celtic universe – where we will discover how the knights and peoples of the Middle Ages lived.
Interview by Olivier SCHLAMA
- From 7 to 17 October, from 10:00 to 19:00 Montpellier Exhibition Center, Pérols. Tram 3: Exhibition Center. Admission: € 5 (web) and € 7 (on site).
- The whole program of the Fair HERE
