3D TVs and tablets beckon at Berlin’s IFA trade fair

By Nicola Leske

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Germans are not known to be a nation of spendthrifts but when it comes to consumer electronics they throw caution to the wind — much to the delight of exhibitors at Berlin’s IFA trade fair starting this week.

“Germans are currently in a downright buying frenzy,” said Jeffry van Ede, board member of German tech industry body Bitkom.

Exhibitors at Europe’s largest consumer electronics trade fair IFA are hoping that behavior will spill over into the rest of Europe as they negotiate contracts with retailers for the coming months and the year-end holiday shopping season.

IFA, which opens its doors to the public on Friday, is traditionally an indication for orders and, if forecasts are anything to go by, things are looking up.

This year, the trade show is so well booked that organizers have had to put up an additional hall to accommodate companies and trade bodies lining up to exhibit there through September 8.

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