Exhibitors showcase their latest innovations on stage at METSTRADE

The third edition of the Pitch the Press event on Wednesday 14 November, attracted visitors, exhibitors and international media to the Theatre for Innovation at METSTRADE 2018. They watched and listened as nine METSTRADE Show exhibitors demonstrated the benefits of their products by means of elevator pitches. The participants were selected in advance by a panel of international trade magazine journalists and illustrated the very broad range of innovative companies among the circa 1600 exhibitors.

As the world’s leading B2B exhibition for the leisure marine industry, the annual METSTRADE Show fills the giant halls of the RAI Amsterdam complex with highly innovative products and solutions. On the opening day of the event on 13 November, the jury for the Pitch the Press event toured the show floor and handpicked products based on unique features which they felt deserved extra time in the spotlight.

“Our main priority with the Pitch the Press event is to give well-deserved additional exposure to unique, practical and pioneering solutions,” says Sigrid van der Wel, Marketing Communications & PR manager. “It is also designed to support companies who do not always have the major marketing budgets that can often be needed to reach a wide audience. We are pleased to give the chosen firms the chance to describe and demonstrate their product to the watching spectators from the media and the show itself.”

On the stage
The presented products include 450 HP Boat Engine by Greenstar Marine, PROtect tapes by PROtect Tapes, Ecoblast Sport by Samui Corp, All-in one stabilizer by Dynamic Marine Systems, Marina Antenna by Glomex, Long Reach Telescopic Rescue systems by Reach and Rescue, esa m7 - Mast Unit Graphic Display by ASTRA Yacht, Balsasud by CoreLite, Combi Inboard by Combi Outboards BV, Sailcloth by Montura - Tasci S.R.L, Powerdolphin by PowerVision Oy.

The Jury
The Jury panel was made up of journalists from the international boating trade media, including Craig Ritchie, who writes for IBI, Boating Industry, Boating Industry Canada and more, Michael Verdon from Soundings Trade Only, Alberto Mariotti from Vela e Motore and Rens Groenendijk from Jachtbouw NL magazine. "It is great to see the enthusiastic way in which companies respond to the invitation by the jury to pitch the press and trade audience," comments Groenendijk. "This event offers them a unique chance to get their message across and, as a journalist their presentations always serve as inpiration for stories that readers enjoy. Pitch the Press really does works in practice."

Fellow jury member Alberto Mariotti agrees."Pitch the Press gives us access to manufacturers and suppliers who we might otherwise find difficult to discover and by being open to visitors increases their visibility. I personally heard about six excellent accessories that were new to me and will now write about them for the Vela e Motore magazine and website. Pitch of the Press brings to light innovations that could one day win the Dame awards."