Entresíes closes its first edition with 38 exhibitors and 499 visitors
The bridal fair in Alcalá la Real, held at La Trinidad from October 16 to 18, is considering repeating and charging a symbolic entrance fee.
The first edition of Entresíes, the fair for the bridal and celebrations sector of Alcalá la Real, was held at the La Trinidad complex between Friday, October 16 and Sunday, October 18. According to the organisers' data, 499 attendees passed through the venue: 79 on Friday, 212 on Saturday and 208 on Sunday. Of these, 60% came from Alcalá la Real, 10% from the villages and 20% from other provinces; the remaining 10% did not provide a postcode.
Exhibitors and assessment
The event brought together 38 exhibitors from the bridal and celebrations sector, with fashion shows, workshops, food, live music and professional activities. In the survey carried out among participants, 88.5% rate their participation as good or very good, 88% back the organisation and attention during the event and 92.3% highlight the image and decoration of the space. The workshops obtain 83.3% good or very good opinions.
The 73.1% of exhibitors say they are willing to repeat and the rest declare themselves undecided. The director of EntreSíes, Laura Pérez, considers that «the fair has begun to lay the foundations to position Alcalá la Real in the weddings and celebrations sector».
Changes under study for the next edition
The rain on Saturday and Sunday mainly affected the exhibitors in the inner courtyard and the food area in the gardens. The organisation proposes studying alternatives with the Ayuntamiento, keeping La Trinidad as the venue. It also raises reviewing the layout of the stands and the routes, strengthening signage, expanding promotion in Alcalá la Real and nearby municipalities, bringing forward the dissemination of the activities, coordinating the campaigns with the exhibitors and simplifying the access system.
In addition, consideration will be given to concentrating opening to the general public on Saturday and Sunday, reserving Friday for set-up and the professional day, and to assessing a symbolic-price ticket for the economic sustainability of the event.
Institutional backing
The initiative is promoted by the Dealcalá traders' association, with economic and logistical backing from the Ayuntamiento, which provided the complex, took on its cleaning and supplied municipal staff for the set-up and dismantling of the four spaces made available. The Diputación Provincial de Jaén and Caja Rural de Jaén also collaborated. The councillor for Commerce and Citizen Participation, Mª Dolores García, points out that the event represents «an opportunity to give visibility to professional talent, favour new business opportunities and value the commerce and companies of our municipality».
