10 years
of the VENUS
Berlin, 04.09.2006
Magazine: Mr. Hurum, the Venus is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Just how did it all start?
Sven Hurum: Until 1996, there was a small trade fair in Germany organised annually by the BEH (Bundesverband Erotik Handel e.V.). This fair was exclusively for trade visitors and primarily for the German market. It was inconceivable however that the worlds second largest market for erotic products (after the USA, ed.) did not have a major fair of its own. Therefore, after co-ordinating with and obtaining support from a few major providers, I got the VENUS up and running.
M: What made you decide on Berlin of all places?
SH: Firstly because our company is headquartered in Berlin. But also of course because Berlin is of great international importance. And the VENUS was designed as an "INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR" right from the start.
M: Did you have to face many obstacles along the way?
SH: It wasnt that easy to convince the Berlin Senate that a fair such as the VENUS would go down well in Berlin. Berlin is very open-minded but new ideas initially require a lobby to lend them support. After all, we wanted to have the Berlin Exhibition Grounds which belong to the Berlin Senate. There was however one condition which should not be underestimated: "You can stage the VENUS as long as it doesnt cast a shadow over the exhibition grounds".
M: And have there been any shadows?
SH: No. We have always taken great care to ensure that the VENUS complies with a major, international trade fair and almost all of our exhibitors and visitors go by the rules.
M: What were the first few years with the VENUS like and what makes the Fair such a success?
SH: The first Fair was tremendously exciting after all, it was the first time wed ever organised something like that. Registration papers, mailings, hall planning, awards there was so much to do. During that first year, our team made a superhuman effort and Im still grateful for that today.
M: Who is still with you of the "founding team" from back then?
SH: Beatrix Jaenicke and my humble self.
M: And how did things progress?
SH: Each year, the VENUS simply got bigger, more international and more important as a platform for the erotic sector. A consistently international alignment, the VENUS AWARDS from 1997 to 2004 and optimisation of our team have all contributed to our success just as much as the exhibitors and visitors. But the media and its largely positive reports on the VENUS are also a component of the VENUS success story.
M: Could you outline a few facts and figures as regards the development of the VENUS?
SH: The VENUS started in 1997 with exhibition space of 10,000 square metres, 124 exhibitors, 1,401 trade visitors and 15,439 consumers. By 2005, we had succeeded in steadily increasing figures to 25,000 square metres of exhibition space, 312 exhibitors, 5,075 trade visitors and 19,547 consumers. The media had also long discovered the issue of the "VENUS Berlin", rewarding us with extensive coverage in 2005 in the form of 657 media representatives.
M: There have been some changes at the VENUS during the past few years starting with the fact that 2004 saw the last VENUS AWARDS being staged. Why?
SH: The VENUS is a trade fair organiser and this is what we are concentrating on. Berlin, Paris, Shanghai these are the pillars which we regard as working areas for the future. The VENUS AWARD was good at the time and showered the VENUS with international success. But good things always have to end.
M: Have there been any setbacks or failures in the last few years?
SH: One setback was 11th September 2001. Many international exhibitors and visitors were afraid to travel or attend public events. And we had fewer exhibitors and visitors in 2001 than in the previous year. But thank God, this attack has been the only one of its kind so far and lets hope it doesnt happen again.
M: What were the most positive incidents of the past 10 years?
SH: There have been a few: honouring Beate Uhse in 1997 and Larry Flynt in 2002, all the fantastic parties with guests such as Kool & the Gang, the Weather Girls with the Wilddecker Herzbuben or even the GIPSY Kings. And last but not least, the many beautiful women you see at the Fair.
M: So how will the VENUS progress this year and in the next few years?
SH: This year, we have yet another exhibition hall (VENUS-WEB-AREA). We want to merge the INTERNET and physical providers which certainly makes sense for the future. And of course we will be celebrating our 10th anniversary with a huge party on 20th October 2006 in the ESTREL HOTEL in Berlin.
And as far as the future of the VENUS is concerned, I can only say that we will continue trying to fulfil the demands of exhibitors and visitors alike as well as remaining the most important international fair for the sector. This is what we are working towards and perhaps, if we all stay well and healthy, we will talk about the anniversary celebrations next year.
M: Thank you for the interview, Mr. Hurum.
[Venus]
Lieber Pressevertreter,
Suderbruch, 28.08.2006
wir haben uns dieses Jahr etwas ganz besonderes ausgedacht und möchten Ihnen gerne auf unserem Stand in Halle 18/20 unser mannsgrosses SEXgeizkragen Schweinchen vorstellen. Auf unserem erotischen Sparportal www.sexgeizkragen.de bieten wir seit 2002 eine Fülle von kostenlosen oder preiswerten Erotik Angeboten. Was liegt also näher, als statt der "Sau durchs Dorf zu treiben", von einem mannsgrossen Schweinchen im Schottenrock quietschgelbe Kondome an die Venus Besucher zu verteilen? Wir würden uns freuen, Sie am Donnerstag, 19.10.2006 um 13 Uhr in Halle 18/20 an Stand zu einem kleinen Imbiss begrüssen zu dürfen. Das "Schweinchen" steht Ihnen natürlich zu Fotos jeder Art zur Verfügung. Sollten Sie zu dieser Zeit verhindert sein, vereinbaren wir gerne einen anderen Termin mit Ihnen. Bitte melden Sie sich in jedem Fall per email an, damit wir die Präsentation planen können: venus@sexgeizkragen.de.
[SEXgeizkragen]
SEXgeizkragen
Matthias Koch
Krögers Twachte 3
D-29690 Suderbruch
Fon: +49 (0)5074 - 96 77 41
Fax: +49 (0)5074 - 96 77 43
venus@sexgeizkragen.de
www.sexgeizkragen.de
Contents
GAY eLINE & Partner
präsentieren:
Berlin, 29.08.2006
Die besten Filme, die besten Modelle, die besten Regisseure, die besten Szenen... werden hier ausgezeichnet! Auf der Gästeliste stehen: Produ- zenten, Direktoren, Regisseure, Modelle, die Gay Presse, TV Reporter, Groß- und Einzelhändler, und wir warten auf Sie!
Wie jedes Jahr zur Venus Messe in Berlin trifft sich die Gay Business Community zu einem Erfahrungsaustausch. Das Haus B (vormals Die Busche) ist Berlins Nummer 1 Location für diesen Event. Nach dem Fachhändlertag auf dem Messegelände geht es direkt in den Club, wo dann erstmals die neuen Auszeichnungen gegen Mitternacht vergeben werden. Natürlich haben wir ein entsprechendes Rahmen-programm organisiert.
Freuen Sie sich auf den Auftritt der Modelle von Mans Art, die Skater Boys, die harten Männer von Titan oder auch die britischen Cuties von Freshwave!
Wir freuen uns auf Ihren Besuch an diesem wohl wichtigsten Abend der Gay Business Industrie. Fragen und Kartenreservierungen richten Sie bitte an: karten@gayindustrynews.com, Tel.: +31 77 3268755, Fax: +31 77 3260957
[NL-Tegelen]
"Teradise Island: Anal Fever" bei Little Hollywood erhältlich
Stuttgart, 25.08.2006
Tera Patricks neuster Streifen "Teradise Island: Anal Fever" ist seit September beider Stuttgarter Importfirma erhältlich.
Dieses 2 Disc-Set wurde komplett in High Definition gefilmt. Wunderschöne Landschaften, Wasserfälle, der Blick aus Meer und Teras erste Anal-Szene machen dieses DVD-Set zu einem Highlight.
[Little Hollywood]
Little Hollywood
Christian Richter
Inselstrasse 3-7
D-70327 Stuttgart
Fon: +49 (0)711 - 489 08 53 0
Fax: +49 (0)711 - 489 08 53 29
info@littlehollywood.de
www.littlehollywood.de
Press Contact
Axel Schaffrath
Venus Press
Stieffring 14
13627 Berlin
Germany
Fon: +49 (0)30 - 34 99 11 49
Fax: +49 (0)30 - 34 50 19 24
Mobile: +49 (0)179 - 244 44 44
as@venus-berlin.com
www.venus-berlin.com