A firm believer in the power of a show to bolster the industry: Michael Knight, president of Ipex, is filled with a genuine enthusiasm for the show. (Profile).(Brief Article)

As president, and therefore official cheerleader, of Ipex you would expect Michael Knight to be upbeat about the impending exhibition at the NEC. He is, of course, but it's perfectly obvious that his enthusiasm is sincere and not a facade put on out of a sense of duty to his role. After all, Knight is also chairman of The Knight Organisation, and he's going to Birmingham to do business too.

Knight does admit, though, that there are some out there who are having doubts about whether the show will be a success, given that the market is in the doldrums at the moment, but insists they're in the minority. "Everyone's up for it," he says. "The core of the exhibitors are …