Latest furniture trends displayed, future trends set!
After seven intense days, the imm cologne closed its doors with good to very good results. 1,250 companies from more than 50 countries showcased the latest trends for the coming year and – including estimates for the last day of the fair – attracted 142,000 visitors to Cologne.
Beds, mattress technologies and sleep products as well as their raw materials had been placed in Hall 9 and Hall 10 as always. There were quite new technologies for wooden bed systems, organic and environmentally friendly mattress production. Hall 9 had more of newest technologies and very interesting systems for quality sleep. Even if not as much as Interzum, IMM had a strong exposure of the mattress and bedding industries.
This year, there was a 13 percent rise in the internationality of the visitor structure – a significant increase. The international furnishing fair was able to report particularly positive growth in the emerging markets of Eastern Europe and Asia that are so important for the sector. “This result is a great signal for the imm cologne and confirmation of a performance befitting a leading international fair,” said a visibly satisfied Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse.
“With this trade fair duo, we have written the next chapter in the success story of the imm cologne and LivingKitchen. Cologne is the absolute focal point of the furniture and kitchen industry – especially when it comes to business,” continues the trade fair corporation’s chief executive officer. Dirk-Uwe Klaas, Chief Executive of the Association of the German Furniture Industry (Verband der Deutschen Möbelindustrie), came to a similarly positive conclusion: “The imm cologne 2013 was an outstanding trade fair – the German furniture industry is more than satisfied. Despite the wintery weather, visitors flocked to the exhibition center in droves.
We are delighted to report numerous new contacts and customers as well as a pleasing amount of ordering activity. The marked increase in the number of foreign trade visitors is another important component for the fair’s enduring and sustainable success.”
On course for growth: internationality of visitor structure increases
A total of 142,000 visitors came to the metropolis on the banks of the Rhine. With foreign visitors accounting for a share of 42 percent (based on the trade visitor days), the imm cologne and LivingKitchen were once again very international trade shows. On the one hand there were considerably more buyers from Europe, especially from the Russian Federation and traditionally strong countries like the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Italy and Switzerland, on the other hand there was also a marked rise in the number of visitors from Asia – and especially from China.
The Public Days were also very well attended. Around 43,000 consumers came in search of inspiration from the furnishing worlds on show. “We’re delighted that the imm cologne and LivingKitchen met with such great interest from consumers too. This good result is due in no small part to the way the concept behind the trade fair duo has been expanded. We want to build on this success and increase the attractiveness of our fairs from year to year,” says Katharina C. Hamma, Chief Operating Officer at Koelnmesse.
Opinions on the trade fair: Heiner Goossens, CEO of Rolf Benz AG & Co.KG, Nagold “We had a good volume of national and international visitors and good-quality visitor volume as well. For Rolf Benz, this was a successful trade show appearance in business terms as well.”
Karl Sommermeyer, CEO of himolla Polstermöbel GmbH: “We’re pleased with how this year’s trade show went – especially because of the quality of the business we did here at the imm cologne. It was helped by the fact that, happily, the furniture business got off to a good start in January, so the dealers came to Cologne in optimistic mood.”
The perfect setting for good business: trends at the trade show This year too, exhibitors set off a real “fireworks display” of new products, providing enduring proof of their huge capacity for innovation and the industry’s multifaceted versatility.
Trends * Megatrend: the nature theme * Upholstery fabrics with subtle stripes, zigzags, floral, abstract or geometric patterns * Small, free-standing, functional upholstered furniture with soft, rounded corners and edges * Boxspring beds * Wall units (highboards, lowboards, display cabinets) * The combination of good design and good quality * Colours: strong plain colours, blue, grey * Oak in all its variations * Concealed LED technology
