Post-fair report winter 2012: The most successful TrendSet of all time

 

Increasing numbers of trade visitors start into the new order year with a visit to Munich. Yet again, “TrendSet – 99th International Trade Fair for Living, Dining, Lifestyle” has demonstrated its firm role as the most successful and largest exhibition of its kind in the southern German-speaking area. A total of 38,422 attendees (an increase of 3.17% compared with the figure of last winter), more than ever before, visited the nine large trade fair halls of the New Munich Trade Fair Center on Epip

Especially the first day of the fair, exhibitors were greeted by an unprecedented stampede of attendees. The trade visitors came from all of central and southern Germany to order at TrendSet. For the first time, there were also more guests from North Rhine-Westphalia in Munich, probably owing to the date change for INNOWA. It was also exciting to see that many specialty dealers from Austria, Switzerland, and northern Italy arrived at TrendSet, despite severe storms and the danger of avalanches in many mountainous regions, to get information and assemble their sales mix directly after the Christmas season. With more and more attendees from the eastern EU member states and from Denmark, TrendSet is becoming more and more international with each event.

All attendees from the trade experienced more than 2,300 exhibited international brands and lines from the product categories living, dining, and lifestyle, presented on approximately 100,000 square feet of exhibition space. Exhibitors are increasingly tending to introduce their latest products to the trade at TrendSet, and not to wait until Ambiente. Because of this, many exhibitors experienced increasing sales. “The wonderful visitor numbers and the positive feedback from exhibitors affirm our exhibition concept,” reported Tatjana Pannier, managing director of TrendSet GmbH since May 2011. “Even if the aisles were not as full as usual on Saturday and Sunday, the figures at the end still serve as evidence that TrendSet is continuing on the path of success and is attracting a broader clientele. However, we are not going to rest on our laurels, but continue to insure that TrendSet remains an attractive and established marketplace for the trade.” Besides the new products at trade fair stands of the top brands and importers, new highlights from many niche suppliers awakened the interest of the trade visitors; the Newcomer Area received a good deal of positive response. At the Newcomer Area, about 30 young companies and designers presented witty new creations to the trade visitors and were able to make valuable contacts.

Praise from exhibitors:

TrendSet exhibitors were not only pleased to see a good flow of visitors to their stands, especially on Friday; they particularly value the good decision-making quality of TrendSet attendees. The increased number of fair attendees was reflected in many order books, giving exhibitors reason to regard the new year optimistically:

• "Friday was an excellent day. The fair has flair, and we were able to gain new customers from North Rhine-Westphalia for the first time ever.", Dieter Vogelsang, National Sales Manager, Emsa GmbH.

• "We were very pleased with how the fair turned out. Especially Friday was almost euphoric. For the first time, we presented our new Christmas product range at TrendSet in January; it was met with an astonishingly enormous popularity. We have the impression that the attendee group is becoming more and more international. All in all, TrendSet was very positive for us.", Lars Adler, Managing Director, Hoff Interieur.

• "We are at TrendSet for the first time and it turned out very well. So I think we’ll come to Munich again in the summer.", Daniel Hendriksen, Press Speaker, Hübsch Home Interior & Design.

• "For us, TrendSet went fantastically. On Friday, we took twice as many orders as last year and we are super-satisfied.", Theo van Grinsven, Bagatelle Advies. B.V.

• "The first day was excellent, which is why we are expecting an overall plus. The good atmosphere was also pleasant. The people were very open and interested and definitely ordered systematically and with more of an eye to trends.", Dirk Pigge, Sales Director, IHR – Ideal Home Range.

• "We are very satisfied with how TrendSet went. For us and our customers, TrendSet is a not-to-miss date. We were able to gain many new customers, especially from Austria, once again.", Alexander Dorau, Key Account Manager, Ritzenhoff & Breker

• "For me, Munich has become established. For this very reason, we are represented this time with a larger stand. What I really like about TrendSet is the pleasant atmosphere.", Wolfgang Koppmann, , Sales Manager, Specialty Retail Trade, Fissler GmbH

• "On Friday, we could hardly manage the rush. For the first time, we showed many new products that will not come on the market until summer and which were quite favorably received. For me, TrendSet is and remains the most important fair in Bavaria.", Michael Wacker, Representative for Bavaria, reisenthel.

• "TrendSet went extremely well for us. Friday was the busiest day and Saturday started off quite well too. We assume that will have higher sales than last year.", Markus Deitmer, Exhibition Manager, Casablanca GmbH & Co. KG.

• "We are once again very satisfied with how TrendSet went. Our long-time customers visited us directly at the stand and ordered well; we were also able to gain many new customers. I think the mix of exhibitors is an enrichment for everyone.", Peter Kwoka, Managing Director, Kwoka Floristik Handels-GmbH.

• "„For me, it’s a definite must to be at TrendSet—it is the best and most popular regional trade fair in Germany and the atmosphere is good as well.", Frank Rommersbach, Domestic Sales Manager, W. F. Kaiser u. Co. GmbH.

• "We are extremely pleased with how the fair progressed. Many of our long-time customers visited us once again and I am assuming that we took even more orders than a year ago.", Maik Brokop, Managing Director, Specialty Product Range, La Casa di Caesar.

• "We are satisfied with how TrendSet turned out. As every year, our long-time customers came to our stand and ordered. Even if we likely had fewer visitors and orders, the size of the orders remained the same or even became better.", Sven Robertz, Sales Manager for Switzerland, Austria and Southern Germany, BOLTZE Group.

• "Friday was excellent. However, this year people were more interested in getting information and wished to order locally a little later in the year.", Alexandra Heinrich, Regional Manager, Perleberg.

Opinions from the Newcomer Area:

• "I am at TrendSet for the first time and very satisfied with how things are going at the fair. I was able to gain many new customers and got wonderful feedback for my creations. My products were well accepted and that has inspired and motivated me.", Aline Riemerschmid, Etosha

• "I think the concept of the Newcomer Area is super and well worked out. We got very positive reactions for our product idea ‘Potteryshirt’ and hope that they result in a lot of orders.", Marius Müller, 54 Products

• "I am satisfied with the quality of the contacts that I was able to make here at TrendSet. For example, customers from the Munich city centre whom I didn’t know before ordered from me.", Ulrike Acker, Bomb-Design

A view to the Easter trends

Sunny yellow and orange as the key colors for the spring season are now a thing of the past. Besides green, which sets the tone and continues to be available in many nuances, bright pastels are now taking the lead. The new ideas for the 2012 Easter festival look good enough to eat in sugar icing and ice cream colors. Pink, hot pink, turquoise, and light blue are this year’s accompaniment to the ubiquitous Easter bunny. He can be seen especially frequently as a hanging figurine on luxurious Easter bouquets or endearing himself as a cuddly rabbit.

Color and material trends. The most important motifs.

Natural and green shades continue to set the tone in spring and summer 2012. Pink, hot pink, and turquoise augment and punctuate the current color palette. Blue is once again now on board, lending a new maritime note to the collections. This new style manifests itself close to the known vintage look on the one hand, but on the other hand, brings much elegance and a noble reserve. New England, Deauville, and Scandinavia are the new sources of inspiration of the new, very fresh-looking style, which makes it one of the most important themes alongside a good deal of wickerwork, (drift)wood fish, and block stripes. In contrast, Vichy checks, gingham, and polka dots are on the way out. Now is again the time for bigger patterns and more opulence. Large speckles, wide stripes, and luxurious flower patterns characterize the collections along with very classic, often very detailed ornaments that call to mind old porcelain patterns (for example, Delft tiles) or graphic patterns from bygone days. Newly joining the crowd are patchwork patterns adorning both large and small decorative items, such as the newly rediscovered matryoshka dolls. Felt and wool (still often seen as chunky knits for pillows, lampshades, and other objects) continue to be very popular owing to their naturalness.

The facts at a glance

• Trade visitors: 38,422 (+ 3,17 %)
• Main countries from which international trade visitors come: Austria, Switzerland, northern Italy, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary
• Brands and collections: 2,300
• Proportion of international branded collections (exhibitors): > 50 %
• Total floor space: 115,000 sqm
• Exhibition space: 100,000 sqm
• Focus of the exhibition:
  » Furniture | Accessories | Home Textiles
  » Kitchen | Household | Gourmet
  » Glass | Porcelain | Ceramics
  » Gifts | Decorations | Souvenirs
  » Floristry | Leisure | Garden
  » Hobby | Arts & Crafts | Papeterie
  » Bath | Fragrances | Wellness
  » Jewellery | Timepieces | Design
  » Bags | Suitcases | Leather Goods
  » bijoutex

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