Looking good for imm cologne: according to the European Consumption Barometer 2009, a study by Dresdner-Cetelem Kreditbank, Germany remains Europe’s largest sub-market for the furniture industry with an estimated market volume of 27 billion euros. Whilst sales have decreased slightly in Europe as a whole, in Germany they have stayed at the same level as in the previous financial year.
Purchasing intentions in Germany remain fairly stable, far above the European average, and are also a positive signal for the current year. Overall, Germany is Europe’s largest sub-market for items of furniture. The British and Italian markets lag some distance behind in terms of market volume. Similarly, the Germans were also able to claim the largest furnishing budget per household for the year 2008. German citizens invested 680 euros on average in sofas and kitchen tables. British households came in second with an average of 663 euros. The Italians were soundly beaten, investing far less money in furnishings with an average of 559 euros.
“Anyone wanting to earn money through furniture turns to Germany, and imm cologne is the biggest event in this market. Trade fairs like imm cologne set the signals for our future economic success”, says Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse. “With the changes in the German trade fair calendar, imm cologne is the only option for companies wishing to present themselves and theirproducts in Germany at a trade fair before spring 2010″, adds Udo Traeger, director of the division Furniture, Interior Design and Textiles at Koelnmesse.
For German and international manufacturers, imm cologne is also the platform for innovations, which can be presented for the first time to specialist traders, over 2,500 media representatives and around 30,000 consumers eager to purchase. The significance of imm cologne as the most important furniture platform in Europe is also emphasised by purchasing and trade associations.
Trade associations deem it essential to send their purchasers to imm cologne. The participation of all German and international market leaders at imm cologne is expressly considered as imperative so that the affiliated member companies may have the necessary, comparative overview of a broad offering in order to round off and fine tune their product ranges.
“Both trade associations and we as trade fair organisers are agreed that it isn’t the size of an exhibitor’s stand but the presence of many manufacturers that is important”, remarks Udo Traeger in relation to the clear profession of faith in Cologne. imm cologne provides the industry with the opportunity to meet more than 80,000 German and international traders, who, unlike at similar events, are very interested in order transactions.
The event also offers an outstanding setting for direct dialogue between industry manufacturers and the commercial agents responsible for distribution. For this reason, imm cologne offers sales representatives and commercial agents the opportunity to submit representation requests at no charge, which are made available to interested companies during the trade fair at the stand of the National Association of German Commercial Agencies and Distribution (CDH). Such dialogue will also take place virtually in the run-up to the event on imm cologne’s homepage.
17. September 2009
Categories: Business, Exhibitors
Tags: Business, CDH, Cologne, commercial agents, distribution, European market, furnishing budget, furniture market, Gerald Böse, imm cologne 2010, international, international platform, Koelnmesse, market data, market volume, media representatives, purchasing intentions, sales, specialist traders, top brands, trade associations, Udo Traeger
