imm cologne news

From 18th to 23rd January 2011 – parallel to the imm cologne – the international kitchen trade fair LivingKitchen® will be held in Cologne for the first time. The international kitchen show will be an independent event that takes place every two years in Halls 4.2 and 5.2 of Koelnmesse Exhibition Centre.

The show will have three Public Days and bring together national and international exhibitors from the entire kitchen industry. Even now, one year before the event, numerous leading companies have registered to take part. The complete list can be viewed at www.livingkitchen-cologne.com.

Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse, commented on this extremely pleasing booking status at a press conference in Cologne: “What makes us strong is our solidarity with the industry, the retail sector and the associations. The common ground between us isn’t just restricted to our goals, it extends to our approach for achieving those goals as well.”

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The imm cologne ended on Sunday, 24th January 2010 with a positive closing balance. Despite being shortened by a day, the fair managed to equal the previous year’s result with around 100,000 visitors. The number of exhibitors even slightly exceeded last year’s level. From Koelnmesse’s perspective, the high expectations of the imm cologne as one of the most important fairs for the international furniture and interior design sector have thus been met.

“The exhibitors have used their innovativeness to brave the crisis and been rewarded by doing good business,” says Koelnmesse’s CEO Gerald Böse. “Cologne is the business forum for the industry,” concludes the head of the trade fair company. The positive mood that prevailed in the halls for the entire duration of the fair was also emphasised by Dirk-Uwe Klaas: “This was by far the most successful furniture show for years. In the midst of the crisis, trade visitors and end consumers alike have given us impressive confirmation that the imm cologne has regained its former strength,” says the chief executive of the Association of the German Furniture Industry (Verband der Deutschen Möbelindustrie, VDM). As announced last Friday, Koelnmesse and the VDM as non-material sponsor of the imm cologne have extended their contract long-term to continue this successful collaboration beyond the scope of the imm cologne 2010.

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Gerald Böse, Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH

Ladies and gentlemen,
thank you for coming to this press conference in order to find out at first hand about the current status of our initiative to create a new international kitchen trade fair.
I would also like to thank Mr. Hans Strothoff for giving us the opportunity to present our results to date here at the MHK Forum in Enger. We purposely chose this location in order to save you a long trip.

After extensive and intense talks with companies in the sector, we’ve received numerous expressions of interest from renowned German manufacturers of kitchen furniture who support the concept of holding an international kitchen trade fair in 2011. That’s why it’s my pleasure to announce to you today that the first part of our mission is accomplished. There will be a kitchen trade fair in Cologne in January 2011!

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Hans Strothoff, President of the Federal Association of Kitchen, Furniture & Furnishing Retailers (BVDM)

Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me begin with a few remarks about the concept presented by Mr. Böse. I am delighted that we now have a blueprint that will ensure the continuing presence of a major international furniture trade fair in Germany. The establishment of one’s own kitchen trade fair, which is held every two years, in parallel to the imm cologne – that is really the only way to go. Here, it is important that fitted units, sinks and fittings are also represented, because these items are inextricably linked to the kitchen and constitute an essential part of the added value of a kitchen. From the perspective of both the dealer and the customer, it is absolutely essential that they should be presented alongside kitchen furniture.

It is my firm belief that the kitchen sector will be strongly represented in Cologne in 2011, more strongly than has been the case for many years. Following my discussions with manufacturers, I am confident that around 90 per cent of German production volume will be represented in Cologne. All of these discussions were very rewarding, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the companies involved for the open and constructive atmosphere in which these talks took place. They were also marked by a pronounced sense of responsibility for the sector as a whole.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is especially the dealers – and, by that, I mean German trade dealers of kitchen and interior fittings – who need a strong trade fair. And they need one here in Germany. A trade fair at home provides important signals and new stimulus for domestic consumption. A good example of this is Frankfurt’s International Motor Show, the IAA. Despite its very poor sales figures, the automobile industry is enjoying a huge media presence right now. By increasing access to our trade fair for the end consumer – through three open days for the public – we will guarantee a much greater media interest. And this interest will also be boosted by the various supporting programmes.

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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.

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Five months before the next event all indications are pointing to a successful imm cologne 2010. The current registration status looks good despite the difficult situation in the industry. “We are currently assuming that we will again have around 1,000 exhibitors from over 45 countries. It’s time to think ahead, and for me that means stating my commitment to the leading trade fair. Germany needs a strong leading trade fair and that is imm cologne,” says Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse.

In the coming years imm cologne is set to be Europe’s most cutting-edge furnishings and interior design trade fair. By fulfilling all market-oriented criteria, it is offering optimum prerequisites for business and networking on the international scale. In the modern design area – halls 10, 11 and 3 – visitors will be presented with a show of ideas for global design developments in a compact form. Over 300 companies will have stands there, including such brands as COR, interlübke, Ligne Roset, Walter Knoll, Domaniecki, de Sede, Kettnaker, Fraubrunnen, girsberger, Team 7, Riva, and Gervasoni, all with strong emotional appeal. “We are firmly convinced that in the coming weeks additional registrations will come from renowned companies, particularly from Italy,” says Udo Traeger, Head of the Furniture, Interior Design and Textiles division at Koelnmesse.

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There’s more to a living room than a sofa by Marcel Wanders, a chair by Konstantin Grcic or a shelf by Arik Lévy. It is the nuances, the scenography of the room and the context of the lighting, furniture and fabrics that provide the backdrop for showing the leading actors off at their best – one reason, perhaps, why design items are increasingly providing the face for complete creative concepts.

The new presentation format Pure Village caters to this market development by creating a stage on which stand-alone presentations of exclusive design items are showcased just as effectively as creative interior concepts. From 19 to 24 January 2010, Hall 3.2 will cluster the highlights from the various specialist ranges in the immediate vicinity of the furniture in the Pure segment (Hall 11) and the ideas of the d3 Design Talents forum (Hall 3.1).

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On 18 May 2009, the renowned trade associations Alliance, EMV, Garant, A-plus, ProÖko, Union and VME met with Koelnmesse for an exchange of ideas about the advancements of imm cologne. At the end of a very constructive exchange of opinions and ideas, the participants agreed upon a joint declaration, which confirms imm cologne in its function as a leading trade fair.

“We are extremely pleased that this common activity with the trade associations took place, which in times of general uncertainty sends positive signals for the industry and for a strong imm cologne. As the organiser of imm cologne, we will do our utmost to offer the entire industry a productive forum with prospects for the future,” Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse GmbH, annotated the result.

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Gerald Böse, CEO of the Koelnmesse Executive Board

imm cologne 2010 – Remarks by Gerald Böse, Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH, at the European Press Conference on imm cologne 2010, in Cologne on 13th May 2009

Ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you today to Cologne for our press conference on imm cologne. Thank you for taking the time to find out what’s new at imm cologne.

Ladies and gentlemen, this year’s imm cologne has had a polarizing effect. There have been many positive comments about it, but I won’t hide the fact that there has also been criticism. It was therefore all the more important to reflect on various issues after the fair was over. Specifically, this means we must ask ourselves what the imm cologne of the future has to look like in order to retain and enhance its value for customers. What kinds of activities will be in tune with the times? In short, we have to let the exhibitors and visitors know just why imm cologne is the best option.

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Gerald Böse, CEO of the Koelnmesse Executive Board

Concentrated business at a high level delivered a positive overall outcome at imm cologne 2009. Last week around 100,000 visitors came to find out what 1,057 companies from 49 countries had to offer. The emotionalised settings in the exhibition halls of Koelnmesse aroused plenty of interest in the visitors on the topic of furnishings, providing some lasting economic stimuli in the industry.

The exhibitors accordingly declared themselves to be “satisfied to very satisfied” with the sales that they achieved. “I am convinced that under the prevailing circumstances we have had a good furniture trade fair. For seven days, the realistic optimism of the industry was reflected in the exhibition halls,” said Gerald Böse, CEO of the Koelnmesse Executive Board.

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