imm cologne news

The new kitchen trade fair LivingKitchen, which will celebrate its premiere in January 2011 in parallel to imm cologne, has acquired a top-level exhibitor: Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH. “After a very good start to our exhibitor acquisition, we have reached a further milestone by receiving this confirmation,” said Gerald Böse, Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse. “Our strategy is a resounding success. The numerous open and constructive discussions with the entire sector helped to pave the way to achieve this result,” the Chief Executive Officer concluded.

With the brands Siemens, Bosch, Neff and Gaggenau, the world’s leading company for household appliances will be participating in the premiere event in January 2011 and will also attract many other exhibitors from the household appliances sector to take part. The decision made by this global player to participate is a logical conclusion that was reached as a result of the promising developments of the past few months: “We always emphasized that Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH would be open to good trade fair initiatives,” said Ditmar Krusenbaum, Member of the Board of Management at BSH. “This is why we welcome this initiative of the kitchen furniture industry and are certain that this trade fair will once again live up to the importance of the German household and built-in appliance industry,” Krusenbaum added.

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Dr. Lucas Heumann, Trade Associations of the Wood and Furniture Industry, Herford
I am extremely pleased to be in a position today to announce to the international public that “living kitchen” will be held in Cologne as an international kitchen trade fair concurrent with the International Furniture Fair in 2011. A major strategic aim of the German kitchen furniture sector is to present the full scope of its capabilities to an international public. The partnership that we had been seeking for a number of years is now in place, and for that I would also like to congratulate Koelnmesse and in particular the team headed by Mr. Haubold, which I feel did some tremendous work. If we work as well together next year on the marketing of the trade fair, I am confident that LivingKitchen 2011 will be a success from start to finish for the entire international public and the German kitchen furniture sector, in particular.

Dr. Günter Scheipermeier, nobilia-Werke, Verl
My hope for January 2011 in Cologne is that the theme of kitchens can be re-established at the trade fair and reinvigorated with new life through the collaboration between Koelnmesse and the leading companies in the industry. Various things must happen if this is to succeed: Firstly, a number of the leading kitchen furniture makers must become enthusiastic about this trade fair; secondly, the electric appliances industry must be brought on board; and thirdly, foreign visitors, specifically a large number of foreign trade visitors and also foreign exhibitors must be attracted. Those are the aims. They can be achieved if Koelnmesse, on the one hand, and the major players in the industry, on the other hand, can get in step on this.

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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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Construction work in major cities is by no means unusual. Roads are repaired, squares remodelled and new apartment blocks erected. It’s no different in Cologne. But even though the cathedral city isn’t exactly lacking in curiosities, building an entire village in its midst certainly qualifies as a special event.

And yet the construction noise doesn’t bother a single resident; nor does the traffic have to be diverted. Because Pure Village, the township that will be built here in just a few weeks, will be constructed in the middle of Cologne Exhibition Centre, beneath the roof of Hall 3. Which explains why no doors will be hung and the big windows will remain unglazed – nobody is planning to move in permanently. On the other hand, there’s no need for visitors to this idyllic spot to do without a street café, ample entertainment, the services of a “doctor” or childcare facilities. Pure Village is the artificial but far from virtual venue where the design-savvy world will be gathering from 19th to 24th January 2010.

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With the “Agents Directory” online tool, Koelnmesse and imm cologne 2010 are providing a service independent of trade fair times and in coordination with the furniture and furnishings industry. Trade representatives and exhibitors at imm cologne who are looking for sales partners are for the first time coming together also online to develop new markets.

Quick success: As a trade representative and agent, you can regsiter and set up your profile at http://agents.imm-cologne.com/administration. Important information to include is what products you market and in which countries and regions. Your details are then added to the Agents Directory. For you as a trade representative and agent, the procedure is free of charge.

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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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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

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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Each year, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) determines which leading trade fairs can be supported through involvement in shared stands. The aim of this promotion programme is to support young entrepreneurs in the marketing of innovative products.

Through this, the BMWi aims to strengthen both Germany as a centre of innovation and the export of new products and processes. For 2009, imm cologne, which will take place from 19 to 25 January 2009, has been included in the promotion programme alongside other leading Koelnmesse trade fairs.

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