Photos: Kolnmesse
At imm Cologne and LivingKitchen.
The trade fair duo of imm cologne and LivingKitchen held in Cologne, Germany Jan 19-25, attracted 146,000 visitors from 138 countries.
More than 215 well-known national and international suppliers from 22 countries presented their latest ideas and innovations – from kitchen furniture and built-in appliances to sinks, kitchen taps and fittings, worktops, lighting and accessories. 146,000 visitors came to experience all trends related to the kitchen.
"These numbers prove that the international appeal of the two events in Cologne has grown even more and that the fair duo is, without a doubt, the most important platform for the domestic as well as the international market," said Gerald Böse, president and chief executive officer of Koelnmesse. "This is a great indication for Cologne as a trade fair location and confirms the effectiveness of imm cologne and LivingKitchen as a marketing tool."
imm cologne and LivingKitchen cemented their roles as ‘truly international events.’
Of the 102,000 industry visitors, around 56,000 came from Germany and approximately 46,000 from abroad (an increase of 13 per cent). In total, the percentage of visitors from abroad was 45 (based on industry visitor days).
Within Europe, increases in visitor figures were recorded in particular from Spain (up 27 per cent), the UK (up 20 per cent), Italy (up 11 per cent) and the Netherlands (up 13 per cent). Visitor figures from France, Scandinavia and Poland also showed good growth and offset the politically induced fall off in visitors from Russia. Significant increases could also be seen in industry visitor figures from China (up 32 per cent) and from the U.S. (up 47 per cent).
"The excellent levels of visitor attendance from abroad meant we were able to strengthen our exhibitors' export businesses. Italian companies, for instance, did some very good business here in Cologne with German retailers as well as with those from abroad," said Katharina C. Hamma, chief operating officer of Koelnmesse GmbH. 44,000 consumers took advantage of the open days to find out about the trends for the coming season.
Held in concert with one of the most important furnishing fair imm cologne, international kitchen event LivingKitchen once again proved to be a powerful attraction.
Its strong appeal could be felt not just in Germany, but also far beyond the country's borders. For seven days, 215 exhibitors from 22 countries showcased their innovative drive, high design standards and quality. With the proportion of visitors from abroad at 45 per cent, the event once more proved to be very international.
"We are extremely satisfied with LivingKitchen 2015, in particular with the increase in the number of industry visitors from Germany and abroad as well as the media coverage on the topic of kitchens surrounding the fair. We are hopeful that this will generate positive momentum for the entire kitchen industry", says Kirk Mangels, managing director of the working group AMK (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Die Moderne Küche e.V./Modern Kitchen).
