Cologne attendance up slightly to 107,000
Product trends: Flexible wall systems, electric drawers
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, January 24, 2008
COLOGNE, Germany — The IMM Cologne furniture fair drew 107,000 visitors from 130 countries, up slightly from the 106,000 who attended the show in 2007.
Of those, an estimated 31,000 were international visitors and another 21,000 were consumers who came in during the days the show was open to the public.
In their 2007 show report, officials estimated that 40% or 42,000 visitors were from abroad and 34,000 were consumers.
This year’s report did not specify how many international visitors were from the United States. But it did say that more visitors came from the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, France and Switzerland. There were also higher numbers reported from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, South America and Africa.
The Jan 14-20 event also drew 1,251 exhibitors from 53 countries, compared to 1,301 participating companies from 57 countries in 2007. Of the exhibitors this year, 428 were companies from Germany and 823 were from abroad.
Product trends cited by the show organizers included:
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Light and flexible wall systems are replacing traditional, larger scale wall units.
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Upholstery is more functional.
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Technology is playing a bigger role, with more flat-panel TVs and speakers integrated into furniture pieces. This includes bookcases and wardrobes, which incorporate LED lighting.
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Kitchens in the high end also incorporate technology through the use of electrically powered drawers that open with a gentle tap.
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Green continued to be a major theme. This included the use of natural materials produced in environmentally friendly manufacturing processes.
The next Cologne fair will be held from Jan. 19-25, 2009. Information on the show is available online at www.imm-cologne.de.
Cologne show draws 107,000
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