International Furniture Fair Cologne, 18th to 24th January 1999

Furniture World News

Exhibitors and visitors to the INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR 1998 in Cologne, which in January brought together over 1,400 suppliers from 45 countries with about 150,000 visitors from approx. 110 countries, gave the event top marks. On the two days open to the general public, around 35,000 visitors were registered. The fair was characterized by a readiness on the part of the specialist trade to place orders, a large number of foreign visitors and keen interest in the new and further developments of the furniture manufacturers. The good business at the INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR was reflected in the results of an exhibitor and visitor survey which was conducted during the fair by a market research institute. Around 91 percent of the exhibitors interviewed assessed their success at the fair as good. The exhibitors were also satisfied in the assessment of their success in terms of their most important buyers' groups: 97.7 percent of the suppliers who targeted their ranges at the kitchen trade, reported good business at the fair, with regard to the target groups "furniture trade" and "purchasing associations/organizations", 86.1 percent and 80 percent of exhibitors respectively assessed the fair positively. The INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR in Cologne is the world's leading trade platform and, at the same time, the most important new products event for the furniture sector. Around 94 percent of the suppliers interviewed said that the introduction of new models was one of the main aims for their participation at the fair. Almost all exhibitors stated that furniture exports and the making of appropriate business contacts were a key reason for participating at the fair. For example, for almost every fourth exhibitor, participation at the INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR is primarily aimed at making sales to Japan and South Korea. A characteristic feature of trade visitors in Cologne is their high level of decision-making competence: The visitor survey revealed that around 80 percent of the visitors are involved in purchasing decisions to a decisive extent or share responsibility in that area. 87.8 percent of respondents assessed the overall organization of the INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR as "very good" or" good". The visitor survey also posed the question "Will you visit the next INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR 1999 in Cologne? - 87 percent replied "yes", around nine percent said they had not yet decided and about four percent of the respondents replied "no." The next INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR will be held from 18 th to 24 th January 1999. As of 1999, the Cologne event will also show home lighting in the uneven years -in alternation with kitchen furnishings in the even years. The German and foreign manufacturers of home lighting will present their ranges in Hall 14.1, including numerous companies with an up-market, design-oriented range. The INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR 1999 will be open from Monday, 18th to Friday, 22 nd January 1999, exclusively to trade visitors. On the last two days of the fair - Saturday, 23"' and Sunday, 24 th January - end-consumers will also be admitted. For more information contact the German American Chamber of Commerce, Tel: (212)974-8835 Fax: (212)974-8838 ctfairsmmo@aol.com.