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spoga+gafa 2014: Full of diversity

Three days dedicated to gardens: That's what awaits trade visitors from all over the world from 31 August to 2 September 2014 at the spoga+gafa. An area of 241,000 gross square metres will serve to present the latest developments of around 2000 exhibitors.
New features this year:
the Landgard Plants Ordering Days, at the spoga+gafa for the first time. That will make the spoga+gafa 2014 truly special thanks to so much lush greenery and ensure that it once again lives up to its role as an international garden fair. "We're expecting exhibitors from over 50 countries at the spoga+gafa 2014. And a glance at the current registration status reveals that we're very likely to fulfil these expectations", declares Katharina C. Hamma, Managing Director of Koelnmesse GmbH. "A foreign exhibitor contingent of over 80 percent, a range of exhibits unique in scope and depth, more 'living green' and an interesting supporting programme will enhance the attractiveness of the garden fair even more, especially in regard to addressing the different target groups."

The five areas garden living, garden care, garden creation, garden unique and garden basic are divided over Halls 1 to 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 as well as Hall 11. The garden living area traditionally forms the largest segment. This comprises garden furniture, garden equipment, decoration, camping & leisure as well as sport & games, amongst other things, and presents products that will transform the garden, balcony or terrace into green living spaces. The Grill & Barbecue segment will also have an impressive presence in the garden living area.

Hall 7 will be alive with lush verdancy this year. Because besides products aimed at caring for plants and brought together in the garden care segment, the Landgard Autumn Ordering Days will be integrated in the spoga+gafa for the first time. Trade visitors can expect an extensive and attractive range of nursery articles, pot plants and seasonal products here, presented by more than 100 gardening enterprises and service providers. The Plant Park is also located in Hall 7. In 2014, the design is based on a marketplace concept that is characterised by central green areas and stands. At the same time, industry-specific lectures and discussion rounds with experts from the gardening industry will be held as usual in the Plant Park. Of course, the Garden Centre Day, which features a Happy Hour at 5 p.m. on 31 August, is an absolute must. This information day specifically addresses Garden Centre-related themes and also includes a get-together. Following tradition, the Plant Park is where the Association of German Garden Centres (VDG) is located.

Hall 6 is divided into the segments garden care and garden creation. Trade visitors can find an extensive range of tools & accessories, garden equipment and garden sheds, water and light technology as well as soils. Finally, garden basic - reasonably priced articles for the garden - complements the broad product spectrum of the spoga+gafa in Hall 11.3.

Grill Park 2014: international
In the open air, lounge atmosphere, but above all grills and BBQs as far as the eye can reach - the popular Grill Park occupies an open-air zone measuring 800 square metres between Halls 5 and 6. It is the showcase for top innovations from the grill/BBQ sector and thanks to live grilling, discussion rounds and practical demonstration areas it is definitely going to be a hotspot. In 2014, the Grill Park and the BIAG Lounge will be the central meeting point of the Barbecue Industry Association Grill (BIAG). As if that is not enough: The Grill Park is also picking up on the theme "internationality". The trade visitors can thus look forward to international themes and culinary delights from all over the globe.

spoga+gafa 2014: Some highlights from the (supporting) programme
Specialist trade expertise, new momentum for portfolio planning, a mix of exhibition and event - in short, information and communication - that is what is on offer to trade visitors at the spoga+gafa in regard to the supporting programme and design of the boulevard of ideas. Exiting rounds of discussions like the Taspo-Talk, as well as special areas on the boulevard of ideas are sure to attract extra attention and interest among the trade visitors. The entertaining format spoga+gafa in 100 seconds is also perfectly tailored to the needs of trade visitors. Exhibitors here will be given the opportunity to present their innovations in 100 seconds. Interested parties can gain a quick overview of the new innovations without wasting too much time. This event will be realised in the centrally located 'Garden Café'. And not to forget networking: Exhibitors, visitors and media representatives can also look forward to the sector get-together of the IVG on 1 September from 6 p.m. at the IVG stand (trade fair boulevard before Hall 7).

And even after the spoga+gafa closes its doors on 2 September, a further item will still be on the supporting programme. This is the BHB Garden Summit, to be held on 3 September, which will start on 2 September around 7 p.m. with a get-together / BBQ in the Atrium of the Congress Center North of Koelnmesse. According to the BHB - Handelsverband Heimwerken, Bauen und Garten e.V. (BHB) - the spoga+gafa has become established as a leading trade fair for camping and garden, while the increasing trend orientation of the ranges has become apparent in the past years. Not least, the BHB is therefore organising the BHB Garden Summit, the new venue format for the garden sector in the years between the proven BHG Garden Congress occurring in a two-yearly rhythm, this year subsequent to the spoga+gafa of the Koelnmesse on 3 September 2014.

(young)stars for garden unique
Once again in 2014, the spoga+gafa is on the lookout for interesting projects on the theme of 'outdoor living'. Design students and young designers, who have completed their studies within the past three years, can submit their ideas of what they think 'outdoor living' is about. And taking part is well worth it, because a prominent placement in the 'garden unique', the high-end garden furniture sector of the spoga+gafa awaits the 16 nominees. Prize money worth 6000 euros in total beckons the winners. The prizes will be awarded as part of the unique hour on 31 August around 5 p.m.

spoga+gafa 2015: New vibrancy in the air
Gardening is simply to be enjoyed - that is the unanimous decision about one of the most significant outdoor hobbies. In line with the population's attitude towards the theme garden, outdoor friends can look forward to numerous novelties in the gardening industry in the coming year. Because under the title and motto 'Garden Days', the Industrieverband Garten (IVG) and the organisers of the spoga+gafa are currently formulating a format aimed at making end consumers more aware of the subject of gardening. "We're delighted to play a role in shaping this end consumer event as an initiator and ideal sponsor of the 'Garden Days'. We as an association and hence also our members support this format and see it as a tremendous opportunity to highlight the subject of gardening in all its facets among end consumers so as to anchor it more firmly. The spoga+gafa offers the perfect framework with its high level of sector expertise and its ear firmly to the ground", declares Johannes Welsch, Managing Director of the IVG. Especially on account of the extensive support by the IVG, Koelnmesse hopes to gain a positive response from potential exhibitors. The 'Garden Days 2015' is due to be held on Saturday before the spoga+gafa and on Sunday. The end consumer format regarding all aspects of a green lifestyle is conceived as a supporting programme for the spoga+gafa and represents an enhancement to the spoga+gafa - specially aligned to this target group. Hall 8 of the Cologne fair grounds, the adjoining open-air area and the Rheinpark are conceived as campaign and exhibition areas. The spoga+gafa itself remains an event purely for trade visitors.



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