Tendence 2014: Germany’s leading order platform for the autumn

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The international Tendence consumer-goods fair has closed its doors with an improved rating on both the exhibitor and visitor sides. Around 35,000 trade visitors from 88 countries took advantage of this important event (2013: 37,306 visitors from 86 countries) during the four days of the fair. After Germany, the top 10 nations on the visitor side were Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, China, Poland, Great Britain and Spain. As last year, one in five visitors came from outside Germany. This year, however, the level of visitor satisfaction was even higher, rising by four percentage points to 90 percent. "Despite the challenging market, we succeeded in maintaining the level of internationality, which is particularly important for export-oriented companies. Tendence has confirmed its position as Germany's most international and biggest order platform in the second half of the year. Both exhibitors and visitors were able to achieve or even exceed their goals for the fair", said Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt GmbH. On 98,720 square metres of exhibition space (gross) (2013: 102,400 square metres (gross)), 1,211 exhibitors from 51 countries (including Ecostyle and Webchance; 2013: 1,290 exhibitors from 56 countries) presented their latest products for the coming spring and gave national and international retailers the chance to place follow-up orders for the Christmas business.

On the visitor side, double-digit rates of growth were recorded from, for example, Great Britain, Greece, Poland and Spain. The number of visitors from the major Asian consumer-goods markets – China, India and Japan – were also up in comparison to 2013. Due to the difficult economic situation, fewer visitors travelled to Frankfurt from Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

The overall rating given by exhibitors was positive and this was confirmed by the trade associations. Thus, Stephan Koziol, Chairman of European Lifestyle Association (Europäischer Verband Lifestyle – EVL), said, "Tendence 2014 was good and lots of exhibitors are very pleased. The supplier standard is very high. The emphasis is on quality, not quantity. This is the unique selling proposition of Tendence." Thomas Grothkopp, Director General of the German Association for Tableware, Housewares and Home Decor (Bundesverband für den Gedeckten Tisch, Hausrat und Wohnkultur e.V. - GPK), emphasised the high standard and significance of Tendence: "There is no doubt that the German retail trade profits from the international consumer-goods fairs in Frankfurt, which save retailers from having to travel to fairs abroad. Tendence is very important, especially when it comes to placing last-minute orders for the Christmas business, as well as early orders for the coming year. This was confirmed once again by this year's event in Frankfurt."

Ecostyle and Webchance trade fairs generate synergies for Tendence visitors
As a nodal point within Tendence and Ecostyle, the 25 Webchance exhibitors generated impulses for networking the bricks-and-mortar and online trades under the mottos, 'Mobile' and 'Multichannel'. Established internet retailers and, in particular, newcomers to the online world, had the opportunity to find out about innovative and easy-to-implement sales and advertising models. Additionally, 'Interpreneurs', i.e., internet entrepreneurs, reported on their experiences and discussed practical issues. A magnet for visitors and link between the three concurrent events was the lecture programme, which attracted a good 2,200 participants, a ten percent increase over the previous event.

75 Ecostyle exhibitors and designers presented a broad spectrum of products from pull-out paper sofas and bags made of coconut fibres to smartphones produced under fair-trade conditions. All of the lifestyle products to be seen at the four-day trade fair have been produced with the aim of combining future-oriented design with functionality and sustainability. Moreover, in addition to its function as an order platform, Ecostyle was the venue for a rich programme of lectures offering insights into the subject of sustainability. The open concept of Hall 9.2 also promoted reciprocal visitor interest in Tendence and Ecostyle.

New at Tendence 2015: five events at the same time and place
Two additional events will be held within the framework of next year's Tendence at Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre from 29 August to 1 September 2015: the Hair and Beauty trade fair and the new Eat & Lifestyle consumer fair. As usual, the next Ecostyle and Webchance will be held concurrently with Tendence. The Webchance Academy will offer Heimtextil visitors details of the latest trends and tips for internet advertising and sales during the trade fair from 14 to 17 January 2015.

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