Cologne Market: Interior Lifestyle Centre" and "Classic Atmosphere" well received

Furniture World Magazine

For the first time at KölnMesse: www.moebelmesse-live.de broadcasted the most important events at the INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR. 1,617 suppliers from 49 countries were brought together at the INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR with around 125,000 visitors, including about 35,000 end-consumers on the two days open to the general public. Buyers from about 100 countries and a foreign share of over 60 percent on the exhibitor side confirm the INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR as the global marketplace for the furniture and interior design sector. The furniture industry as a whole recorded an increase in sales in the period January to October 2000 of 2.1 percent. For 2001, the furniture, kitchen and furnishings specialist trade expects an increase in sales of around 2.5 percent, based on the market revival which was already evident at the turn of the year and the favourable forecasts for the economy. With the INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR, the start to the new furniture year was a complete success: the furniture industry's optimism was confirmed. The manufacturers are satisfied with the level of sales and orders. The trade had also accepted the previously announced price increases. Thus, the relations between the industry and trade this year were more relaxed than in the past. The "Interior Lifestyle Centre" and "Classic Atmosphere" met with a very good response. For the second time, INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR presented holistic furnishing concepts in both the modern and classical sectors. Instead of individual pieces of furniture, the manufacturers are increasingly offering complete furnishing solutions. With the presentation of comprehensive home living worlds, the trade is provided with presentation concepts which it can implement on a one-to-one basis. The mood among the suppliers of home lighting in the "Lighting Centre" was predominantly good. For several of the exhibitors, the expectations were even exceeded. It was confirmed that lighting and furnishings are inextricably linked together. Not only the trade visitors, but also the end-consumers on the two days open to the general public, Saturday and Sunday, welcome the combination of furniture and lighting for the home. In 2003, the "Lighting Centre" will once again be a focal point at the event. At the INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR 2002, the kitchen furniture suppliers will then have their traditional opportunity to present themselves on a scale that is not matched anywhere else in this breadth and depth. Within the scope of the ""Lighting Centre", the "Nachlux" special show presented somewhat different approaches to the theme of light. The competition of the same name for up-and-coming talent in the area of innovative light design was organized this year under the motto: "Delicious Light - Lighting and Dining". Within the scope of the INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR, the Japanese light designer Motoko Ishii was awarded the "Kölner Klopfer" design prize with which the students of the Design Faculty at Cologne Polytechnic annually honour an outstanding international designer. Numerous special shows and competitions demonstrated the importance of the INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR. Once again this year, the Point of Support was an important communication forum. In symposia, it optimized the dialogue between suppliers and the furniture industry and the trade. The focus of attention was the future of New Business and E-Commerce. The outstanding design quality of the last 100 years of upholstered furniture in Germany was documented in the "Kautsch" special show. In addition to the history of upholstered furniture design in Germany the future visions of well-known designers also indicated that German design really is in a position to compete on the world market. Coburg Polytechnic organized the exhibition together with the Association of the German Upholstered Furniture Industry and KölnMesse. With the "SWISS MADE - Design from Switzerland" exhibition, KölnMesse extended its cooperation with the Museum of Applied Art in Cologne. The total of more than 200 exhibits of interior and industrial design from Switzerland demonstrate in an imaginative way the striking features of Swiss design. The most important trends at this year's INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR: Design is no longer only for the elites, but has become a general commodity The so-called "Cocooning" trend, the retreat to the private sphere, is becoming less significant. Instead, the own four walls are becoming more permeable and an area for the development of work, technology and social events. With flexible and versatile solutions, the manufacturers are responding to this trend - from walk-in cupboards via living room/kitchen combinations and lounge areas right through to integrated high-tech working and living ranges, everything is conceivable Selected ranges for the "Best Agers", the generation of the over-50-year-olds From the diversity offered by the manufacturers, the customer can, more than ever before, select his own individual choice of furniture. Before the INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR opens its doors to the international exhibitors and visitors from 14th to 20th January 2002, the furniture and supplying industries will get together at interzum und decovison from 18th to 22nd May 2001 in Cologne. Here, the international furniture sector will obtain significant impulses for future design and product construction.