Strong German economy and design emphasis results in 17% higher pre-registrations for imm cologne furniture show.

Furniture World News Desk on 7/9/2012

Cologne is a major talking point in the international interior design sector

• High number of registrations
• Strong demand for space from abroad
• Pure Editions: Koelnmesse launches new format for Hall 3
• LivingKitchen – the event experience

The imm cologne, the major worldwide event for the interior design sector, announced that it will open its gates in fewer than 200 days. Following the two successful events in 2011 and 2012, the 2013 trade fair is also right on track. With roughly 10 percent more exhibitors and 12 percent more exhibition space occupied, augmented by an increase in foreign participation and new product segments, there's nothing standing in the way of a successful event.

"2013 is a very important year for us. With a strong German economy to bolster us while foreign markets are faltering, the imm cologne will assume a very special function as the central global business platform. The significant interest from strong Italian brands is a good example of this. For the first time in years we'll be occupying the entire exhibition centre again, enabling our visitors to experience everything the international interior design sector has to offer in one location. In view of the huge interest from professional circles and the media, plus the fact that the number of exhibitors who have registered to take part exceeds all our expectations, we can already say that, more than ever before, Cologne is very much a talking point in the international interior design sector," says Frank Haubold, Vice President Trade Fair Management.

A “tour” through the exhibition halls serves to underscore this. Even at this early stage, almost all the segments are sold out, whether it be Comfort, Prime, Sleep, Smart or Pure. There are already waiting lists for most of the halls. The character of the event will be shaped not only by the many returning exhibitors but by the numerous firms that will be participating for the first time as well. A total of more than 1,100 companies from over 50 countries will be presenting the trends for the coming year.

The rise in the number of bookings from Italy, Austria, Spain, Turkey and Brazil is particularly pleasing. To date, 17% more foreign businesses have registered, a clear sign of the imm cologne’s increased international significance.

This excellent starting position is the result of the imm cologne’s consistent development from a furniture-only trade fair to a conceptually sophisticated interior design show. This development was founded on the successful establishment of the sleep segment, the realignment of the Prime segment in Hall 10.1 and the expansion of the design focal point Pure with Pure Village, Pure Textile and the new Pure Editions format. In addition, spectacular projects such as "Das Haus" have not only had a lasting impact on the image of the imm cologne, they have helped attain a new and significantly stronger market position as well. The return of the kitchen sector with LivingKitchen and the installation of the new trade fair format LivingInterior as a presentation platform for architecturally-related topics such as floors, walls, ceiling and bathrooms were other important milestones.

With the imm cologne and LivingKitchen next year, Cologne won’t just be the design capital of Europe, it will be the gourmet capital as well. There is every indication that LivingKitchen will be a first-class international kitchen trade fair. With 130 confirmed bookings so far, more than 75% of the planned exhibition space is already occupied. LivingKitchen is a successful symbiosis of exhibition and event that appeals to trade visitors and consumers alike.


The next trade fair duo
imm cologne // LivingKitchen will be held from
14th to 20th January 2013