From 18 to 23 January 2011, reported imm cologne, home furnishings retailers (later consumers on public days) will find everything that entails in the “Sleep” segment of the imm cologne. Dr. Ulrich Leifeld, Director of the Essen-based German Mattress Industry Association (Fachverband Matratzen-Industrie e. V.), on the importance of the international exhibition: “In recent years we have succeeded in making the imm cologne one of the leading trade fairs in the sector. Hall 9 is already completely booked out. At the moment, all would-be exhibitors can do is put their names down on the waiting list.” Long-standing exhibitors from previous years will be joined by new providers from Belgium, Germany, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Spain and Hungary.
Industry experts anticipate recovery and slight growth
In the first half of 2010, the German mattress industry made 350 million euros. The signs for the current year are positive, says Dr. Leifeld, particularly in the high-end quality segment. This trend is confirmed by Marcel Bender, head of German operations for the Cauval Group (Dunlopillo and Nordica) and General Manager on the Cauval Group board: “Especially in times of economic recovery, consumers start attaching more importance to quality, sophisticated concepts and brilliant innovations again. We are expecting the high-end segment to grow.”
As for the trade in bed systems in Germany, including metal and wooden beds, industry experts marketmedia24 (Cologne)/BBE Handelsberatung (Munich) are also predicting slight growth. Whilst in 2009 beds and bed systems generated sales of 2,759 million euros at retail prices, this figure is expected to rise to 2,785 million euros in 2010 and 2,810 million euros in 2011.
Hall 9: an international meeting place
It is therefore all the more important for providers of bed systems to focus on presenting new sleeping concepts that will convince consumers independently of the price argument. “Sleep is the ideal platform for that,” says Marcel Bender. The planning for Hall 9 is already in full swing. As at last year’s show, stylist Annett Janowiak will be transforming the Lounge area in the Sleep hall into a fascinating scenography. It is here that the sector’s ultimate highlight – the “meet@sleep” party – will get underway on the Tuesday of the fair.
The bed system manufacturers and bedding producers won’t be revealing the innovations they’ll be taking to the imm cologne 2011 until the fair opens its doors. However, even at this stage, it seems as if the major trend in bed systems is still towards intelligence and individualisation. Whether it’s a base system designed for heavy people, special pillows and mattresses for stomach sleepers, sophisticated interior-sprung creations or water beds for people with bad backs, ingenious multi-zone cold-cure foam mattresses for people with shoulder problems or complete packages, every single element of which is attuned to the individual user – when it comes to fine-tuning their products to consumers’ needs, the sleep system providers are tireless. Hall 9 offers dealers and consumers alike the ideal opportunity to put their preferred mattresses to the test.
imm cologne + LivingKitchen
18 – 23 January 2011
9.00 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Preview Day: 17 January 2011
Public Days: 21 – 23 January 2011