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Both exhibitors and visitors have given a predominantly positive assessment of the first Spoga staged without Gafa. However, quite a few of the exhibitors lamented the reduction in visitor footfall
Spoga – the International Trade Fair for Sport, Camping and Garden Lifestyle – this year opened for the first time minus the garden trade fair, Gafa. Next year Gafa will again be held in parallel to Spoga in accordance with the new two-yearly cycle.
The organisers, Koelnmesse, are talking of an excellent event in the first year without Gafa. Altogether there were 1530 suppliers from 61 countries represented on a gross exhibition space of 163 000 m2 from 4 to 6 September. They included 296 exhibitors from Germany, as well as 1182 from abroad.
More than 300 companies that traditionally use Gafa as a show platform displayed their wares in the Indoor/Outdoor Ambience section.
Including estimates for the final day of the fair, 24 000 trade visitors from 92 countries obtained an overview of the products available on the world market in the areas of furniture & home items, grills & barbecues, camping & leisure, sports & games, equestrian sports plus lifestyle in the garden with about 300 exhibitors from the Gafa segment. In the words of Oliver P. Kuhrt, executive vice president of Koelnmesse, “The expansion of the range in the “Lifestyle in the Garden” section by all products for garden living has been well received by exhibitors and visitors alike. Our concept designed to ensure the annual presence of these product categories in Cologne has worked out well.“
A high degree of internationality was displayed by Spoga this year again, with 80 per cent of exhibitors and 58 per cent of visitors coming from abroad. The organisers mention specially strong contingents from growth regions such as Asia and eastern Europe.
Over 24 000 trade visitors came to Cologne altogether, 58 per cent of them from abroad.
The exhibition company points to the role of the innovations on display for the generally positive evaluation of Spoga, along with the very high qualification of the visitors who attended this year. Though on the stands themselves it could also be heard that the lack of Gafa was making itself felt in visitor footfall – even if with the positive side-effect, that the visitors had more time for discussions. Certain Spoga exhibitors are considering whether they will in future only participate in those years when Gafa is also being held. Last year the attendance of around 48 000 visitors was recorded by the combined Spoga/Gafa trade fair event.
The decision-makers come to Cologne
The first results of a neutral visitor poll carried out by the organisers reveal that the decision-makers certainly came to Cologne. According to the poll, 56 per cent of the visitors were crucial factors in purchasing decisions and 90 per cent were a party to such decisions. Sixty-seven per cent of those questioned came from all levels of the retail trade, 13 per cent from industry and nine per cent from the service sector.
To the fore when visiting the fair were buying or preparatory arrangements for buying (71 per cent), making contact with new suppliers (56 per cent), obtaining information on new products and trends (52 per cent), and public relations (35 per cent). Eighty-seven per cent of the interviewees were satisfied or very satisfied with the range of products to be seen at the fair. The expansion of this range through the addition of the garden sector was welcomed by 84 per cent of respondents. Seventy-five per cent also intend to come back to Cologne for the 2006 Spoge/Gafa event.
The strict division between furniture for indoors and outside is becoming increasingly blurred.
Trends in individual segments
Growth of demand, especially in the high-quality outdoor furnishings segment, was registered in the furniture & home items section, as both garden centres and furniture retailers have continued to discover this lifestyle segment as a mainstay of sales, according to Koelnmesse. Design and functionality were of paramount importance here. The sector sees great future potential most particularly in major export markets where there is a backlog of demand as regards outdoor living.
The strict division between indoor and outdoor furniture is becoming increasingly blurred. As a result, there was great demand for furniture like the collections that combine stainless steel or plastics with high-grade wood that can be used both indoors and in the garden. A tendency towards larger sizes is evident where tables and suites are concerned. They offer space for more and more people, in accordance with the trend towards entertaining guests in one's own garden.
The grill & barbecue section is also profiting from this trend. The interest here centred around new designs and styling, sophisticated technology and upgraded accessories.
More than 300 companies that traditionally make use of Gafa as an exhibition platform were there to display their wares in areas concentrating on indoor/outdoor ambience. The emphasis was on suppliers from sections including floristry & decoration, home & furnishings, plants & plant care, as well as watering technology & outdoor lighting. As the Koelnmesse survey showed, the majority of companies in the new and expanded “Lifestyle in the Garden” section of Spoga appeared most satisfied with the results of the fair in this non-Gafa year. In fact, they recorded strong demand growth, especially from Scandinavia, eastern Europe and Spain.
Most exhibitors in the section covering camping and leisure plus sports and games had their eyes on the large trading companies. Many of this year's new products were tuned to the 2006 Football World Cup that is due to be held in Germany.
Next year will see Gafa take place in parallel to Spoga again. From 3 to 5 September this trade fair duo will occupy Koelnmesse's new North halls, in addition to the familiar East halls, for the first time in their history.
The organisers, Koelnmesse, are talking of an excellent event in the first year without Gafa. Altogether there were 1530 suppliers from 61 countries represented on a gross exhibition space of 163 000 m2 from 4 to 6 September. They included 296 exhibitors from Germany, as well as 1182 from abroad.
More than 300 companies that traditionally use Gafa as a show platform displayed their wares in the Indoor/Outdoor Ambience section.
Including estimates for the final day of the fair, 24 000 trade visitors from 92 countries obtained an overview of the products available on the world market in the areas of furniture & home items, grills & barbecues, camping & leisure, sports & games, equestrian sports plus lifestyle in the garden with about 300 exhibitors from the Gafa segment. In the words of Oliver P. Kuhrt, executive vice president of Koelnmesse, “The expansion of the range in the “Lifestyle in the Garden” section by all products for garden living has been well received by exhibitors and visitors alike. Our concept designed to ensure the annual presence of these product categories in Cologne has worked out well.“
A high degree of internationality was displayed by Spoga this year again, with 80 per cent of exhibitors and 58 per cent of visitors coming from abroad. The organisers mention specially strong contingents from growth regions such as Asia and eastern Europe.
Over 24 000 trade visitors came to Cologne altogether, 58 per cent of them from abroad.
The exhibition company points to the role of the innovations on display for the generally positive evaluation of Spoga, along with the very high qualification of the visitors who attended this year. Though on the stands themselves it could also be heard that the lack of Gafa was making itself felt in visitor footfall – even if with the positive side-effect, that the visitors had more time for discussions. Certain Spoga exhibitors are considering whether they will in future only participate in those years when Gafa is also being held. Last year the attendance of around 48 000 visitors was recorded by the combined Spoga/Gafa trade fair event.
The decision-makers come to Cologne
The first results of a neutral visitor poll carried out by the organisers reveal that the decision-makers certainly came to Cologne. According to the poll, 56 per cent of the visitors were crucial factors in purchasing decisions and 90 per cent were a party to such decisions. Sixty-seven per cent of those questioned came from all levels of the retail trade, 13 per cent from industry and nine per cent from the service sector.
To the fore when visiting the fair were buying or preparatory arrangements for buying (71 per cent), making contact with new suppliers (56 per cent), obtaining information on new products and trends (52 per cent), and public relations (35 per cent). Eighty-seven per cent of the interviewees were satisfied or very satisfied with the range of products to be seen at the fair. The expansion of this range through the addition of the garden sector was welcomed by 84 per cent of respondents. Seventy-five per cent also intend to come back to Cologne for the 2006 Spoge/Gafa event.
The strict division between furniture for indoors and outside is becoming increasingly blurred.
Trends in individual segments
Growth of demand, especially in the high-quality outdoor furnishings segment, was registered in the furniture & home items section, as both garden centres and furniture retailers have continued to discover this lifestyle segment as a mainstay of sales, according to Koelnmesse. Design and functionality were of paramount importance here. The sector sees great future potential most particularly in major export markets where there is a backlog of demand as regards outdoor living.
The strict division between indoor and outdoor furniture is becoming increasingly blurred. As a result, there was great demand for furniture like the collections that combine stainless steel or plastics with high-grade wood that can be used both indoors and in the garden. A tendency towards larger sizes is evident where tables and suites are concerned. They offer space for more and more people, in accordance with the trend towards entertaining guests in one's own garden.
The grill & barbecue section is also profiting from this trend. The interest here centred around new designs and styling, sophisticated technology and upgraded accessories.
More than 300 companies that traditionally make use of Gafa as an exhibition platform were there to display their wares in areas concentrating on indoor/outdoor ambience. The emphasis was on suppliers from sections including floristry & decoration, home & furnishings, plants & plant care, as well as watering technology & outdoor lighting. As the Koelnmesse survey showed, the majority of companies in the new and expanded “Lifestyle in the Garden” section of Spoga appeared most satisfied with the results of the fair in this non-Gafa year. In fact, they recorded strong demand growth, especially from Scandinavia, eastern Europe and Spain.
Most exhibitors in the section covering camping and leisure plus sports and games had their eyes on the large trading companies. Many of this year's new products were tuned to the 2006 Football World Cup that is due to be held in Germany.
Next year will see Gafa take place in parallel to Spoga again. From 3 to 5 September this trade fair duo will occupy Koelnmesse's new North halls, in addition to the familiar East halls, for the first time in their history.
