Koelnmesse: “We are taking the concerns of the exhibitors seriously”

The retail trade and specifically the international DIY sector continue to show keen interest in the plan for Spoga+Gafa 2020 to go ahead as planned in September. Stefan Lohrberg, who is responsible at Koelnmesse for the leading global trade show in the garden and leisure sector, confirmed this once again in comments to the diy and DIY International trade magazines.
The fair will be missing "vast numbers of exhibitors, especially from Asia", however. Koelnmesse expects only those foreign companies that are strongly represented in Europe to be present at Spoga+Gafa. "The show will still be large, but it will have an entirely European complexion," said Lohrberg.
This will be the case in all likelihood with regard to the visitor attendance also, although continental Europe already accounted for three quarters of the visitors in recent years anyway. Lohrberg added: "As in the last few years, our main visitor stream will be from Europe." Notwithstanding this, "the home improvement market in Europe and abroad is exhibiting positive signs," commented Lohrberg, describing the current mood in the sector. "At any rate, we are seeing that the phalanx of those who continue to be sceptical is crumbling, and we are optimistic that this trend will be sustained," he said.