HANNOVER, Germany/CHICAGO — January 22, 2015 — Innovations, inspiration and sales — those are the words that best summarize DOMOTEX 2015. The world’s flagship trade fair for carpets and floor coverings served once again as the No. 1 meeting place for a vibrant sector and its clientele. Following four action-packed days, the show’s organizers at Deutsche Messe declared a solid performance for the event. Its highly international mix of exhibitors and attendees as well as the success of the special Innovations@DOMOTEX showcase underscored the tradeshow’s reputation as a global magnet for decision-makers and a prime venue for unveiling new innovations.
“We are delighted with the show’s performance. It had everything: a highly attractive lineup of exhibitors and products, solid attendance figures, high-caliber trade visitors, a great many innovations and a highly international mix of exhibitors and visitors. This is something which was immediately evident – at every stand, in every hall,” said Dr. Jochen Köckler, the Deutsche Messe Managing Board member in charge of DOMOTEX. “This year’s DOMOTEX got international trading off to a splendid start, and has given the carpets and floor coverings industry every reason to be optimistic about the year ahead,” he added.
DOMOTEX 2015 attracted some 40,000 visitors from 100 different countries. Total attendance was thus slightly higher than for the most recent comparable DOMOTEX in 2013. The majority of visitors came from European Union countries. A significant upswing was noted in attendance from the Middle East and South, East and Central Asia.
This year’s DOMOTEX visitors were also highly qualified, with approximately 90 percent reporting they either were buyers or involved in their companies’ purchasing decisions, and that they had come to Hannover with specific investment plans. More than 70 percent of all attendees were senior executives. The event was also a magnet for buyers from the interior decorating and furniture trades, and attendance on the part of skilled tradespeople and retail professionals was up over the most recent comparable show held in 2013. A rise in attendance was also noted for architects, interior designers and contract business professionals.
World’s largest display of carpets and floor coverings
DOMOTEX 2015 was staged in a total of 12 halls, making it the world’s largest display of carpets and floor coverings. 1,323 exhibitors from 63 different countries were on hand to demonstrate their creativity and skill, and over 85 percent of these exhibitors came from abroad. DOMOTEX literally “floored” its audience with a stunning array of innovations across the featured product categories: resilient and textile floor coverings, parquet and laminate flooring, woven and tufted carpets and application and installation technologies. In the words of Dr. Köckler: “The focus at this year’s DOMOTEX has been on unconventional materials, newly interpreted designs and state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies. Sustainability has also been a key issue. One impressive trend observed is the comeback of the Persian rug as a trendy, contemporary ingredient of interior design.”
Upbeat mood throughout the halls
DOMOTEX 2015 was also clearly a success from the industry’s perspective. “For us, DOMOTEX is an ideal place to meet up with our customers and generate new leads. Here in Hannover, in the course of just a few days we are able to reach a global audience with our innovations,” said Johannes Schulte, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vorwerk Teppichwerke, based in Hamlin, Germany.
Heinz Dieter Gras, Marketing Manager of Classen Gruppe in Kaisersesch, Germany, also praised the event: “For us as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of laminate and designer floorings, taking part in DOMOTEX is an absolute must. We come every year because this is our chance to see all of our key business partners from Germany and abroad. We regard DOMOTEX as the most important floor coverings event of all.”
Alex Jauregui, Senior vice president, Carpet Business, Mannington Commercial of Calhoun, Ga., also gave a thumbs-up to the outcome of the show: “Again and again, DOMOTEX is the sector’s best meeting place. For us as a U.S. company, it is absolutely essential to exhibit here at the sector’s leading event, for this is where we can reach our customers. DOMOTEX also excels at enabling us to find new business partners.”
Innovations@DOMOTEX a major attraction
Following its successful debut last year, the Innovations@DOMOTEX showcase was a great success again in 2015. One of the special highlights consisted of the Innovations@DOMOTEX areas, designed as a compact and clearly laid-out showcase for 70 outstanding innovations in textile and resilient floor coverings, parquet and laminate flooring, plus contemporary handcrafted carpets and rugs. For the first time, these three special areas also included innovations in application and installation products and services.
Also in great demand were the Guided Tours, with architectural and interior design experts presenting a selection of exhibitor innovations, as well as the Innovations@DOMOTEX Talks, which highlighted key industry issues. Top international designers like Stefan Diez, Roberto Palomba and Ross Lovegrove were on hand to take part in panel discussions, lectures and Guided Tours, further boosting the status of DOMOTEX as a key source of new inspiration for architects, designers and planners. In the words of Roberto Palomba: “Innovations@DOMOTEX puts a completely new spin on visiting the fair. Attendees not only receive welcome support with finding stands of interest to them, but are even guided from highlight to highlight. At each stand they are treated to in-depth explanations and demonstrations, enabling them to gather a maximum of valuable information in a minimum of time.”
There was also plenty of excitement surrounding the Carpet Design Awards, presented by Innovations@DOMOTEX. This internationally renowned prize goes to the world’s best designer carpets and rugs in eight different categories. The decision to make the Innovations@DOMOTEX display the physical venue and thematic backdrop for the awards gave DOMOTEX 2015 a new highlight in Hall 17. “This award is our ultimate challenge as creative artists. And the integration of the awards here in Hall 17 further highlights the sense of a busy, vibrant marketplace which is so evident here. This is a place for intensive dialogue and interaction, making it one of the real hot spots at DOMOTEX,” explained Jürgen Dahlmanns, General Manager and designer at the Berlin-based Rug Star company.
The next DOMOTEX runs from January 16-19, 2016.
Posted January 27, 2015
Source: Domotex
