Tendence Frankfurt Posts Higher Exhibitor and Visitor Numbers

Perhaps the healthy recovery of the German economy is one reason that this year's Tendence, held Aug. 27-31, showed improved statistics: the organisers say that 80 more exhibitors took part in this year's Frankfurt consumer goods event. Altogether, 2,130 companies from 57 countries exhibited their latest innovations on some 71,000 square meters. But more importantly, Tendence 2010 also saw an increase in visitor numbers, totaling around 57,000 potential customers from 90 nations, for an 8% increase. Approximately 25% of visitors came from foreign countries, primarily Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria and France, with a notable doubling of visitors from the USA as well.

Various factors contributed to the success of Tendence, not least of which include its well-considered fair concept and the general appeal of the exhibitors and their products, whose strengths are further enhanced by improvement in the basic economic climate in some key markets. In Germany, for example, Christmas sales this year, the busiest time for all the consumer goods sector, are forecast to grow €1.43 billion, for an increase of around 2%. As a result, most of the buyers and exhibitors at Tendence 2010 were optimistic: over 85% of all the visitors interviewed assessed the current industry as good to satisfactory; while 75% of exhibitors polled expressed similar assessments, compared with just over 50% a year ago.

Buyers from the furniture trade and interior designer sectors were primarily interested in the Living section. As is generally known, Tendence showcases products divided into two themes: Giving and Living. Whereas Giving concentrates entirely on creative gifts, Living revolves around lifestyle and furnishing products. The trend heralded by experts and trend researchers in the run-up to the fair proved foresighted and well-aimed for the fair. In many countries, Homing has asserted itself as a mega trend. For more and more people, their own home is now a social hub. Comfort is ‘in' – so the aim is to create a cozy, private environment to get together with friends and family. This is expressed, for example, in the desire for authenticity, which at Tendence was reflected in the casual, used look for furniture. In terms of colour, natural shades dominated. The trendy color for next season could well be dark green.

Overall, one could ascertain that Tendence has finally carved a profile of its own. The event organisers will now continue to sharpen this profile to solidify its successful concept further.

Tendence 2011 is scheduled for August 26-30.