23 September 2010

Floor Covering Weekly Global: DOMOTEX 2011

Floor Covering Weekly Global: DOMOTEX 2011
With less than 4 months to go, preparations for the upcoming DOMOTEX show in Hannover are heating up. DOMOTEX 2011 is shaping up to be a huge global success and the numbers are there to prove it as reported in the latest article from Floor Covering Weekly’s Global newsletter.

The article features feedback from our team in Hannover that includes Susanne Klaproth, DOMOTEX Director, Martin Folkerts, Director Global Fairs, Deutsche Messe Hannover and Onuora Ogbukagu who is the spokesperson for Deutsche Messe. Also commenting is our industry consultant, Jim Gould from the Floor Covering Institute. He is correct in pointing out that this upcoming DOMOTEX will have a large focus on sustainability and that CONTRACTWORLD is positioning itself to attract the European A&D community.


Floor Covering Weekly Global

Vol. 4 Issue 8 August
Asia/South Pacific • Europe • The Americas • Middle East

Domotex prepares for a big year in 2011

By Kimberly Gavin

Domotex's Onuora Ogbukagu
Ogbukagu
Domotex Hannover and Domotex Asia/ChinaFloor are both preparing for strong shows in January and March 2011, respectively, show organizations say and industry watchers agree.

Domotex Hannover, scheduled for January 15–18, is already 95 percent booked with exhibitors, show organizers recently reported. Onuora Ogbukagu, spokesperson for Domotex, told FCW, “We have currently sold 95 percent of the exhibition space — a great success since we are still five months from the show. We are expecting to reach approximately the same number of exhibitors as last year [about 1,400].”

Through June, bookings were higher than last year, according to Susanne Klaproth, head of the department. “We are very optimistic about Domotex Hannover 2011. The positive trend in the level of stand bookings reflects the confidence of the exhibitors and demonstrates that the action we took last year to further develop Domotex was exactly right.” 

Domotex's Susanne Klaproth
Klaproth

Klaproth added that bookings are especially high for the handmade area rug sector. She attributes this to the decision to move the category to the northern end of the Messe. And this year, Domotex is opening up its Carpet Design Awards to rug manufacturers who aren’t exhibiting at the show.

Domotex Asia/ChinaFloor, scheduled for March 22–14, also has high expectations. The show will host some 1,000 exhibitors and will cover eight and a half halls. More than 60 percent of the space has already been booked.

With the Chinese economy already recovered from the 2009 crisis, the upcoming 2011 Domotex Asia/ChinaFloor is very likely to exceed the 2010 record-breaking figure of more than 40,000 trade visitors. The organizers are now working on increasing the number of foreign visitors from Asia-Pacific and improving the quality of local and regional buyers at the show.

With the tagline “Innovation and Respect for Nature,” the 2011 edition will offer an Innovative Product Display Area for exhibitors to show their products free of charge in a specially designed area. Environmental issues will be at the core of the Wood Flooring Forum. The Wood Flooring Forum will be held on March 21, a day ahead of the opening of the show.

“Asia offers a great future for the flooring industry, and it is happening now,” said Martin Folkerts, director of Domotex Asia/ChinaFloor. “Looking at the flooring industry perspectives in China, and encouraged by last year’s very positive feedback from exhibitors and visitors, we feel committed to deliver the high quality platform the industry needs to conduct business in this blooming economic environment.”

With the changes in manufacturers happening, it’s an important time for buyers to look at the market and reassess their partnerships,” said Jim Gould, president, Floor Covering Institute. He added that both shows offer an unprecedented ability to view what’s out there.

For suppliers as well, both shows offer a great way to reach a broad international market, efficiently and economically, Gould added. The show in Germany will focus on the contract market and the environment, while China will focus on innovation and the environment.

A single store owner may not look at business as being global, but it really is a global and international industry,” Gould said.

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Thank you, Kim, and Floor Covering Weekly Global!

If you don't already, you might consider subscribing to Floor Covering Weekly Global and FCW PrimeSimply click on this link.

I look forward to seeing you at Domotex 2011!

~ Katherine

Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX and LIGNA Worldwide Events

Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432

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