- Organizers
again register more than 30,000 trade visitors from 78 countries
- About
one-third of the trade visitors came from foreign countries
- Another
strong increase of trade visitors from Eastern Europe
- Trade fair
participants praise the event ambience, range of offers and categories
- Trade
visitors were especially interested in the precious stone and design areas
inhorgenta europe 2008, which took
place on the grounds of the New Munich Trade Fair Centre from 15 to 18 February
2008, was also able to confirm its role as one of the leading trade fairs in
the industry this year. A total of 1,224 exhibitors (2007: 1,183) from 48
countries (2007: 44) exhibited at the 35th International Fair for Watches,
Clocks, Jewellery, Precious Stones, Pearls and Technology this year. The very
high level of previous years was also maintained on the trade visitor side.
More than 30,000 trade visitors again came to the trade fair grounds of the New
Munich Trade Fair Centre.
It became clear during the trade fair that manufacturers and
retailers/traders remain optimistic with respect to future business
developments. One reason for this confidence is based on the high number of
orders, which trade visitors made. Especially established exhibitors were again
able to increase the high level of business transactions of the previous year.
Manfred Wutzlhofer, Chief Executive Officer of Messe München
GmbH: "In spite of the more difficult framework conditions compared to
2007, for example the increase of prices for precious metals, the majority of
exhibitors at inhorgenta europe reported good
business. This was also certainly supported by the high number of foreign trade
visitors. We were able to record a substantial increase especially from Eastern Europe."
Exhibitors presented the current trends, collections,
new brands and technologies as well as pioneering marketing concepts deal with
all aspects of timepieces and jewelry on the 64,500 square meters. The positive overall course of the trade fair and the
good ambience at inhorgenta europe 2008 were
also expressed in the TNS Infratest survey. The values only changed slightly
compared to the previous year; 52% (59%) of the surveyed exhibitors assessed
the current economic situation of the industry as excellent to good, and 75%
(83%) stated the same about the future development of the market. Among the
visitors, the figures were 57% (62%) and 74% (86%) of those surveyed. Against
the background of a no longer so positive market evaluation due to current
economic framework conditions, the mood in the halls remained unchanged
optimistic compared to the previous years.
Breil Milano (Binda Group), Andrea Canevari,
Managing Director: "After many years of abstinence, we returned to
inhorgenta europe this year. And I have to say
that the effort was worth it. We are very satisfied both with respect to the
number of visitors as well as sales. inhorgenta europe is above all helping us
to increase recognition of our brand in Germany further."
Casio Europe GmbH, Andreas Schult,
Sales Manager: "We are looking back at a very positive course of
the trade fair. The most successful day was Saturday. We were able to generate
increased sales according to our initial estimates. Our hottest sellers were
the G-Shock and radio-controlled watch collections. inhorgenta europe is one of the most important trade fairs for us
due to its strong ordering character and the proximity to the Austrian and
Swiss trade fairs."
Elysee Uhren GmbH, Claudia Hermann,
Marketing Manager: "Above all, the quality of visitors was very good
at this year's inhorgenta europe. We were able
to increase our result slightly from last year. We were very successful with
the introduction of the brand Levi’s."
Fossil (Europe) GmbH,
Christian Coenen, Member of the Executive Board: "Surprisingly, we had more customers at this
year's inhorgenta europe than last year – and
these were buying customers. In other words, we were again able to increase our
order volume. We were also able this year to represent the variety of our
brands thanks to our distinguished booth architecture. The highlight was the
introduction of the brand Michael Kors. We used the good international
orientation of the trade fair to invite many foreign partners too. We were able
to welcome 30 purchasers from Romania
alone on Saturday."
Pandora - KasiGroup, Jesper Nielsen,
Managing Director: "We are at inhorgenta europe
for the 3rd time. Because 80 percent of our business is in Germany in the meantime, inhorgenta europe is
always the high point
of the year for us. The willingness to buy has again increased substantially.
Our inhorgenta sales were many times higher than in the past years. It is
already clear that we'll be in Munich
next year again."
Thomas Sabo, Ralf Mock, Marketing Director: inhorgenta europe is and remains the most important
jewelry trade fair in Europe for us. We
scheduled 495 order appointments in advance last year and 650 this year. We
also observed a substantial increase in the number of trade visitors on the
trade fair days. It was also very nice to meet all of our important international
customers in Munich.
We were at the right place at the right time."
Schoeffel GmbH, Jutta Effenberger,
PR Manager: "The course of the trade fair and number of
visitors are completely satisfactory. But inhorgenta europe
is also decisive for us as a trend trade fair. We now have a good overview of
what the jewelry season 2008 will have to offer."
72%
(73%) of the surveyed exhibitors evaluated the trade fair overall with
excellent to good, and the percentages were 92% (94%) on the visitor side. The
trade visitors gave best grades to the atmosphere at the fair (90%),
completeness and range of exhibits of the offers (94%), the clarity of the
industry categorization (86%) and the quality of visitor information (85%). The
top three items of the exhibitors were the atmosphere of the trade fair (87%),
the clearness of the industry categories (83%), the very varied supporting and
seminar program (81%) and the leading trade fair character (72%).
inhorgenta
europe was again able to demonstrate is
international character with a foreign trade visitor share of 32%. Trade
visitors from 78 countries were guests in Munich.
The countries with the largest visitor contingents were Austria, Spain,
the Netherlands, Switzerland, Great Britain, Italy,
Greece, the Czech Republic
and Hungary.
Greece, the Netherlands, Hungary
and the Czech Republic
had the highest growth rates. As a result, the trend of the past years has
again been confirmed that an increasing number of trade visitors are coming to
inhorgenta europe from the up-and-coming
markets in the East.
Atelier
Bunz GmbH, Georg Bunz, Owner: "We want to grow considerably in 2008. That's why
our exhibition inhorgenta europe this year was
that much more important. We were able to meet almost all of our important
European customers here. We are correspondingly satisfied with the course of
the trade fair."
Theodor Wilh. Herbstrith
GmbH, Jürgen Schlittenhardt, Sales Manager: "We were at inhorgenta europe
for the first time since 2001. As we hoped, we were able to establish a lot of
new contacts to Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.
Our trade fair sales figures are in the expected range overall. The signs for
good trade fair follow-up business are also good."
German Jewelry and Timepiece Association, Dr. Alfred Schneider, Managing Director: "The mood at inhorgenta europe
is better than in the industry itself. Many exhibitors are recording high
growth rates. Others are having problems with the more difficult framework
conditions, e.g., the high prices for precious metals. The strong orientation
to Europe is something very positive."
Frey Wille,
Stefanie Lehment, Officer with Statutory Authority:
"The mood was very extremely positive at this
year's inhorgenta europe. In other words, we
were to sign up a lot of new customers in addition to our existing ones. Most
of the customers were from Germany,
but there were also numerous interested trade visitors at our booth from Spain and the
Baltic countries."
Jacques Lemans Uhrenvertriebs
GmbH, Natalie Stecher, Marketing: "The past business year was already very
successful for us. This year is starting just as promising based on the
impression from inhorgenta europe. Business
was more than satisfactory. In addition to many customers from Austria and Germany,
we were able to welcome many trade buyers from Spain
and Russia
at our booth this year."
Leonardo, Frank Friedl,
Sales Manager: "Given the fact that we exhibited at inhorgenta europe for the first time, we were able to record a lot
of customers at our booth. Although we focus mainly on the German market, we
were very pleased about the great deal of interest of Spanish, Italian and
Austrian trade visitors. All in all, we were able to achieve our goals, which
is why we want to come back to Munich
next year."
German Association of Jewelry and Timepiece Shops, Joachim Dünkelmann,
Managing Director: "More visitors at booths, higher quality and
increasing internationalism of the trade visitors distinguished this year's
inhorgenta europe. The mood among trade
visitors is good despite the reserved buying behavior during seasonal shopping.
Especially the design area in Munich
provides an ideal framework to establish new contacts and get fresh ideas for
your own business."
Both inhorgenta europe
management and exhibitors saw one reason for the positively assessed clear
arrangement of the fair in the combining of the complete offer for precious
stones and pearls in Hall C1. As a result, the trade fair did justice to the
increased interest in this jewelry segment. This trade fair area enjoyed a correspondingly
high degree of favor among visitors; 95% of the trade visitors assessed both
the offer of precious stones and pearls as excellent to good.
Ph. Hahn Söhne, Dieter Hahn, Owner: "Contrary to the belief of all skeptics,
inhorgenta europe 2008 proved that the
combining of competency in precious stone in Hall C1 was a great success. This
creates easier orientation for trade visitors. Those in the know in the
industry can speak on equal terms there. The positive tendency of last year
continued in our business transactions. Nothing in the way of a downturn is
noticeable."
German Association of the Gem and Diamond Industries, Jörg Lindemann,
Managing Director: "Both exhibitors and trade visitors rated the combining
of the gem or precious stone offers in Hall C1 positively. This promotes a very
important sector of the trade fair, competency in the area precious stones. The
efforts of the trade fair to increase internationalism are continuing to bear
fruit, especially with respect to Eastern Europe.
I believe that the trade fair site of Munich
is ideal."
Schlangenotto Opals, Helen Schlangenotto,
Managing Director: "We have been coming to inhorgenta europe from Australia for
15 years. We are also very satisfied our business results here. One reason could
be the new orientation of Hall C1. We were able to serve a very international
public, especially visitors from Spain,
England and Eastern Europe."
This year also proved that inhorgenta europe has outstanding competency in design. A total of
95% of trade visitors evaluated this point with excellent to good. Many of the
most creative exhibitors were again in Hall C2, where the trade fair provides
an optimum forum with numerous special exhibitions and prizes, especially to
up-and-coming designers of the next generation with their extravagant precious
objects.
Charlotte Ehinger-Schwarz GmbH & Co KG, Caroline Schwarz,
Managing Partner: "As one of the pioneering exhibitors in the
Designer Hall C2, we are very pleased at the high quality of exhibited jewelry pieces
in this special trade fair area every year. This extravagance contributes
considerably to the great reputation of inhorgenta europe.
It is also especially pleasing that an increasing number of customers are
willing to experiment and are willing to support our design courage. We are
very satisfied with our transactions."
Gebr. Niessing GmbH & Co., Jochen Exner,
Managing Director and Owner: "The mood was especially positive in our Hall C2,
which is also due to the high quality of the exhibitors. As in every year, we
were able to serve our German trade fair public well. The increase in
international customers was striking. Main countries: Spain, Holland
and Belgium."
Friederike Schürenkämper, Winner of the
inhorgenta europe Innovation Prize 2005: "Of course, the high point of
inhorgenta europe for me was winning the
innovation prize. I am here as an exhibitor for the first time and feel very
comfortable in the Designer Hall C2. This is not only due to the high number of
national and international gallery owners, who are interested in my pieces. You
can also meet a lot of creative colleagues here, with whom you can reflect on
joint projects."
inhorgenta europe
2009 will take place on the grounds of the New Munich Trade Fair Centre on
20-23 February 2009.
Contact:Messe München
GmbH
Talk of town. Wächter & Wächter
Marketing and Communication of Consumer Goods
Susanne
Fischer
Nikola Hägele
Messegelände Grimmstrasse
3
81823
Munich 80336
Munich
Tel.: +49 (0) 89
949-20870
Tel. +49 (0) 89 747242-36
Fax: +49 (0) 89 949-97
20870 Fax
49 (0)89 747242 -40
susanne.fischer@messe-muenchen.de n.haegele@waechter-waechter.de
23/MK/ls
