Organisers have reported another successful Christmasworld tradeshow, with more than 10,700 trade buyers attending across the seasonal trade event and sister shows Paperworld and Creativeworld 

The three international consumer-goods fairs Christmasworld, Paperworld and Creativeworld, as well as the new Floradecora trade fair end – all of which took place at the Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre at the end of January  – boasted 2,938 exhibitors from 63 countries, who benefitted from “countless new contacts and well-filled order books”, said organisers.

International visitor numbers to Christmasworld were up 8%this year, whilst the number of visitors from Germany also increased by 12%. After the host nation, the best represented countries were Italy, the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, China, Poland, Spain, Russia and the USA. Also notable was a growth in the number of visitors from the retail and wholesale trades.

Organisers billed the event as a “complete success”, with Messe Frankfurt Exhibition Vice President, Consumer Goods II, Cordelia von Gymnich commenting: “Once again, Christmasworld has topped the previous year’s results with a big increase in both exhibitor and visitor numbers. As the flagship of the international decoration sector, it continues to forge ahead and underscore its unchallenged position as the leading trade fair for seasonal and festive decorations. Without exception, all indicators are pointing to growth. Therefore, the outlook for good business is bright for all participants.”

The move to launch Floradecora alongside Christmasworld this year seems to have paid off, as the blend of Christmas and seasonal decorations with fresh flowers and plants was reportedly greeted with positive feedback from trade visitors and exhibitors alike. The success of the concept was confirmed by exhibitors, such as Europe’s biggest Christmas-tree producer, Arbodania from Denmark: "We reached target groups that were completely new to us, such as a large furniture chain that we would never have met at any other fair. This opens up new market opportunities for us and new sales potential for buyers”, said Sales Director Michael Schnor.

The results of the visitor survey confirmed that the product portfolio is right on target, said organisers. More than 90% of visitors said they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the spread of products and manufacturers, as well as with the trade fairs themselves, while 96% of respondents said they had achieved their trade-fair goals.

As in the past, the greatest trade-visitor interest was shown in Christmas and Advent decorations (68% of respondents), followed by seasonal decorations (35%), gifts (30%), florists’ requisites & garden decorations (28%), candles (25%), and visual merchandising & lighting (22%).

Trade visitors could also take inspiration from the Christmasworld Trend Show, which demonstrated ways of winning over the customer with new colours, materials and designs, using four different colour scenarios. The overarching theme, 'delightful moment', identified by the bora.herke.palmisano Trend Bureau, reflected the latest currents in fashion, interior design and architecture, as they manifest themselves across the products on show by exhibitors.