Detlef Braun's optimism seems to know no bounds.

With a big smile, the managing director of Messe Frankfurt names one superlative after the other: With a gross area of ​​352,950 square meters, the consumer goods fairs Ambiente, Christmasworld and Creativeworld are to be held simultaneously on one site for the first time.

This should make them the largest trade fair event that has ever taken place in Frankfurt.

Felix Black

volunteer

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"The fact that the new Hall 5 and Hall 12 are online for the first time offers maximum hall capacity for the world's leading trade fairs in the consumer goods industry," says Braun.

The exhibition center is roughly the size of 50 football pitches.

Braun expects 4561 exhibitors from more than 160 countries - according to the trade fair, the largest consumer goods show in the world.

86 percent of the exhibitors come from abroad – that too is a new record.

The fact that those responsible are no longer organizing the Paperworld trade fair as an independent event, but rather merging it with the three major trade fairs, is also a first.

In addition, so-called digital matchmaking is to be used for the first time at the three leading trade fairs Ambiente, Christmasworld and Creativeworld – a kind of Tinder for the consumer goods industry.

The companies create a profile and can indicate which customers or manufacturers they are interested in.

Software based on artificial intelligence then makes suggestions.

In this way, supply and demand should come together more quickly.

Millions in support from shareholders

Messe Frankfurt, which is 60 percent owned by the city and 40 percent by the state of Hesse, had to be supported by its shareholders with a 150 million euro loan and a capital injection of 200 million euros during the corona pandemic.

Income before income taxes fell from a plus of 61 million in 2019 to a minus of 122 million in 2020. The loss in 2021 was 139 million euros.

Business is now recovering.

"Last year we almost tripled our sales compared to the previous year," says Braun.

However, this goes back to a low starting level, of course.

Corona is hardly an issue anymore.

After the crisis years of 2020 and 2021, the signs point to growth.

What still clouds the mood: With the war in Ukraine, the increased energy prices and supply chain problems are hanging over the consumer goods markets like the sword of Damocles.

The increased cost of living continues to limit the scope for consumer spending: According to the Institute for Retail Research in Cologne, a decline in consumer spending of 1.9 percent is expected in Germany for the current year.

A recovery is not expected until 2024.

Trade fair worlds post-corona

From Braun's point of view, it is all the more important that the exhibitors and customers meet again at the exhibition center after three years.

From February 3rd, Ambiente will focus on four core themes with brands such as Cristel, Dibbern and Goebel: The keyword "Dining" will be about all trends relating to kitchens, tables and households.

Gifts, accessories and now also high-quality stationery and articles for school supplies come under “Giving”.

Living, furnishing and decorating are under the sign "Living".

The "Work" area has probably played the biggest role since the corona pandemic and the associated rise of home office.

As the most important trade fair for the international hobby, handicraft and artists' supplies industry, Creativeworld begins on February 4th.

Exhibitors such as Clairefontaine, the FILA Group, Folia, Royal Talents and Kuretake are also part of the party.

Anyone who visits Christmasworld from February 3 will get a glimpse of the trends that are emerging for the Christmas season.

At all three trade fairs and the integrated trade fair for office supplies, paper and stationery, Paperworld, the focus is also on sustainability, lifestyle, the new working world, design and the future of retail.

For Managing Director Braun it is clear: the years before the corona pandemic set a high bar.

The number of visitors will probably lag behind those of 2019.

If 100,000 people find their way to the exhibition grounds, this would be a great success from his point of view.