January is a special month for many people. It marks the start of a new year and is ideal for planning, new beginnings or change. And with all the inertia after the winter holidays, it's time to ask: What's this year going to be like? What is the pulse of the furniture industry? Who, what and how is showing at a trade show in 2024? It's the first major event of the year and that makes imm cologne like a barometer for the furniture industry. So after a few weeks of vacation and quiet, it's a place to find inspiration, partners and make plans. Naturally, beyond seeing/exhibiting innovative and inspiring products, it's a great opportunity to meet people. It's a place where business, inspiration and relationships naturally come together. And very much about connectivity this year was meant to be.
imm cologne is one of the most important trade fairs dedicated to the furniture and interior design industry in Cologne, Germany. From January 14-18, 2024, a new edition of the event took place, attracting a large number of industry professionals as well as design and interior design enthusiasts.
Connecting communities: the motto of imm cologne 2024
The central theme "Connecting communities" was brought to life by an innovative exhibition concept called "The Circles". The format made its debut in 2023 at imm Spring Edition and showcased diverse content platforms and events combining business, inspiration and networking. The circular areas from which the format takes its name were intended to be connecting elements and places where trade fair participants can meet and discuss. This holistic approach reflected the central theme of the fair - Connecting Communities - fostering a sense of connectedness of an entire industry that goes beyond a typical fair experience.
As a new feature at imm cologne 2024 - and one of several different types of "Circle" - hospitality areas played a more prominent role. The concept was embodied in various formats, including the Circle Club - a special area furnished in the style of a café. Where there is good food and drink, relationships, meetings and fun naturally follow. A relaxed atmosphere is proven to stimulate face-to-face conversations and strengthen community spirit.
Installation Circle consisted of several installations staged by outstanding designers. There was also a Community Circle, where several exhibitors showcased their ideas and innovations in shared booths, making it the ideal place for conversations between like-minded peers.
Pure, Home and Sleep - the three exhibition segments
The Pure segment is the imm cologne format for exclusive, cutting-edge design. Pure along with the other two segments of the fair - the Home interior world and the Sleep section - have covered the diverse spectrum of interior design for which imm cologne is renowned. The number of exhibitors in the Home and Sleep segments attracted a large number of participants. The furniture that stood out with its impressive variety of designs were chairs, armchairs and sofas of all shapes.
imm cologne announced before the start of the fair a list of key retail and wholesale representatives who have confirmed their participation as visitors to the January fair. "The confirmations from major buying associations and leading furniture retailers as visitors underline a positive signal. We are delighted to be able to once again offer trade fair participants this important business platform at the very beginning of the year with imm cologne"says Bernd Sanden, director imm cologne. These are names such as Conforama, El Corte Inglés, IKEA, JYSK, Krieger/KHG, Micasa, Möbel Martin, Next, Nitori, Porta Möbel, and XXXLutz and others. All these presences, coming in addition to the many major exhibitors, confirm that imm cologne is an important networking and business platform.
Trends at imm cologne 2024: sustainability, mobility, versatility and retro-vintage
Participants at the IMM Cologne 2024 exhibition showcased a variety of furniture and interior design trends. Here are some of the most obvious:
1. Sustainability and ecological responsibility: A strong trend at this edition was the focus on eco-friendly products and materials. Furniture manufacturers showcased innovative ways of using recyclable and renewable materials, such as FSC-certified wood and recycled materials, thus ensuring sustainability and minimizing environmental impact.
2. Minimalist and airy design: The emphasis was on simple shapes, clean lines and minimalism. The designers presented furniture with a simple look and simple geometry, which provides a clear and uncluttered look in the spaces.
3. Mobility and versatility: The living space furniture was adapted to the changing needs of users. Easy-to-move, modular and flexible pieces of furniture were presented, allowing easy reconfiguration of the space according to individual requirements. This is one of the strongest trends we noticed. For example, outdoor furniture that looks exactly like indoor furniture. So with indoor furniture, comfortable workspaces can be created outside, in the garden, on terraces.
4. Technology integrated into furniture: Many manufacturers have presented furniture that has incorporated technological components such as wireless charging ports, integrated lights and sound systems.
5. Retro and vintage: The exhibition featured furniture pieces with retro and vintage influences. There was an emphasis on shapes and colors characteristic of past periods, bringing a nostalgic feel to modern designs. Some exhibits were visibly "brought back" from the 80s and 90s.
6. Natural and pastel colors: The color palettes presented included neutrals, terracotta, pastel greens, pastel greens, dark blues and other colors inspired by nature, satisfying the need for comfort and relaxation in interior design. We saw proposals for one-color schemes, where the walls and decor elements were the same color shade as the furniture. And to make the intention obvious, everything was done in the same shade of orange.
These are the trends we noticed during our visit to the fair and some of them highlighted by the guided tour we took.
Romania's pavilion at imm cologne: elegant, airy and diverse
As for the participation of Romanian companies, 15 companies exhibited collections of furniture and interior design accessories on an area of over 800 square meters: VISA SA, SOLENZARA SALON SRL, MOBILA DALIN SRL, MOBILA DALIN SRL, KA&MA TRADING SRL, LARIX MOBILA SRL, HANGAROUND SRL, DESIGN FOR LIFE SRL, CITY COMFORT SRL, PURE HOME COLLECTIONS SRL, ENTOURAGE FURNITURE SRL, DIS PROD SRL, ECOMATRIX SRL, LEMN PROD EX COM SRL, SAVINI DUE SRL, SZEL MOB SRL.
We were impressed by the openness for communication and discussion of all the people we were able to talk to, even if some of them we knew at the time. We saw an elegant, airy pavilion and heard kind words about the organizers. We met both companies with many years of participation in foreign trade fairs and companies that approached this participation for the first time as a strategy to maximize the chances of achieving their commercial objectives.
Szel Mob, which specializes in the production of classic wooden furniture, is participating in the fair for the tenth time. Their stand showcased new variants and finishes for established furniture as well as new products for bathrooms. With exports accounting for 70-80% of their production, Szel Gábor, the owner of the company, emphasized the importance of the German and European market for them in his talk in Cologne.
VISA Wood is a company that includes the production of furniture for various fields, including HoReCa, as well as exhibition stands. Although the company is in charge of setting up the Romanian pavilion at international fairs, this year was the company's first participation at imm cologne.
Among those taking part for the first time is Solenzara, a recent name on the Romanian market, entered through the acquisition of a factory in Targoviste.
With strong sales in the German market, Wood Prod Ex Com with the XO Interiors brand presented versatile collections combining the classic with the modern. Pieces of furniture from the Chic collection, known in Germany as "grandma's library", were now presented in solid oak, responding to the growing demand for this type of wood.
On the youtube Wood Magazine see all the videos from imm cologne 2024, an event recommended by #Lemn.Expert - A quality community and displacement supported by Felder Group - #unprietendecalidad.
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