Statements Christmasworld 2013

Association statements

Stephan Jung, Chairman of the Board of German Council of Shopping Centres
“Retailers and retail-property managers agree that inspiration and themed presentations are increasingly important for both shops and shopping centres, to motivate consumers and thus increase sales. Therefore, all members of the German Council of Shopping Centres were invited to take part in the Christmasworld Premium Business Programme and to be the guests of this leading international trade fair.

We were pleasantly surprised at the positive echo we received and are convinced that this strategic partnership is a successful way of supporting our members in their efforts to position themselves as fast reacting and innovative. I was personally very impressed by the professional and efficient way Messe Frankfurt implemented the Premium Business Programme. We hope to be able to continue and extend this cooperation in future projects.”

Peter Botz, Director, Chairman, Association of German Garden Centre
“You will almost always find highly motivated people behind good Christmas markets. Hence, we are delighted that Messe Frankfurt has honoured the best Christmas markets in cooperation with the trade publishers and our Association of German Garden Centres. In this way, we can discover the best and set our personal sights higher.

We have begun the new year very optimistically. With our joint online shop at http://www.olerum.de, we and our members are very well prepared and positioned to respond to changes in consumer behaviour in the direction of online shopping.”

Armin Strecker, Managing Director, Wholesale Association for Florists’ and Decorative Requisites
“The exhibitors from our segment, florists’ and decorative requisites, who are primarily to be found in Hall 8 and 9, were very pleased with the number of visitors and orders placed.

Stefan Thomann, Director, European Candle Association (ASBL)
“Our members are satisfied with the course of business at the fair. All important customers took advantage of the opportunity to find out about the latest trends and to keep in touch with their suppliers.

With its international audience of trade visitors, Christmasworld is and remains the leading event for Europe’s candle makers.

Particularly striking this year has been the large increase in the number of visitors from East European countries, which have been very important candle makers for many years and are now, understandably, making presentations at Christmasworld.“

Dieter Uhlmann, Director, Association of Artistic Craftspeople and Toy Makers from the Ore Mountains
“The results so far at Christmasworld are up to expectations. I am pleased to say that most of the customers we expected, including overseas buyers, were there. A good reception was accorded to the first ‘German Christmas Crafts’ exhibition at which five of our members made presentations.”

Exhibitor statements

Hall 8.0

Ralph Hofbauer, CEO, Botanic-Haus (8.0 H90)
“Overall, purchasing behaviour is better than last year and the mood is also good. We welcomed numerous customers from former East Bloc countries – Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic – as well as many from Italy, France and England. Our Christmasworld presentation, which is based on the trend forecasts of Messe Frankfurt and the German Fashion Institute, has been given a positive reception.”

Evert Verkleij, Managing Director, Edelman B.V. (8.0 K60)
“Our customers confirm that Christmasworld has developed into one of the best international trade fairs. The profile is good, the combination of Christmas and floristry is harmonious. We are satisfied. The mood and the number of customers are good. Visitors come from all over the world with East Europe and the former Russian Federation being particularly well represented. Growth in the market is healthy and stable, and not dependent on chance. In Germany, we are experiencing a good rate of growth on an unchanged high level of quality.”

Hall 9.0

Ulvi I. Aydin, CEO, Drescher GmbH (9.0 B20, B10)
“We are happy. For us, Christmasworld is the biggest and most important fair. We are delighted that our new concept has proved to be so popular. Our strategy of doing the unexpected and distancing ourselves from the inexpensive market has worked. Only half of what today’s customers purchase is products. What they are really looking for is ideas. And whoever offers them is successful. This year, we are banking on clashes of style and confrontation coupled with opulent themed presentations and fun.”

Manuel Vels, CEO, Pusteblume GmbH (9.0 E10)
“We are delighted. The change in position has had a very positive impact. We have welcomed many new customers and our turnover is up compared to the old hall. The number of visitors is also satisfactory. There has been a good mix of German and European customers, especially from East Europe and Italy. Those who come to the fair are willing to order. We have not heard any complaints. The atmosphere is extremely enthusiastic. The trend to high-grade products continues.”

Hall 9.1

Hamid Yazdtschi, CEO, Gilde Gruppe (9.1 B10)
“Christmasworld is the leading international trade fair for Christmas articles. The Friday was very good for us with customers from America, Asia and the Middle East. We expect visitors from continental Europe to come in the remaining days. Multi-channel sales strategies are the key to the future.”

Hall 11.0

Magdalena Wal-Granisz, Export Sales Manager, MAG Gorzelak i Jasinski Sp.J. (11.0 C91)
“The visitors are all very professional, well informed and prepared. Most of our customers come from Europe, for example, from Italy, Spain, France and Denmark. The fair is very important for us because we can meet customers personally here and that is indispensable.

What we particularly like about Christmasworld are the special exhibitions, such as the Trend Show and Window Wonderland. The Trend Show offers us inspiration for the colours of our new collection. Thanks to Window Wonderland, we will be able to make even better product presentations.

We are very pleased with our stand in Hall 11.0. This exhibition hall is perfect for our presentations and, because it is so spacious, the products stand out particularly well.”

Thomas Tykesson, CEO, Gnosjö Konstsmide GmbH
“We are extremely pleased with the course of business at the fair. Christmasworld has been very good for us and we had lots to do the whole time from morning to evening. In Frankfurt, around 80 percent of our visitors are regular customers and 20 percent new customers. They also included many foreign visitors, especially from Austria and Holland, as well as Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Finland, France and Italy.”

Johan Hugues, CEO, Blachère Illumination
“We have been taking part in Christmasworld for 15 years now and rank among the oldest exhibitors. Christmasworld is very important for us as a meeting place and this is where we begin our new business season every year. Christmasworld stands for ‘real business’ – buyers know exactly what they are looking for. We created a sensation with Casper the ghost and are very proud to have been able to produce him together with Jean-Charles de Castelbajac for the ‘Les Sapins de Noel des Créateurs’ charity event. We were really pleased that Christmasworld gave us this chance to renew our acquaintanceship with him.”

Klaus Mark, CEO President, MK Illumination
“We give the numerous new initiatives at Christmasworld a highly positive rating. They include, in particular, the bigger Trend Show and the Window Wonderland special presentation, which we supported. It was really worth seeing and important for visitors as a source of inspiration. The Premium Business Programme and the partnership with the German Council of Shopping Centres should certainly be continued and expanded. This represented a good start for the target group of shopping-centre managers and designers and other large-scale and outdoor advertising spaces.”

Hall 11.1

Kurt Diedrich, CEO, Braun – Heitmann GmbH & Co.KG (11.1 D40)
“For us, Christmasworld is not primarily a sales fair but rather an important contact platform. Here in Frankfurt, we offer our customers a compact overview of our range and take advantage of the fair to exchange ideas and opinions with the sector. We find the special shows exciting because we often find product compositions there, which we can make good use of for our work.”

Ralf Hömerlein, CEO, Oberfränkische Glas & Design (11.1 B20)
“This year, we opted for a completely open stand and this enabled us to attract even more customers than in the past. We also gained more new customers from outside Germany, which is very important for us. We see that the trend continues towards high-grade products from Germany and Europe. More and more retailers and consumers are turning their backs on mass-produced goods. Quality is important. Moreover, our customers are ready to take risks and, for example, purchased more trendy colours and extraordinary designs.”