Igedo Fashion Fairs Düsseldorf underline the Upward Trend with Increased Visitor Numbers and a Positive Mood

CPD scores Points with Conceptual Improvements HMD – Buyers demand a Central Trade Fair Platform Body Look – Passes the Test with Flying Colours Global Fashion – Indispensable for Sourcing Management Igedo Company announces Fair Dates for 2008 Early on

Tuesday evening saw the Igedo Fashion Fairs Düsseldorf (4 to 6 February 2007) close on a 5% increase in the number of visitors and with happy smiles on both exhibitors’ and visitors’ faces. Provisional estimates from the organiser, the Igedo Company, calculate that over 45,000 international visitors attended the CPD, HMD, Body Look and Global Fashion fairs over the three days (compared to 42,798 at the previous event). This meant the Igedo Fashion Fairs are continuing their upward trend, in terms of both exhibitors and visitors alike. Alongside avid ordering activity it was especially the visitors’ international mix and the rise in new visitors that contributed to this positive mood.

A total of 1,825 exhibitors from 52 nations were showcased at the Düsseldorf exhibition centre. The proportion of international visitors rose slightly to 34%. The proportion of Eastern European buyers virtually doubled.
 
Just like last July at the premiere of the Igedo Fashion Fairs, the four independent events benefited considerably from the synergies generated by the launch of this umbrella brand. Visitors used the concurrence of the four fairs to gather information beyond their core range at the neighbouring events, thereby enabling them to extend their ranges.

“The past three days were an important signal to the market. The reviving economy finally seems to be injecting new life into the fashion sector,” explained Frank Hartmann, Managing Director at the Igedo Company. “The mood at the stands was noticeably more positive and confident than one could have expected given the warm winter now almost over and the increase in VAT.” The trade fair location of Düsseldorf, he said, was now on an upward trend for the third consecutive season. “We are on the right track, things are looking up again.”
This development, Hartmann continued, would also be further underlined in future with new concepts and attractive ranges. 

A comprehensive and perfectly dovetailed supporting programme consisting of fashion shows, trend and order information, panel discussions and evening events – such as the exhibition opening of British hat designer Philip Treacy, the award ceremony of the fashion media prize ModeMedienpreises by the GermanFashion Association as well as the ‘Lingerie Stars’ gala – provided a complement to the concentrated information and ordering power of the Igedo Fashion Fairs over the three days of the events. Düsseldorf was the ‘place to be’ for numerous national and international celebrities.  

+ CPD scores Points with Conceptual Improvements

Altered hall layout and design, more harmonious presentation overall and a clear structure at CPD contributed considerably to both exhibitors and visitors giving the fair a noticeably higher rating. 

1,120 exhibitors showcased their 2007/08 Autumn/Winter collections in 13 segments. Generating particular interest was the return of numerous manufacturers (like Goldix, Lebek and Eugen Klein) from their showrooms to the exhibition centre itself. Firms with a showroom presence used their attendance in the segments ‘The Room’ and ‘Concept 11’ over the days of the fair to gain exclusive access to international buyers on the exhibition grounds and were able to win over many new customers through this. All three days of the event saw large crowds at the Fashion Gallery, the creative heart of CPD. The designers in Hall 14 presented their fashion with independent personality and uncompromising signature design: ‘Mode Deluxe’ whose at times unconventional touches were applauded by trade visitors.   

Exhibitors in the ‘Style & Signatures’ segment were also highly satisfied. Trendy international labels were featured here with their progressive, high-quality presentation style. The very high numbers of visitors in the hall were the main reason for the relaxed atmosphere amongst exhibitors. An increasing number of brands from the young segment also see the Igedo Fashion Fairs Düsseldorf as a key orders and information platform.
 
Summing up Wolfgang May, Director of Domestic Fairs at the Igedo Company, said: “As the flagship of the Igedo Fashion Fairs CPD has confirmed its key significance as an orders platform. Stands were very busy. A very large majority of exhibitors were very satisfied with the way the fair went.”  

Specialist clothing retailers (72%) were by far the largest group of visitors at CPD. Volume-buying retailers as well as new types of distribution business and retail trading forms each accounted for around 10% of the visitors coming to Düsseldorf.  

+ HMD – Buyers demand a Central Trade Fair Platform

The HMD – Herrenmode Düsseldorf event remains Germany’s only international menswear fair. Going down very well with international visitors its 100 exhibitors presented a convincing range, especially in the trouser, knitwear and separates  segments. The Galeria Uomo segment for fashion in the high-end price range in Hall 7a was particularly highly rated. Exhibitors and buyers were satisfied with the deals concluded here, though both demanded HMD be further extended.

“Buyers are demanding a central and high-performance trade fair platform for menswear. They are tired of the endless travelling,” explained Matthias Pfeiffer, Owner of Schäffner GmbH & Co. KG from Düsseldorf on behalf of his colleagues. “Retailers are demanding an end to this fragmentation of the sector.”

“For two seasons now our concept has offered the sector a self-contained concept,” explained Wolfgang May, Director of Domestic Fairs at the Igedo Company.” As a trade fair company, May continued, the Igedo Company could only offer the platform and the concept. This also included global marketing plus a comprehensive range of services. “The Igedo Fashion Fairs are an ideal forum for menswear. However, a menswear fair can only be successful for all concerned if there is corresponding input from the production side.” 

+ Body Look: Passes the Test with Flying Colours

The Igedo Company can also post positive results for its fully booked Body Look event. The 135 exhibitors were satisfied, especially with the rise in visitor numbers: despite the dates clash with the Salon International de la Lingerie (SIL) in Paris over 10,000 trade visitors came to Düsseldorf to gather information on the latest collections for the 2007/08 season (previous event: 3,500).
Buyers attending included 3,800 representatives from dedicated lingerie-only stores as well as 5,000 clothing stores. Furthermore, almost 1,000 buyers from flagship  stores, some straight from Paris, came to gather information and make orders in Düsseldorf. The 26.6% rise in the number of new visitors compared to July 2006 – and almost 70% over the same event last year – confirms that Düsseldorf with Body Look has now more than met its claim as the central platform for body, beach and legwear.

“Especially given the dates clash with SIL Body Look has significantly exceeded our expectations,” said Igedo Managing Director Frank Hartmann. “The event has developed outstandingly in Düsseldorf and it is now even strengthening Igedo Fashion Fairs as a whole,” Hartmann continued. 20% of visitors only attending the Düsseldorf showrooms in the past are now finding their way back to the exhibition centre thanks to Body Look, said Hartmann summing up the initial results of the current visitors survey.

The overriding majority of retailers were in a good, though not euphoric, ordering mood, which could be attributed to the low sales posted by many in the months of December and January. Nevertheless, neither the rise in VAT nor the frequently mentioned reticence to spend on the part of consumers was able to dampen the retailers’ confident mood. The order volume for Autumn/Winter 2007/08 stood at 13.1% with the desire to distinguish oneself from the cheap and mass market being a key order criterion here.
 
+ Global Fashion – Indispensable for Sourcing Management

With its 470 exhibitors from 17 nations the Global Fashion event further consolidated its position as Europe’s most important marketplace for sourcing and production. Thanks to its independent presentation this special fair is a meeting point for specialists in the field of sourcing management from the industry and from the most varied forms of large scale retail as well as for importers and, also, a noticeably increasing number of wholesalers looking for international production suppliers. 90% of visitors came specifically to Global Fashion from Germany and abroad, both from within and outside Europe. A similarly high number also plans to attend the July 2007 event.

The noticeably higher number of core visitors and further improved visitor quality and professionalism was explicitly praised by exhibitors. These are not least the results of consistent efforts on the part of the Igedo Company to both continually increase the quality of the firms exhibiting at Global Fashion and to structure the range into clearer segments. Around two thirds of visitors to Global Fashion rated these exhibitor and range improvements positively.
To a greater extent than at last year’s event, visitors came in search of new suppliers/products for womenswear as well as for men’s and children’s wear, too. With the further dismantling of production capacities in Western Europe and continued price pressure interest in sourcing management is continuing to grow – especially in the mid-price range – where more or new, reliable and flexible partners are being sought who offer full import solutions instead of subcontracting. This development concerns both immediate ranges and procurement options for following seasons. The “Global Fashion on Stage – Fashion Ningbo” event organised by the Igedo Company for the first time and the “Fashion Parade Hong Kong” organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) both helped visitors find new full import partners here by giving them initial impressions and a general overview.

+ Igedo Fashion Fairs Düsseldorf 2008 with Altered Dates

The next Igedo Fashion Fairs will be held at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre from 22 to 24 July 2007.

To also give exhibitors and visitors a chance to plan ahead the Igedo Company  announced its 2008 dates at a final press conference: as an exception due to Carnival week celebrations next year the Igedo Fashion Fairs Düsseldorf will be held from 10 to 12 February. After numerous talks held with the sector the summer event is to run from 27 to 29 July 2008.