that the trade visitors included large numbers of the global top 30
retail chains, such as John Lewis, Home Retail Group, Harveys
Furniture -all from the UK - as well as Conforama from France and
Nitori from Japan. The major industry players in online retail—including
Amazon and the Otto Group—also used the event intensively for their
businesses. With these results, the trade fair duo has confirmed its
importance for the interior design industry's global commercial
operations on a national and an international level.
LIVINGKITCHEN CLOSES WITH GOOD RESULTS
In parallel with the world's most important furnishing fair, imm
cologne, the international kitchen event LivingKitchen took place
this year. For the seven days of the event, 200 exhibitors from 21
countries—including around 50 first-time and returning exhibitors—
showed how much innovation the industry has to offer and how high
its standards of design and quality are. This year's LivingKitchen not
only followed on seamlessly from its success in 2015, but
significantly improved on the key figures in many areas. "For us,
LivingKitchen 2017 was a complete success. The world's best-
performing kitchen industry needs a leading international trade fair
in Germany. Our industry presented an outstanding showcase, and
we are convinced that the trade fair will significantly boost demand
for kitchens, nationally and internationally," said Kirk Mangels, chief
executive of the Modern Kitchen Working Group e.V. (AMK). A
great number of positive comments were received on the event's
concept, which is aimed at both business and the general public.
When asked about the event's added value, many exhibitors
mentioned the fact that Cologne is the only trade fair where they
can present their products in the context of a globally oriented
interiors show. "LivingKitchen in Cologne is on an excellent course.
We will analyze the results right after the trade fair to see how we
can work together to continue to develop the event," said Mangels.
But it was not just the exhibitors' innovative products that attracted
a highly diverse audience interested in the latest kitchens and good
food - the cooking events and large cooking shows also drew
visitors to the trade fair on the public days.
The next imm cologne will take place from January 15- 21, 2018
in Cologne, co-located with LivingInteriors.
imm Cologne and LivingKitchen
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