spoga+gafa sees substantial growth in return to annual event cycle

Casual Living Staff -- Casual Living, 9/15/2011 9:03:00 AM

Providing an international business platform to showcase the latest trends and newest products in the garden market, the spoga+gafa trade fair, held Sept. 4-6 in Cologne, Germany, attracted 36,300 trade visitors from 106 countries, an increase of more than 40% compared to the previous event in 2009.

The spoga+gafa trade fair attracted approximately 36,300 trade visitors from 106 countries.A total of 1,774 suppliers from 57 countries exhibited their product ranges as the total number of products displayed at the trade fair increased by more than 50% compared to 2009. Additionally, 59% of the visitors came from abroad, while the corresponding figure for exhibitors was 81%.

"Time to grow - that was the appropriate motto for this outstanding trade fair," said Koelnmesse Vice President Metin Ergül. "In the first year following the strategic decision to put spoga+gafa back on the annual event cycle, the wealth of innovations and top-class presentations of many leading brands from all segments helped make it possible for the trade fair to display its high quality. The fact that high-ranking international decision-makers from the full spectrum of trade channels visited spoga+gafa underscored that the fair is the leading international trade fair forum for the garden and leisure market."

Gloster showed a contemporary lineup at the show.The groundwork for a successful future was laid at the trade fair. Well-known brands including MTD/Wolf Garten, Neudorff, Freund Victoria, Positec, Juwel H. Wüster, Heissner, Keter, Scheurich, Lechuza, EFSA, Friedola - and, from the barbecue segment, Weber-Stephen Products, Barbecook and others - have already announced that they will be back in Cologne for next year's fair, scheduled for Sept. 2-4, 2012. Top brands from the premium furniture segment, including Fischer Möbel, Rausch Classics, Weishäupl, Ego Paris, Glatz, Gloster Furniture and Resinas Olot, have also committed for next year.

"The excellent participation figures, particularly from the new premium garden furniture segment, clearly show that we have established a strong foundation with garden unique," said Ergül.