INHORGENTA MUNICH sees strong demand for space in 2012
Tobias Gröber, Business Unit Director Consumer Goods, Messe München
MUNICH, Germany, January 22, 2012 – INHORGENTA MUNICH, which will take place from February 10-13, is seeing strong demand for space, especially from foreign exhibitors, says Tobias Gröber, Business Unit Director Consumer Goods, Messe München.
Tobias speaks to Jewellery Outlook about the special features of the show this year, including the promotion of young designers, a vibrant seminar program and exciting exhibitions of silverware and platinum jewellery.
Q. Do you expect to see an increase in the number of visitors and exhibitors at INHORGENTA MUNICH 2012 compared with the previous year?
Demand for space in 2012 at INHORGENTA MUNICH, Trade Show for Jewelry and Watches, is very strong, in particular from exhibitors from abroad. We´ve now reached over 1,000 square meters more than last year. In watches and lifestyle in particular there are quite a number of new registrations and existing customers are taking larger stands.
Q. What new features will INHORGENTA MUNICH 2012 have?
A trade show like INHORGENTA MUNICH needs a clear structure. For that reason we have revised the layout of the individual sections. The routing through the halls is also more streamlined, so that visitors can quickly and easily find the sections of relevance to them. And the design of the ranges in the halls has been optimized – to ensure a working atmosphere that is both efficient and attractive.
In the area around the West Entrance, trade visitors and exhibitors are welcomed by a stylish INHORGENTA MUNICH Lounge. We are also planning to give exhibitors the chance to book the lounge area for events.
In 2012 the show will also have a number of culinary highlights, too: Celebrity chef Holger Stromberg, who cooks for the German national football team and who since last year has also been engaged for ISPO MUNICH and INHORGENTA MUNICH, is running the “Schlossrestaurant” (Castle Restaurant) and the Buddha Bar, specially for the show in Hall B2. The range of food and drink here goes beyond the standard program of many fairs, and is a culinary expression of the high quality standards of INHORGENTA MUNICH.
I must also draw attention to another highlight: our extended supporting program featuring high-caliber speakers and topical themes centered on the retail trade.
With an extended “after-work program” we want to open up new opportunities for exchange outside the actual business in the halls.
Q. Do you foresee changes to the seminar program in 2012? What new seminar themes are expected to feature at the 2012 event?
The supporting program in 2012 focuses on themes that look to the future, e.g. in our high-caliber forum called ‘INHORGENTA MUNICH Future Vision Summit’, which looks at visions for the future in the jewelry and watch business.
The speakers here will include Professor Dirk Wolfes (“Fashion Future Trends”), Nicolas Tscheche of Airbus (“Luxury in Commercial Aviation”), Björn Theis of Z-Punkt (“Evolution of Luxury”) and Professor Dr. Fritz Frenkler from the Technical University of Munich.
The program is rounded off with a range of panel discussions and lectures on relevant themes in the sector.
A special highlight in the supporting program is without doubt the lecture on “The Kimberley Process and its Current Effects” by Mark van Bockstael on Saturday, February 11, 2012.
Q. How will INHORGENTA MUNICH 2012 promote the work of young designers?
So that they can gain a better foothold in the market, INHORGENTA MUNICH is giving young designers help in the form of special starter concepts. The three different platforms have already proven successful in the past. These are: Brand New – New Brand which offers college leavers a chance to present themselves at their own table as part of an extensive forum at INHORGENTA MUNICH.
Then there´s a one-day seminar in Munich, including web and telephone support, to help forum participants best prepare for their presentation, for example as regards press folders and preparing for interviews. Another opportunity for newcomers at the exhibition is the “Forum Innovation”, which is for young designers who have started up in business in the last three years.
Q. Are there plans for any competitions (e.g., Platinum Trail, or designer competitions) at INHORGENTA MUNICH 2012?
The Silver Triennial International will be held at INHORGENTA MUNICH 2012 for the first time. This famous touring exhibition, now in its 16th edition, will reach the glittering finale of its European tour in Munich. It brings to a wider audience a range of utensils hand-made in silver, for example pouring vessels, bowls, candle-stands, vases, cutlery and free work.
The idea behind the Triennial is to draw attention to the unique charm of objects created in this precious metal by talented designers from around the world. The prize-winners include Astrid Keller, Nilton Cunha, Ja-Kyung Shin, Dong-Hyun Kim and Stefan Strube.
The Platinum Guild International Deutschland will again be holding its PLATINUM PROMENADE at INHORGENTA MUNICH 2012, following the success and tremendous press response to the premiere of this event in 2011. The competition is divided into three categories: Platinum wedding rings, platinum jewelry and platinum engagement rings and trisets. The specially designated platinum jewelry pieces will be judged by a jury of German and international experts and – new this year – also by the visitors to the fair.
The visitors will find the platinum wedding rings and platinum jewelry items that are taking part in the competition at the exhibition stands of the respective manufacturers. The registered competition pieces in the section on platinum engagement rings and trisets will be presented in a special exhibition in the “PLATINUM LOUNGE”, a special area in Hall B1.
Q. Are you planning to increase the international profile of the show and, if so, how will you do this?
We have set ourselves clear goals particularly in the international area in terms of participants and media presence. In the German-speaking world, INHORGENTA MUNICH is already strongly positioned as one of the leading trade fairs for jewelry and watches. That is the ideal basis for further enhancing the profile of the event in the international arena.
For the forthcoming events we will be stepping up our communication with customers abroad and appealing more directly to our target groups through special visitor programs, such as the “Top Buyers Program”.
