Domotex 2012 sees slight rise in attendance over 2011

This constitutes a slight rise in attendance over 2011 as the most recent comparable staging of the event. Köckler continued: “Our exhibitors succeeded in reaching their international clientele and laying the groundwork for the business year ahead. DOMOTEX thoroughly fulfilled its function as a unique business platform and an idea-giver for the international carpet and floor coverings industry.”

1,350 enterprises from 60 nations presented their latest products and collections, including carpets, textile floor coverings, resilient floor coverings, parquet flooring and laminated coverings as well as installation, cleaning and application technologies.

This year the industry stressed bold colors and daring designs. “The time when floors played a subordinate role to interior furnishings is over. The current diversity of materials, colors and designs is unlimited, making floors an interior design object – a trend which was clearly visible throughout the exhibition halls,” stated Köckler.

High satisfaction among exhibitors and visitors

Exhibitors praised the highly international diversity of the show’s attendees, with more than 60 percent coming from abroad. Half were from European countries other than Germany, while 21 percent came from Asia and 11 percent from the Americas. A gratifying jump in attendance was registered from North America as well as South, East and Central Asia. Visitors’ professional qualifications and decision-making authority were compelling across the board.

More than 90 percent of all attendees reported being directly involved in their companies’ purchasing decisions. “If you want to cultivate international contacts and tap into new markets, you can’t afford to miss out on DOMOTEX. This is where companies can meet up with potential business partners from every corner of the globe,” continued Köckler.

The show’s attendees once again consisted primarily of wholesale and specialized retail buyers, at 30 percent and 20 percent, respectively. Skilled trades’ people, buyers from interior design and furniture stores as well as architects also used DOMOTEX 2013 to check out the latest market offerings.

Köckler’s appraisal was echoed by Joe Williams, Vice President of International Sales for Beaulieu of America (based in Dalton, Georgia): “DOMOTEX is the biggest global trade fair of its kind and that is what makes it so important to us. Here we can get in touch with buyers from the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe. Beaulieu of America benefits from the special drive emanating from DOMOTEX Hannover, which sets it apart from other tradeshows.”