The Writing Initiative at Paperworld promotes the art of handwriting- Creativeworld, the shooting star on the trade-fair firmament, reflects the booming handicrafts trend with more exhibitors
- A strong Christmasworld spurs the trade to decorate their businesses on every festive occasion
The Christmasworld, Paperworld and Creativeworld trio of fairs will kick-off the new business year with a spectrum of products for three main segments – festive decorations, paper, office supplies and stationery and hobby, crafts and artists' requisites – unrivalled anywhere in the world when they open their doors from 24 / 25 to 28 January 2014. "With our trio of consumer-goods fairs, we generate important new impulses for the trade and thus help it maintain the propensity to consume in Germany at its current high level", says Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt. To this end, the three fairs, each of which is the leading event for its sector, are distinguished not only by the products of the international manufacturers and suppliers taking part but also by a very extensive programme of events. With 2,901 registered exhibitors from 65 countries, the number taking part in the three fairs is only slightly down on last year (2013[1]: 2,968 exhibitors from 66 countries). This is primarily the result of fewer German manufacturers taking part in Paperworld. Christmasworld remains constant at last year's level while Creativeworld has been able to increase its number of exhibitors significantly. Altogether, the three fairs remain stable despite the economic fluctuations taking place in Germany, Europe and the world.
Paperworld takes account of the sector's needs
The number of exhibitors at Paperworld (1,670 from 59 countries / down 6.4 percent on last year) clearly illustrates developments taking place in the sector. The total turnover of the German paper, office supplies and stationery market has declined for the second year running and now amounts to € 13.011 billion (source: IFH Retail Consultants Institute, Cologne). Particularly under pressure as in previous years is the commercial office-supplies sector, as reflected by the absence of several German exhibitors from this part of Paperworld. "Alternative options for exhibiting at the fair are necessary for these manufacturers and suppliers. Therefore, we are working with the 'PBS-Industrieverband' and 'Altenaer Kreis' associations and German manufacturers on a new concept for Paperworld, which will come into effect in 2015. As organisers, we are flexible enough to integrate important groups to take due account of the needs of market participants", says Braun. With 1,670 exhibitors, Paperworld remains the world's biggest trade fair for paper, office supplies and stationery and presents a product spectrum unrivalled in either horizontal or vertical terms. From paper, via printer accessories, to office products and writing utensils, Paperworld offers a host of new products and trends for the retail and wholesale trades. Additionally, the programme of events with special exhibitions, trends and lectures generates important impulses and gives the sector the ideas needed to maintain its position in volatile times.
The Writing Initiative: a commitment to writing on paper
The new Writing Initiative will make its first-ever presentation and introduce its concept at Paperworld. The main aim of the project is to promote handwriting and writing skills. "It is our social obligation to show people that writing by hand can be a pleasure", says Chairperson Stefanie Hanfstingl-Kariger. The Writing Initiative works closely together with the paper, office supplies and stationery sector because writing utensils, paper, diaries and greetings cards are the media of handwriting. That the written word holds an important position alongside digital communication can be seen from a study commissioned by the Initiative, which shows that nine out of ten Germans consider hand-written texts to be particularly valuable. Three out of four Germans would like to see more handwriting in the future. These are the results of a representative poll conducted by Pragma Institute.
Creativeworld expanding internationally
Particularly encouraging is the development of Creativeworld, which has grown by 19.6 percent this year and can now boast 287 exhibitors from 32 countries. "The decision to detach a growing segment from Paperworld in 2011 and to build it up as a separate fair was spot on", says Detlef Braun. The boom in the arts & crafts sector, which is in tune with the creative side of the process of social change, continues unabated. For the first time, Creativeworld has expanded beyond a single exhibition hall and now occupies one and a half halls. Most of the new exhibitors are international manufacturers and suppliers from countries such as Great Britain, Japan and Australia. The USA is not only very well represented but also this year's Creativeworld Partner Country with presentations of new trends and innovations. In Frankfurt, trade visitors can look forward to a very lively and dynamic fair with a variety of activities for arts & crafts and creative pastimes.
The boom in the creative market
The range of creative opportunities offered for handicrafts enthusiasts is virtually unlimited. It is not only at Christmasworld that everything revolves around creative work with paper, paint, pearls, felt, textiles, wood, wax, modelling materials, etc. The sector has also recognised the trend towards variety. And exactly what the market looks like today is shown by a study conducted by bbw Dr. Vossen & Partner in cooperation with the Creative Hobby Association (Verband Hobby-Kreativ e.V.). "Self-fulfilment and individuality are reflected by one's own ideas and forms of expression. Creative work is an ideal way of achieving this and, therefore, more and more people are taking up creative hobbies", says Gerlinde Karg, Chairperson of the Creative Hobby Association.
Christmasworld continues at a high level
A total of 944 registered exhibitors – almost exactly the same as last year – from 39 countries are showing their latest decorative trends for making the home more attractive or increasing the feeling of well-being in shopping centres, cities, public buildings, hotels or restaurants at Christmasworld 2014. Despite the increasing challenges facing the festive decorations sector, as shown, for example, by the bankruptcy of the 'Praktiker' DIY markets in Germany, Christmasworld remains the leading international trade fair for decorations and festive articles for everyone in the market", says Executive Board Member Detlef Braun. It shows a range of decorative articles and concepts for all festivals of the year – from Christmas to Easter – that is unrivalled worldwide. The fastest-growing segments are candles, room fragrances, seasonal decorations and garden decorations. The fair offers the trade a host of ideas for emotional presentations that will cause customers to be astonished, embark on a tour of discovery in the shop, stay longer and then purchase.
Trends: the emphasis is on quality and tranquillity
A return to essentials, to quality, to creative self-fulfilment, to the intensive experience of wonderful moments, to slow down in this increasingly complex and digital age – this is the superordinate trend at the Christmasworld, Paperworld and Creativeworld trade fairs. The colours, materials and designs set to dominate the new business season have been researched and prepared by trend bureau bora.herke.palmisano. In the trends for 2014/15, the unambiguous and striking will be replaced by a subtle, touching restraint. "With the general quickening and growing complexity of life, there is a growing demand for peace, calmness, reserve and concentration on essentials. The subtle and careful use of things, including decorations, helps turn festive occasions into special moments", explains Claudia Herke of bora.herke.palmisano. Visitors can discover the ways in which manufacturers have interpreted the trend motto, 'refine the style and touch the spirit', at the Christmasworld, Paperworld and Creativeworld Trend Shows.
Efficient trio of fairs
Punctually at the beginning of the year, trade visitors benefit from the biggest trend and order platforms of their kind: Christmasworld, the leading international trade fair for festive decorations, transforms five exhibition halls into 'The World of Seasonal Decoration' from 24 to 28 January 2014. Paperworld, the leading international trade fair for paper, office supplies and stationery, presents the latest innovations for the sector in nine exhibition halls from 25 to 28 January 2014. Held concurrently with Paperworld, Creativeworld, the trade fair for the hobby, crafts and artists' requisites segment, is a first-class source of ideas for the world of arts & crafts.
Each of the leading trade fairs is distinguished by a previously undreamt of product spectrum, unrivalled in both horizontal and vertical terms, and includes a reliable trend show for the coming season. Together, they form a perfect trio of fairs that generate important synergistic effects and thus pave the way to additional business.
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