imm cologne 2024: the January furniture show in Cologne
The next imm cologne returns from January 14-18, 2024, on the usual January dates, but with many new features. The long forced hiatus of the Covid emergency has confirmed that trade fairs are still the preferred place for trade exchanges. In fact, the trade shows that have already taken place after Covid in many cases have already surpassed the pre-Covid numbers, both in terms of the number of exhibitors and visitors. Imm cologne, therefore, is also preparing for a comeback in a big way.
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Entrance South
Despite rumors of recession in recent days, the current market situation is still quite good. The furniture consumption in the German market will rise from 54.61 billion euros in 2023 to 78.77 billion euros in 2027, an annual growth rate of 1.85 percent. Extending the gaze to the European market, the furniture market is expected to generate about €231.10 billion in 2023. It is also projected to reach a market volume of €257.30 billion in 2027, corresponding to an annual sales growth of 2.72%. Finally, the global furniture market is expected to generate about 747.50 billion euros in 2025; in 2027, the market volume will reach 889.80 billion euros, corresponding to an annual growth of 4.45 percent.
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imm cologne 2024: Connecting Communities
Therefore, the 2024 edition of imm cologne will have new dates: January 14-18. A significant change from the past: first, it will last one day less, only five days in total. Also, it starts on a Sunday and ends on a Thursday. A more streamlined duration, to cater to businesses. In addition, it will be open only to professionals so that it will be a platform for networking as well as trade.
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Connecting Communities for networking and space sharing
The concept of communities is becoming increasingly popular. More and more people are willing to share spaces and physical objects, to work for the common good. In the spirit of sharing and flexibility, imm cologne also offers an innovative exhibition concept with a wide range of formats and cultural events. One example? Exhibitors can collaborate to design and build booths together and share catering. In this way, they benefit not only from effective and cheaper presentation options, but also from the creative synergies that result. Of course, each brand retains its peculiarities.
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A new layout
Changes will also affect the exhibition spaces. The halls will gravitate around new thematic areas: Pure, Home and Sleep will find new locations, in different pavilions. The new layout will have three entrances: East, West and South. The North entrance will not be available.
The Pure area, dedicated to high-end design, will cover Halls 1, 2.2, 3.3, 4.2, 5.2; the Home area, with furnishings and solutions for the contemporary home, will occupy Halls 6, 7, 10.1, 10.2, 11.1, 11.2; and the Sleep area will find a place in Hall 9.
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Many retail operators have already confirmed their presence, among them buying groups and portals for e-commerce, such as Ikea, JYSK, Alliance, Begros, BUT, El Corte Inglés, Europa Möbel-Verbund, GIGA, La Redoute, Next, Nitori, Porta Möbel, REWE, Tchibo, XXXLutz, thus ensuring the success of the next edition of imm cologne.
The Circles
Inspired by the running theme of imm cologne 2024, “Connecting Communities,” The Circles encourages networking and sharing. The Circles include several networking options: Circle Café + Studios and Installation Circle. In the Cafés, in addition to food and drinks, you can socialize while listening to top speakers talk about trends in interior design. On the other hand, the Installation Circle is one more chance to see trends up close, thanks to unique installations. Different designers will be in charge of the installations, including designers on the Pure Talents award jury, Jonas Wagell (Studio JWDA), Esther Jongsma (Vantot), Marco Dessi (Studio Dessi), Yael Mer (Raw-Edges), Tomás Alonso.
The Brand Circles will provide exhibitors with a stage for their product innovations. Installations in the Brand Circles will allow visitors to discover trends and new interior design developments and draw inspiration from exhibitors’ creative ideas. The Community Circles, on the other hand, will fully express the central theme of imm cologne 2024, Connecting Communities. The Community Circles will host company collaborations. For example, a group of seven well-known German furniture brands will take advantage of a shared dining and networking area: Object Carpet, Draenert, Walter Knoll, Rolf Benz, Kettnaker, Schönbuch, and Freistil.
The Summit at imm cologne 2024
An event of great interest for interior design will be the Summit. Organized by the Association of the German Furniture Industry (VDM) and the German Federal Association of Furniture and Kitchen Retailers (BVDM), the Summit will host talks by leading industry experts on the future of the furniture industry. Therefore, speakers at the conference will include Professor Michael Voigtländer, who heads the Global and Regional Markets Research Unit of the German Economic Institute (IW). An expert on the housing market, Voigtländer will speak on “Prospects for the German Economy and Housing.” Boris Hedde, CEO of the Institute for Retail Research (IFH) in Cologne, will outline strategies for communicating more efficiently with consumers in the furniture industry; Martin Egner, co-founder and CEO of The Porter, which operates temporary residences, will highlight the potential of the hotel as a development channel for high-end furniture.
Pure Talents Contest
The Pure Talents Contest, one of the most prestigious international design competitions, is now in its 20th edition. With a revised competition format to celebrate this anniversary, imm cologne 2024 has again invited young creatives from all over the world to present their innovative ideas and visionary concepts to trade visitors.
The high-profile jury includes Jonas Wagell, studio JWDA; Esther Jogsma, Vantot; Marco Dessi, Studio Dessi; Yael Mer, Raw Edges; Tomàs Alonso.
