spoga+gafa suspends for 2020, changing to new date
spoga+gafa takes place once at the end of May in 2021, then in the middle or end of June
At the request of the industry, Koelnmesse is moving the date for spoga+gafa to the first half of the year. In future, this means that the largest garden lifestyle trade fair in the world will be held at a time more convenient for orders by large segments of the industry.
With the entire area almost fully booked the spring of 2020 and thus outstanding registration levels for spoga+gafa, the trade fair situation increasingly came to reflect the current developments around Covid-19 and the economic situation. The news about new cases of infection in Germany played a role, as well. The current travel situation is still uncertain, too – particularly at the intercontinental level. That is why in recent weeks a large majority of exhibitors and trade visitors decided not to attend spoga+gafa after all. In the end, the extensive preparations for the trade fair and the #B-SAFE4business package of measures for the coronavirus- compliant implementation of our trade fairs were not enough to calm the hesitancy amongst trade fair attendees. For this reason Koelnmesse reassessed the overall situation together with the Advisory Board and decided that it was best to respond to the cancellations and wishes of a large number of industry exhibitors and visitors by not implementing spoga+gafa 2020. In future, spoga+gafa will take place in the middle or end of June. Only in the coming year will it take place unanimously from 30 May to 1 June.
spoga+gafa generated the growth seen in recent years – in terms of exhibitors, space and visitorship – through a particularly close cooperation with the garden-lifestyle industry. Koelnmesse has always placed its focus on the needs of its industries. The development of spoga+gafa into a globally relevant platform for added value and communication was and remains the strategic focus of this trade fair. Building upon this, Koelnmesse used the impacts of the very recent past and, together with the deliberative bodies involved, consulted about the future date for the largest garden lifestyle trade fair in the world.
On rescheduling spoga+gafa to the first half of the year, Koelnmesse COO Oliver Frese observed: “The aim of our conversations with the industry is to work together to give a strong trade fair a chance to gain even more strength and market relevance. The focus here is on the ordering behaviour seen in many parts of the industry, which has evolved over the years. To make this event even better the spoga+gafa 2021 will take place once at the end of May, and from 2022 on it will take place in mid or late June.” Further information will follow shortly.
Koelnmesse – Global Competence in Furniture, Interiors and Design: Koelnmesse is the world’s top trade fair organiser for the areas of furnishing, living and lifestyle. At the trade fair hub of Cologne, the leading international fair imm cologne as well as the trade fair formats of LivingKitchen, ORGATEC, spoga+gafa, interzum and Kind + Jugend rank among the internationally renowned and established industry meeting places. These fairs comprehensively represent the upholstered and case furniture segment, the kitchen industry, the office furniture sector and outdoor living as well as the innovations of the furniture supply industry. Over the last few years, Koelnmesse has specifically added international fairs in the most important fast- expanding markets to its portfolio. These include idd Shanghai, interzum bogotá in Bogotá, interzum guangzhou in Guangzhou and Pueri Expo in Sao Paulo. With ambista, the online portal for the interiors business, Koelnmesse offers direct access to products, contacts, expertise and events relevant to the industry all year round.
To know more, visit spoga+gafa or contact Ms. Riznha Mendoza of ECCP at riznha.mendoza@eccp.com.