Creativeworld increases its lead for 2018

Creativeworld increases its lead as the foremost trade fair for the international DIY sector with around 3,000 exhibitors from 69 countries1 made a successful start to the new business season at the Christmasworld, Paperworld and Creativeworld consumer-goods fairs, and at the Floradecora floral market place, in Frankfurt am Main this January. At Creativeworld, 336 manufacturers presented their latest products and innovations to more than 9,000 trade visitors from all over the world. Altogether, around 87,000 visitors from 162 countries made their way to Frankfurt to discover the latest trends and top themes, and to boost their businesses in the fields of festive and seasonal decorations, fresh flowers and plants, paper, office supplies and stationery, and hobby, art and craft supplies. This represents an increase of two per cent in the number of visitors. “Stimulated by a good economic climate, five intensive days at the consumer-goods fairs ended with full order books, new business impulses and a great atmosphere”, said Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt. “The further increase in exhibitor and visitor numbers confirmed that the relevant segments of the world’s consumer-goods markets are at home at Christmasworld, Paperworld and Creativeworld in Frankfurt am Main.

Creativeworld continues to grow with seven percent more visitors and an even higher level of internationality
Creativeworld 2018 was characterised by an unrivalled variety of manufacturers and products and consolidated its position as the leading international trade fair for the hobby, art and craft supplies sector. A total of 336 exhibitors from 39 countries transformed Halls 4.1 and 4.2 of the Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre into the creative centre of the world. This was also given impressive confirmation by the interest of the 9,266 trade visitors from 104 countries

“Creativeworld is the most important fair for us. This is where we built up our company. Before we came to Creativeworld, you could only find us in Scandinavia. Now, we have branches throughout Europe and beyond. All this we achieved thanks to our presentation and the new contacts made in Frankfurt”, said Charlotte Lynn Nielsen, Export Director of Creative Company.

One of the most important factors in the Creativeworld success story is its outstanding level of internationality. “We noted yet another increase in the level of internationality on both the visitor and exhibitor sides”, said Julia Uherek, Group Show Director Consumer Goods, Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH. “Companies from 39 nations presented their latest products and services in Frankfurt. Moreover, 67 percent of visitors came from abroad.” In addition to those from Germany, there were many retailers from France, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy and the UK. From outside Europe, Russia, the USA, Israel, Turkey and Australia were particularly well represented.

The large number of visitors, the high customer standard and the level of internationality ensured a positive atmosphere in the exhibition halls. This was also reflected by the high level of exhibitor satisfaction with 86 percent of exhibiting companies saying they were satisfied to extremely satisfied in terms of targets achieved and visitor target groups reached. Kirsten Rohde, Vice President Marketing, Marabu GmbH & Co. KG said, “This year’s Creativeworld has been sensational with a super audience of trade visitors from all over the world. The visitors were exactly right for us in terms of both quality and quantity. I can only say that we love this fair.” The results can only be topped on the visitor side where, according to the visitor poll, 98 per cent of retailers were satisfied to extremely satisfied with Creativeworld. For example, visiting the fair was worthwhile for Joanna Masiuk, DaWanda GmbH. She said, “Every year, Creativeworld surprises us anew and demonstrates that it really deserves its reputation as the most important and international trade fair for the creative sector. Creativeworld reflects the creativity and innovativeness of the sector more than any other fair.”

Although most of the trade visitors came from the retail trade, numerous visitors from the wholesale and import/export trades also placed orders at the show. The visitor standard increased once again, and 78 per cent of trade visitors were executives with a high degree of decision-making authority for their companies’ purchases. The bulk of buyers were interested in products from the hobby and arts & crafts segment (65 per cent). Additionally, there was a high level of demand for graphic and artists’ requisites (44 per cent) and handicrafts and textile design (31 per cent).

Top themes for the specialist trade:

Street Art
As the impulse generator for the sector, the fair offered the trade a variety of ways to hold its own at the fiercely competitive point of sale. “The biggest contingent of trade visitors comes from the retail trade. Accordingly, we focus our complementary programme of events on subjects that are important for the bricks-and- mortar trade”, said Creativeworld Director Michael Reichhold, Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH. “For example, we’ve been following developments in the street-art segment attentively for many years. Given that more and more manufacturers are including products of this kind in their assortments, we decided to devote a special show to this fascinating subject,” added Reichhold. Visitors could see a one-of-a-kind exhibition showing how retailers can present street-art products attractively in their shops and gain new customers. Akim Walta, street artists and curator of the special show, brought numerous national and international graffiti artists to Creativeworld. “With artists from Germany, China, India, Japan and Russia, we created authentic and innovative shop presentations and gave live artistic demonstrations. There was something for everyone: from calligraffiti to hand styles including manga graffiti and urban script. We also arranged this year, a performance on the outdoor area for the first time.”

Trend Show
Another must for all manufacturers and visitors was the Creativeworld Trend Show where, the designers of Stilbüro bora.herke.palmisanoon on behalf of Messe Frankfurt, showed the complete spectrum of self- made lifestyles from from clothing, fashion and home accessories, to creative ideas for the home, and ideas for gifts and wrapping. Designer Claudia Herke explained: “This year,

we integrated the tools and materials used into the special show, so we could show trade visitors how the individual pieces of the special show are made. In this way, we revealed new display and sales options for the trade because the new products and applications can be adapted for use in shops.” For the 2018/19 DIY season, the designers created three trend worlds characterised by a mixture of material combinations, natural influences and pure colours. The creative interpretation of the three trend themes – ‘The Colourist’, ‘The Gardener’ and ‘The Purist’ – were sources of inspiration for both trade visitors and manufacturers.

Complete Solutions
Exhibitors such as Stephan Rayher, CEO of Rayher Hobby GmbH, also support their retailers and present a wide variety of ways for them to attract customers. “Some years ago, we developed branch concepts that enable us to plan complete assortments with both specialist retailers and key accounts. We offer a complete package, from shop fitting, via assortment compilation, to staff training. For me, these concepts represent the future. Today, customers look not for individual products but rather for thematic worlds. Therefore, we have adopted a holistic approach.” Another exhibitor, Colart, also concentrates on concepts: “At the fair, we not only show our latest products but also offer our customers tools, with which they can attract and inspire potential customers. Our aim is to take account of artists’ requirements and to continue optimising our products, so they always come up to people’s high expectations of them”, explained Colart’s Global Communications Officer, Sophia Olver.

Workshops and the Creative Impulse Award provide inspiration
The exhibition is inspiring, lively and future-oriented and trade visitors could be sure of finding a huge variety of things the creative heart desires, and had the chance to be creative, paint, cut things out, design jewellery and hold discussions with colleagues at the exhibition stands and in the Creativeworld Forum. The most innovative products of the fair were honoured with the Creative Impulse Award.

As in the past, the creative heart of this year’s trade fair was the Creativeworld Forum with a host of workshops and product demonstrations. “Our varied and interesting workshop programme is a genuine trade-visitor magnet. The 40 places were always fully occupied, and, on occasions, we even had to find additional seats to meet the demand”, said Creativeworld Director Michael Reichhold. The programme was presented by designer and television personality Martina Lammel, “The workshops in the

Creativeworld Forum were given an enthusiastic welcome by trade visitors. In practical demonstrations, the new products and materials make a much greater impression than in straight-forward presentations on the exhibition stand”, said Lammel.

A component part of Creativeworld is the Creative Impulse Award, the most important award in the international hobby, art and craft supplies sector, which was given for the 13th time on 27 January 2018. Altogether, 74 products were entered for the coveted award, which Messe Frankfurt holds in cooperation with the ‘bit-Verlag’ publishing company.

The first places went to:

Creative Product of the Year – H. Schmincke & Co for the ‘Josef Horadam Watercolour Wheel’
Creative Tool of the Year – Heindesign and Beate Winkler for the ‘StampCover’
Complete Kit of the Year – Frechverlag for ‘Bookies Häkelsets’
Creative Book of the Year – Frechverlag for ‘Handlettering Watercolour’

Nils Knappe, CEO of H. Schmincke & Co, was delighted with his company’s first place in the ‘Best Product’ category: “To learn that our Watercolour Wheel had won first place was a wonderful surprise. For us, this award is recognition of the fact that we have created something extraordinary, something that inspires and stimulates thought.”

Trends 2018: mini gardening, maritime, hand lettering and street art in all artistic facets
This year’s Creativeworld revolved around the subject of botany with plants, leaves, cacti and beetles trending. Expression is given to these motifs in the form of high-grade designs and materials whereby the emphasis is on dark blue and green with gold accents. Well-being and stylish ‘hygge’ cosiness continue to be popular themes. With XXL yarn and mini-gardening, dwellings can be turned into individually designed sanctuaries. Creative personalities from all over the world find inspiration in natural and maritime themes. Additionally, the trend themes of street art and hand lettering were to be seen in an unrivalled abundance. The combination of different techniques and materials shows that graffiti and calligraphy on both porcelain and fabrics, as well as on walls and other surfaces, are ideal for creating special highlights.