Hardware made in Germany
Las Vegas — Where do organizers of the International Hardware Fair go to promote their Cologne, Germany, event. One of the places: The National Hardware Show.
Koelnmesse executives Matthias Becker and Stefan Lohrberg were making the rounds here at the National Hardware Show, spreading the word that an international perspective awaits retailers and manufacturers in Cologne in March 2018. Some 90 to 100 American manufacturers are expected to attend the event, along with some 2,700 exhibitors from around the world.
Next year's show will introduce a few new changes, and expand some ideas that worked in past shows. One change for the event is that the fair will return to its four-day format, after trying out the three-day format in 2016. "The purpose of the Fair is to establish business and not to avoid business," said Becker, explaining the return of the extra day.
And as trends in ecommerce disrupt American retail, Becker and Lohrberg say the same disruption is occurring everywhere. And the International Hardware Fair will address the trend with an expanded Ecommerce Summit during the Fair. "This topic is more and more relevant," Becker said. "Google, eBay, Amazon and so on — we are seeking participation from all of these companies. We are looking forward to establish this as a lighthouse for the industry, and an event for the retailers and industry to get involved."
Koelnmesse is working with the President's Council and the National Retail Hardware Association to develop programs to connect manufacturers and retailers. It will offer a rebranded and relaunched USA pavilion. And the show's organizers also expect American travelers to find advantageous exchange rates in Europe.
"The currency situation is very nice for the Americans to come to Europe," Becker said. "The euro has been at an all time low, pretty much for the last year."
While the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas has a focus on North America, Becker and Lohrberg describe the International Hardware Show as a worldly event. "If you want to see what's trending in the rest of the world, and see a tremendous range of manufacturers and tools, that's what we provide."
The International Hardware Fair is slated for March 4-7 in Cologne, Germany.
