11.11.2009 Tendence at the end of August again from 2010

• Majority vote by Tendence exhibitors and visitors for the traditional August timing

Tendence, International Frankfurt Autumn Fair, will return to its traditional dates at the end of August from 2010. With this decision, Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH is complying with the majority vote of the Tendence Strategy Commission. The basis of the recommendation and the subsequent joint decision are the results of the extensive poll of exhibitors and visitors conducted by Messe Frankfurt in recent weeks. Around two thirds of exhibitors and visitors polled recommended a return to the traditional early autumn dates. Thus, Tendence 2010 will be held in Frankfurt am Main from Friday, 27 August, to Tuesday, 31 August.

The early July dates for Tendence 2008 and 2009 were the result of several comprehensive polls of exhibitors and visitors about current ordering cycles in the trade. However, the change in ordering behaviour predicted by these polls did not come about. “In these difficult economic times, planning certainty has top priority for the trade and this is to be seen in a more conservative ordering policy with orders being placed at shorter notice. In view of the new and unequivocal results of this poll, Messe Frankfurt has once again decided to take the initiative. We have, therefore, accepted the vote and recommendation of the Strategy Commission and are moving Tendence back to its traditional time”, says Dr. Michael Peters, member of the Board of Messe Frankfurt GmbH, explaining the move.

At the end of August, the trade has a better overview of the orders it needs to place for the autumn / winter season, and of how consumer behaviour is likely to develop in the second half of the year. According to the companies polled, this development occurs in all parts of the trade and is independent of company size. “Dealers are currently so unsure about the future that they are reluctant to place orders at an early time. Thus, by moving the fair back to the old time at the end of August, we are supporting and opening up future-oriented opportunities for the specialist retail trade”, says Stephan Koziol, General Manager of koziol – ideas for friends GmbH.

“The results of the poll leave no doubt. For our customers, the later dates are the better ones. Visitors decide and, in the interests of optimum customer orientation, the fair should be held at the end of August again”, says Hamid Yazdtschi, General Manager of the Gilde Group, underscoring the vote of the Strategy Commission. Peter Reisenthel, General Manager of Reisenthel Accessoires, adds: “We cannot swim against the current. Against all expectations, customers have not accepted the earlier dates in July.”

Tendence in Frankfurt is the most important consumer-goods event and the leading design platform for the second half of the year. It is aimed primarily at design-oriented dealers and the high-grade accessories and gift-article trade. Tendence presents the latest trends for the coming winter season and provides an outlook over the trends for the spring and summer of the following year.