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participants it must be said that for years the of affront from companies, in many cases "The hardware fair has proven itself to be the
last day of Practical World has been a substantially larger commercially than central hardware meeting place in Europe.
business desert. Kölnmesse, of course, needs occupants of Hall 5, is understandable. However, the new concept was not accepted
have a strong eye for the commercial Hall 6 was a puzzle. Titled Home by the market participants and will have to be
interests of city businesses, they are Improvement/DIY from Asia, it was one of adapted." John W. Herbert, managing director
ultimately its owner. However, there surely two open to the 7,000 non-trade visitors that of the Federal Association of the German DIY,
comes a point of recognition that a long, came to the Fair. Hall 7 was clearly targeted Building and Garden Specialist
sterile final day tarnishes the memory of the at the consumer with OBI and other major Stores, commented, "The reorientation of
good trading days, however many hotel beds retail players playing a very visible part and Practical World was an experiment. All the
and restaurant tables it may fill. At the least, most exhibits targeted very directly to the parties involved - the trade, industry and
Kölnmesse surely needs to concede that consumer. The Hall 6 strategy was harder to Kölnmesse - should get together again after
extending the agony to a 6pm close on the comprehend and undoubtedly caused some the trade fair to discuss the concept."
final day is no longer practicable. unease amongst trade exhibitors. Most One dimension of the International
On a strong upside, the Fastening exhibits were generic and unbranded making Hardware Fair/Practical World that is
Technology Innovations Forum is now a it difficult to understand the decision to allow undoubtedly booming is Tools - there were
welcome regular feature of Hall 5. Kölnmesse consumer access here and not, for example, 2,600 tools exhibitors, nearly 75% of the total.
deserves full credit for this continued to the Asian tool and hardware suppliers in That growth is also paralleled at the Chinese
commitment to recognising innovation in Halls 1 and 2. The real question in relation to International Hardware Show, ‘powered’ by
fastening products, although they’ll have to the development of a consumer-facing Practical World, in Shanghai. It’s another key
forgive us for mentioning that, whatever our element to Practical World is where does it factor in the metamorphosis of this event in
exhibition links, this publication is unique in go from here? There has to be a strong future years.
its capability of communicating to the attraction to Kölnmesse and its ‘shareholders The International Hardware Fair/Practical
European fastener industry. This year the to see greater volumes of the paying public World continues to hold justified claim to being
stand featured a particularly strong and varied in the city, compensating for a declining trend the premier hardware and DIY event in Europe.
selection of products – see our separate in trade visitor numbers – something by no It has suffered a progressive if not catastrophic
report on some of the more notable and also means unique to this event. Like the arid decline in trade foot traffic but the international
the three worthy winners. last day, though, the benefits are not and decision-making credentials of its visitors
Asian fastener exhibitors were, again, necessarily so evident to its other major are certainly not in doubt. In common with
segregated into Hall 6. For many of the well- stakeholders and paying customers, the other events it wrestles with the balance
recognised suppliers this is seen as a exhibitors. between European and Asian exhibitors and to
retrograde step. These companies feel they Kölnmesse acknowledges that the opening its credit has taken major steps to ensure
have long earned their place amongst their of Practical World to end consumers came in respect for intellectual property. The Pandora’s
European peers. Fastener buyers, of course, for a mixed reception. Dr. Peter Wüst, box of consumer visitors has been opened –
made their way to Hall 6 in volume so the managing director of the Construction and DIY Sunday, 28 February to Wednesday, 3rd March,
practical effect was minimal but the feeling Manufacturers' Association BAU + DIY said, 2010 will reveal more.
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