28 percent of the buyers attending this watch, clock and jewellery fair in Munich come from outside Germany; 23 percent of this number come from Central and Eastern Europe.

The intensified international activities of Messe Munchen are bearing fruit. At inhorgenta europe, the biggest international trade fair for watches, clocks, jewellery, precious stones, pearls and technology in the EU, which takes place from 20 to 23 February 2004, around 1,200 exhibitors from 40 countries will be presenting their latest products. It is expected that again around 30,000 trade visitors and buyers from over 70 countries will be attracted to this world forum, to place orders and to gather information. At inhorgenta europe in 2003, 28 percent of the trade visitors, that's one in three or four, came from outside Germany. 20 percent of those foreign visitors - that's one in five foreign buyers - travelled to the fair from Central or Eastern Europe.

In the particularly important growth market of Eastern Europe, visitor acquisition activities were stepped up for inhorgenta europe. The effects are obvious: Between 1998 and 2003, the number of trade visitors from this economic area almost doubled, from 861 to 1,644 buyers. Among the exhibitors, too, the numbers from Central and Eastern Europe are rising.

At a presentation in Warsaw in October 2003 Messe Munchen re-emphasised how important the emerging Central and Eastern European states are to inhorgenta europe. “The response we had was outstanding,” commented Armin Wittmann, exhibition director of inhorgenta europe, adding: “Not least because of the forthcoming integration of some of these countries into the EU and the prospects of easier trade relations, cooperation with this economic area is intensifying more and more.” One recent result of these efforts towards greater cooperation is that in 2004 Poland will for the first time be taking a joint stand at inhorgenta europe, alongside other joint stands from Hong Kong, India, Thailand and Turkey.

For years inhorgenta europe had been an important gateway to western markets for visitors and exhibitors from Central and Eastern Europe. Senad Keranovic, a jeweller from Zagreb, Croatia, for example, now takes the bulk of his orders for the year at inhorgenta europe. “The perfect organisation and the extensive range of products and services at this fair is very impressive,” says the Croatian jeweller.

For Sergej Garvrilin, too, managing director of Belka Ltd. in Moscow, a visit to inhorgenta europe has been an absolute must since 2002: “I am always on the look-out for new trends and collections in the volume market for fashion and lifestyle watches. The dates for the Munich fair, early in the year, are ideal: most brands show their new products here. And for me this is the best opportunity to orient myself to the new trends and order new products.”

Herbert Schullin, managing director of jeweller's Schullin & Söhne of Vienna, is also very sure: “We never miss inhorgenta europe. It's the biggest and most important jewellery trade fair in Europe, and as such the most important fair for us as regards order placement.” Despite the continuing weakness in the economy, he expects positive economic signals from the forthcoming inhorgenta europe, and in terms of trends, a move away from daring designs back towards classic designs.

His Swiss colleague, Marco Zoppi, managing director of watch and jewellery retailers Zoppi & Co, regards this international trade fair in Munich as an important platform for gathering information. “I think inhorgenta europe is always interesting for designers and goldsmiths.” In contrast to Schullin, Zoppi expects to see “new and more courageous designs” in 2004. “I also expect new impetus next February from the seminars for trade retailers offered at inhorgenta europe,” adds this Swiss jeweller from Chur.

Kathrin Schönke, Manufacturing Manager of De Beers LV Ltd. in London, has high hopes of the coming inhorgenta europe. “We will be able to see the most important trends in the sector there, meet up with existing contacts, and actively look for new suppliers and products. As regards trends for 2004 I think we will see more high-quality products, and a focus on the lower price ranges. The segment in the middle will have a difficult time of it.”

Jeweller Montserrat Guardiola of Barcelona, is also expecting much of the fair: “I am looking for modern, very special designer jewellery. At inhorgenta europe I always find interesting exhibitors and the latest collections. Also, I like to take advantage of the excellent cultural scene in Munich.”

inhorgenta europe is also represented with an information stand at the big US jewellery and watch fairs in New York and Las Vegas. The goal of this and other activities is a selective and targeted approach to important manufacturers and trade buyers on that continent. As a result more and more trade buyers from overseas are finding their way to Munich.

Ivan Gorman, a jeweller from Washington D.C., services German and American clients in the US. “Until now I have had mainly classic collections of platinum, stainless steel, a little gold and diamonds. In 2004 I will be looking around more in the excellently organised Hall C2 for creative, artistic designers,” says the American.

In doing so, he may well come across his countrywoman, Irene Kojen, managing director of Peipers+Kojen of New York. For this coming February, she has set herself a clear goal: “I am looking not only for classic design, but also for particularly unusual jewellery. Nowhere else can I do that better than at inhorgenta europe in Munich. Here I find more highly talented young designers than at any other fair.”

Whether it's a pure order fair, information platform, international community meeting place, or key trend barometer for the sector, inhorgenta europe 2004 is an event not to be missed. For the German and international retail trade that means just one thing: between 20 and 23 February all roads lead to Munich.


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Source: Inhorgenta Press Release
November 2003