PREVIEW PAPERWORLD
Trend scouts Paperworld is the international trade fair for stationery, office supplies and writing instruments which runs in Frankfurt am Main over January 25-28. We speak to Julia Uherek, group show director, consumer goods, Messe Frankfurt, about the upcoming event. Paperworld is fast approaching, how are the registrations and visitor numbers looking? At Paperworld 2020 we are expecting some 1,500 exhibitors from all over the world. They include companies from the office and stationery sector that have been exhibiting at Paperworld for many years as well as young start-up companies that are exhibiting for the first or second time. Paperworld is the most international fair in this sector and we are expecting companies from around 60 countries. Most of the visitors are self-employed entrepreneurs and managers who are decision makers for their companies, and therefore highly relevant for the exhibitors. Paperworld aims to inspire, how do you hope the 2020 event will do that? We see ourselves as trend scouts, and
developments in the following year. Our audience is primarily interested in seeing the latest trends – and that’s what we show at Paperworld in an international context. Have you made any big changes for Paperworld 2020?
tomorrow”will bring, and consult with other industry participants in order to present our visitors and exhibitors with new perspectives and opportunities. For example,
We see ourselves as trend scouts, and transfer both the current industry fashions and social megatrends to the paper, office supplies and stationery industry transfer both the current industry fashions and social megatrends to the paper, office supplies and stationery industry. At Paperworld, retailers see all the latest themes and trends in the direct context of the sector and can apply them to their own product ranges. This gives them an edge over other market participants and makes them attractive and competent for customers. For the complementary programme, we look into what
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with colours, shapes and designs at Paperworld Trends, and with product combinations for retail outlets, at Mr Books & Mrs Paper.
shopping. But everything relating to sustainability and high quality is also very much in demand. These current developments are reflected in the Paperworld Trends in Hall 3.1 J11, with the three themes Blazing Hotchpotch, Noble Barrique, and Smooth Sorbet. The designers from the Bora.herke. palmisano style agency will create these three trend worlds with selected products from exhibitors. This means that visitors are presented with a wide range of exhibitor products that correspond to the trend. Paperworld Trends is the perfect first port of call to find out what’s new for the coming season. I’m very much looking forward to seeing it live.
You have identified three key mega-trends for the industry in the form of Blazing Hotchpotch, Noble Barrique, and Smooth Sorbet, how can visitors expect these trends to be represented at the trade fair?
You are a very international event, with visitors and exhibitors from all over the globe, why do you believe you attract such a wide-ranging audience?
In the area of stationery, the season’s colour trends play a very important role. Trendy designs, such as last year’s jungle motif, are also being taken up for notepads or other accessories. Consumers in this segment are very much guided by the latest market trends when
We naturally keep an eye on the markets throughout the year and on the paper, office supplies and stationery market in particular, in order to be able to pick up on the latest trends and developments at an early stage and integrate them into the subsequent Paperworld. The fair is a mirror of the market, so it also changes from year to year. Every year we review the previous Paperworld and plan the topics and content for the next event. We also include industry experts in the process so that we can present the latest
No major changes are planned for Paperworld 2020 – apart from the relocation of the Remanexpo product area into the newly-renovated Hall 6.1. The office supplies product area will be held in Hall 3.0. Hall 4.0 is hosting exhibitors with writing and drawing instruments (office) as well as manufacturers of school supplies (atationery). The Stationery area in Hall 3.1 features the product groups gift giving, packaging, and celebrations with paperware, greetings cards, small leather goods, accessories, napkins, table decoration, and designs. Halls 1.1, 1.2, and Forum 0 are reserved for exhibitors with paper-related products, stationery, office supplies, and writing materials for bulk buyers, wholesale and foreign traders as well as import and export companies from all over the world. Do you have any surprises planned? Since we change our complementary programme every year and adapt it to the market trends, there will be lots of new things to discover – for example the Future Office in Hall 3.0 C51, which offers a glimpse into the future with solutions for a smart office. Retailers might want to surprise their customers in the coming year with a trendy additional product range. In January, visitors have the chance to broaden their horizons and explore the Creativeworld and Christmasworld trade fairs, which are held at the same time. Additionally, retailers can spice up their portfolio by offering, for example, a range of high-quality pens for hand labelling, or unusual gift articles and seasonal decorations. One thing I am sure of – the highlights and trends at Creativeworld and Christmasworld
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10/01/2020 16:04