The first impression at the “ZOW 2020”: The hall seems quite empty, both in terms of exhibitors and visitors. But the first impression is deceptive. In discussions with the exhibitors, a different picture emerges. The much-cited ideal location of the fair in the heart of the german furniture industry simply works. Sascha Kostros, Head of Decor Management at Impress, for example, puts it on record: “We had conversations right at the beginning that justified the whole appearance.  As far as the exhibition is concerned, Impress has adopted the theme of the fair, “Tiny Spaces”. “With less living space, of course the furniture gets smaller. And the decors have to match that. So our task is to think holistically from the living space,” explains Kostros. The company has used the most interesting new decors directly at the reception counter.

But “Tiny Spaces” as the trade fair motto has also inspired other companies. Hailo, for example, exhibited a mini kitchen as a study. “This is even far ahead of what we would call a prototype. But logistically, we can’t even bring something like that to our customers to talk about. ZOW is ideal for this,” explains Frank Peter Koch, the company’s Marketing Director. “It works particularly well here because people from the kitchen industry sometimes come along who are unlikely to go to more distant trade fairs. Because they are needed as technicians in the factory.

All in all, there are far more new things to see than might have been expected. For example, in addition to 14 new handles, Schüco Alu Competence also has a new profile light for the great “Smart Cube” shelving system. At the DekoraPur stand, “Pure Flex Super”, a completely new surface material created in cooperation with Kleiberit, will even be on display. The four millimetre thick panel can be bent almost freely and can thus be used in radii. At the same time, it can be cut with a cutter knife and even offers antibacterial properties. Thomas Luckow, Sales Manager at DekoraPur: “If it weren’t for ‘ZOW’, we wouldn’t have found a stage for this product for a very long time. The ‘Holz-Handwerk’ doesn’t fit in so well and not everyone goes to the ‘Euroshop’. Here we meet our most important target group.”

The “ZOW 2020” is small, the first impression is not ideal. But the important visitors are here again and for the exhibitors the rule is: you get out what you put in.