Domotex is climbing the walls

When Edra CEO John Herbert promotes a trade fair, it means something. He has held management positions at DIY giants Home Depot and Bunnings and has been a regular visitor to numerous trade fairs (not only) during this time. “We were always the first at the gates and the last to leave.” That's why he knows the importance of trade fairs: “They are a barometer of how business is doing and what's currently going on in the industry,” he said during the preview of Domotex, which will take place in Hanover from January 9 to 22, 2026. And there will be a lot to see at this trade fair again, Herbert emphasized.

He is convinced that trade fairs have made a significant contribution to the growth of companies in recent years. His words to the market leaders who have stayed away from Domotex in recent years were all the more clear: “These manufacturers have become successful thanks to trade fairs and then think they don't need to go. That's an affront.”

He is convinced that retailers and manufacturers, especially those in the woodworking industry, cannot afford not to attend Domotex. That is why his association, as a cooperation partner of the flooring trade fair, has not only repeatedly highlighted the event in its newsletter, but also organizes individual meetings and guided tours for industry visitors at the trade fair.

And indeed, there is a lot to see next year, especially for companies in the DIY sector. That's because the trade fair has expanded its portfolio. “Domotex has reinvented itself. We no longer just offer an overview of flooring, we're literally climbing the walls,” emphasized Global Director Sonia Wedell-Castellano. The organizers have worked with manufacturers from the industry to consider how to position themselves for the future. The resulting vision includes six new product groups: ceramic tiles, wall and ceiling elements, paints and varnishes, wallpaper, outdoor coverings, and sun protection and shading. “The aim is to map the entire room on one platform, essentially as a one-stop-shop solution for the entire industry,” explained Wedell-Castellano.

Volker König, CEO of the Mega Group, a wholesaler for painters, floor layers, and plasterers, agrees that this is exactly what is needed at this point in time: “The boundaries between the finishing trades are becoming increasingly blurred, so it makes sense to adapt the concept accordingly.” And Wedell-Castellano agrees: "We did this to give tradespeople and retailers more inspiration for their everyday…