Divided Cologne Fair

Figures from Koelnmesse show that about 70 000 visitors (2006: 75 000) from 129 countries (2006: 143) travelled to Cologne for the International Hardware Fair/Practical World between 9 and 12 March 2008. Also attending the event in addition to the trade visitors were approximately 7 000 members of the public, a figure that had been expected to reach about 15 000. Displaying their products on an exhibition space down-scaled by more than 50 000 m² to 195 000 m² were 3 375 companies (2006: 3 475) from 61 different countries. “Opening Practical World up to consumers was not acceptable to the participants in the market and will have to be modified,” is the conclusion reached by Dr Peter Wüst, executive director of the BAU + DIY manufacturers’ association. And as John W. Herbert, executive director of the BHB retailers’ association, commented, ”The new orientation of Practical World was an experiment. All those involved should get together again to discuss the concept in detail.”