The 22nd IAW starts next week. In just a few days from now – from 22 to 24 September 2015 – the focus in Cologne will be on the coming autumn/winter season. Over 300 exhibitors from 22 countries will be presenting a diverse array of products, including decorative items, textiles, electronics, DIY products, toys, Christmas and trend-led goods, and toiletries of every kind. And it’s not just the special offers from regular exhibitors that will be attracting interest. Visitors will also be keen to see the innovative products that new exhibitors have brought to the show. This year’s newcomers include many exhibitors from neighbouring European countries, particularly countries in Eastern Europe such as Poland and Rumania, but also from Spain, Portugal and Malta. Although the exhibitors and buyers at the IAW come from many countries, they all have one thing in common – a passion for doing business. And that’s exactly what has made the IAW Europe’s leading trade fair for orders of promotional goods, seasonal impulse buys, trend-led items and volume business. With some 310 exhibitors, including 65 first-time exhibitors, the upcoming IAW is larger than last year’s autumn edition, and is not far short of the record numbers achieved at this year’s spring event. In fact, Hall 10.2 is completely booked out.
Once again the IAW is hosting the Trend Forum, delivering real added value for visitors. On all three days of the show, renowned retail experts will be giving the audience the benefit of their expertise as they talk about current developments in retailing and share practical tips on how to succeed in the marketplace. On the first day of the show, for example, Elmar Fedderke will be looking at the question of pricing: “Is cheaper always better?” The managing director of Walgenbach GmbH in Düsseldorf will be encouraging his listeners to price their products according to their true value – and to defend their pricing policy to their customers. The runaway success of online shopping is posing all kinds of new challenges for retailers. On 23 September the Zentrada Forum will be addressing an important aspect of online business under the title “Delivery charges and order processing – how to survive in the mail order business”. The program reaches its climax on 24 September with a Power Session hosted by Restposten.de: “Amazon: how to do it right and succeed!” Two top industry specialists, Adrian Hotz, e-commerce consultant to manufacturers, big-name brands and the trade, and Markus Fost, MBA, will be revealing the strategies that have helped suppliers and manufacturers, importers and retailers, to trade successfully on Amazon.
