imm cologne's January 2025 edition will not take place, due to a difficult local market and lack of exhibitor demand, organiser Koelnmesse has confirmed.
The decision, made by Koelnmesse together with the Association of the German Furniture Industry (VDM) and the German Furniture and Kitchen Retailers Association (BVDM), was taken following "intense discussions and reflects the challenging conditions the furniture industry is currently facing, particularly in Germany", says the exhibition organiser: "It gives everyone involved the chance to collaborate with Koelnmesse on the development of a new, more viable future trade fair format.
"It was taken primarily due to the fact that the German furniture manufacturers are generally in troubled waters, as there is a scarce domestic demand for furniture, and the industry is therefore, understandably, keeping a close eye on its spending."
According to the latest VDM industry figures, the market recorded a significant fall in turnover in 2023, as well as in H1 2024. It dropped by -9.7% for all furniture, and even by -11.2% for upholstered furniture. Employee and company numbers are also going down.
"We're extremely sorry to be skipping the imm cologne but ultimately, this is a necessary, and the right step," says VDM president Leo Lübke. "Like many other industries, the furniture market has also changed considerably over the past few years – and along with this, the demand for trade fairs.
"Unfortunately, the industry's current situation is forcing many companies to change course. As an industry, we are working intensely with Koelnmesse on the development of new concepts tailor-made specifically for the individual furniture segments. As Europe's largest furniture nation, we need our central industry shows, and believe in the Cologne venue's furniture expertise."
BVDM president Markus Meyer agrees: "I understand the decision to skip next January's trade fair, and I'm sorry that the industry did not lend better support to its leading international trade fair. The imm cologne has been an important meeting place for the industry for decades. By taking a break next year, we will not only lose a central platform for innovation and exchange, but also an important stage for serving the international market.
"All of the industry's stakeholders are now urgently tasked with getting together and finding joint solutions. More than ever before, we must now concentrate on securing and strengthening our position. The industry needs a strong platform like the imm cologne in order to restructure itself in a way that ensures its future viability."
The chairman of Koelnmesse's management board is also looking to the future. "Pausing the imm cologne at this point in time is a logical decision, in view of the situation the industry currently finds itself in," says Gerald Böse. "It was an extremely difficult decision to make, but it was also unavoidable in order to show our international customers some consideration.
"Due to its January date, the imm cologne did not take place three years in a row during the pandemic. This lack of continuity, coupled with the current economic environment, makes it impossible for us as event organisers to guarantee an attractive range of exhibitors for the retailers in Cologne in January 2025.
"We still intend to offer the furniture industry an international stage in Germany in future. We are already jointly developing very promising concepts that meet the changed requirements of all stakeholders as best as can be. Koelnmesse is the world's number one in interiors, as impressively proven by the Orgatec, the interzum and the spoga+gafa. We must now steer our flagship back on course, together with the furniture industry!"
