A trade fair does good! That was the unanimous summary of the RE-START EDITION.

Over a period of three days, around 150 providers presented a select spectrum of baby and toddler outfitting. For the first time since the trade fair-free drought due to the pandemic, the trade public could once again gather first-hand information to their hearts’ content, handle, test and evaluate products and, most importantly, speak to manufacturers directly about business and place orders. Around 2,000 visitors from the wholesale, retail and online trade, more than half of them from abroad, did not pass up on this chance. They came for the most part from the DACH region and neighbouring European countries. 

“The successful re-start of Kind + Jugend 2021 confirms how important it was that the trade fair take place this year. The industry had been missing the personal contact and the exchange, and this year’s trade fair provided central impulses here. These are also very good omens in favour of Kind + Jugend 2022,” is how Oliver Frese, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse, summarises the three days of the trade fair.

Koelnmesse realised a hybrid trade fair concept for the first time with Kind + Jugend 2021. “It was possible to very successfully supplement the physical trade fair with the digital format Kind + Jugend @home from the start, This offers a lot more potential for the future,” adds Frese.

“We were able to see our customers, and not only virtually, but also physically,“ is how Patrick Osann, Managing Director of Osann GmbH, described the course of the trade fair. “We are therefore completely satisfied with the good response of visitors from German-speaking Europe and from other European countries. Most importantly, the quality of the visitors was good across the board. This re-start was important for the industry, but also for us as a company.”

Paul Rosenquist, Trade Show & Event Manager at Thule AB, also felt that 2021 represented the company with an excellent opportunity stating: “For us as a company, this Kind + Jugend was an excellent possibility to present ourselves clearly visibly. We wanted to meet our customers and are now pleased about a surprisingly good trade fair with really good contacts. It was important to encounter one another again personally. The re-start was important for us as a company, but surely also for the trade fair.”

“The trade fair went even considerably better than expected. Many of our customers were on site and very happy to be able to evaluate our products and inform themselves personally”

Nele Burmeister from Lässig GmbH

Nele Burmeister from Lässig GmbH also expressed herself positively: “The trade fair went even considerably better than expected. Many of our customers were on site and very happy to be able to evaluate our products and inform themselves personally. This is why it was very important for us to exhibit here.”

The exhibitors confirmed unanimously that the quality of the trade visitors was very high. Many reported orders, while others were anticipating good follow-up business after the trade fair. In the informal trade fair atmosphere, especially smaller companies were able to draw attention to themselves and were correspondingly pleased about the increased attention of the trade. Interest in new products was great here. Sustainable materials and concepts were also very popular.

Michael Stahl, Export Manager of Sterntaler GmbH, emphasised how important Kind Jugend is to Sterntaler, which has participated regularly for many decades. “This year too, we received good feedback about our assortment, including from non European participants.”  With a view to 2022, he is looking forward to even more exhibitors and customers, because as Stahl stated ”this trade fair is the most important international platform.”

Stan Gardin, Export Manager at Nuby, is also hoping for more participation in the coming year. “Our stand was approximately a quarter of our usual size at Kind + Jugend. And that in any case really paid off for us.”

First-time exhibitor Asa Selection GmbH, which presented dishes and accessories suitable for children, also felt themselves at home in the Kind + Jugend environment and can see itself as an exhibitor at the trade fair in future. 

Kind + Jugend @home
Supplementing the physical trade fair, Kind + Jugend also took place digitally for the first time. The platform Kind + Jugend @home presents all exhibiting companies with their products, as well as the informative event program and offers countless networking options. Kind + Jugend @home will remain accessible until the end of October 2021. Tickets can still be purchased.

Dates of Kind + Jugend 2022
Next year, Kind + Jugend will take place from 8 to 10 September 2022.

www.kindundjugend.com

Image source: ©Norwegian BCMI magazine member, Baby, Hobby & Leketoy