Summer Nordstil 2020: Finally trade fair again

Countless trade fairs were cancelled in the first half of the year. This made it all the more important for the industry to finally meet again on site and in person. Due to shorter lead times and the Corona pandemic, fewer exhibitors presented their products than in previous years. With 300 exhibitors [1] from Germany and Europe and around 5,000 trade visitors [2], Nordstil was one of the first trade fairs and thus an important ordering date since the beginning of the Corona pandemic. As expected, fewer but highly motivated buyers came to the fair due to the current situation. Those retailers who had deliberately decided to visit Nordstil placed very extensive orders.

"We are very pleased that the high quality of visitors at this first event after the lockdown was lifted shows above all the following: The industry needs and wants trade fairs on site. Our customers want to touch products, network and order at the trade fair and meet each other personally. Even under the conditions of the New Normal and a certainly not easy new start, we are very satisfied with the way the event went", says Philipp Ferger, Group Show Director Consumer Goods Fairs Nordstil and Tendence.

Oliver Hagemann, communication referent at the trade association for living and office (Handelsverband Wohnen und Büro), also draws a positive conclusion: "From the point of view of the specialist trade, the post-lockdown premiere of Nordstil was a complete success in these difficult times. Thanks to the sophisticated hygiene concept, most of the North German retailers and some even retailers from North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse were able to experience and order the latest trend and lifestyle products for the important Christmas business as well as for the coming spring and summer. The successful start gives retailers confidence to look optimistically to future order and network platforms.”

Exhibitor comments

The exhibitors at Nordstil were highly satisfied with the quality of retailers. They used the trade fair intensively to meet their existing customers again after the time-out and to establish contacts with new customers.

Detlef Klatt, founder and designer Klatt Objects

"We had a lot of contact with our customers before the trade fair, who communicated clearly with us: We need a trade fair, we want to see, touch and experience products in reality again. The communication in the run-up to the trade fair worked well so that customers contacted us beforehand. We are very satisfied with Nordstil and it is good that the trade fair has set an example. We got new customers who were quite surprised to find our products here and placed good orders right away.

Jens Ristedt, plant manager Posiwio

"Although we had fewer customers than in the past, those who came to our stand came specifically, looked and bought. The quality was very good. At Nordstil this year, customers had a smaller selection of exhibitors and this change in layout meant that we also gained new customers. We definitely wanted to be at the fair and thus return to normality a little".

Anna Upleger, Managing Director of Agentur Anna Upleger

"Overall, we are very satisfied with the fair. This is a special time for all of us, which was not easy for most of us. But we are very positively surprised by the Nordstil. Of course, the usual frequency is missed, but considering what has happened in the last six months, we are very satisfied with the orders and especially with the quality of the customers who attended Nordstil. Therefore, we are very pleased that this fair has taken place".

The majority of Summer Nordstil exhibitors consisted of companies in the home and decoration sector as well as lifestyle products from well-known designers and manufacturers. The offer was rounded off by the latest trends in jewelry, fashion, gifts and stationery. The area of the Buddelhelden was a great attraction for the specialized trade: Visitors could taste fine wines and selected spirits in hall A4.