EuroShop 2020, the world’s No.1 retail trade fair, recently closed after five successful days in Düsseldorf, Germany: 2,300 exhibitors from 57 nations reported very good contacts and business deals and expect lively post-show business. A total of 94,000 visitors participated to gather information on products, trends and concepts for retailers and their partners featured in 16 exhibition halls.
“We are delighted that EuroShop once again successfully proved to be the most relevant platform for the global retail community when it comes to trends, inspirations and networking,” says Erhard Wienkamp, managing director at Messe Düsseldorf. “Our exhibitors deserve the highest praise for their loyalty. With their innovative power, they were once again the major attraction for an entire industry.”
Exhibitors especially praised the high international attendance at EuroShop as 70 percent of the visitors traveled to Düsseldorf from countries other than Germany. Large delegations came from Brazil, Australia and New Zealand. With a total of 142 countries on the visitor side, the number of nations represented increased once again compared to the previous event in 2017.
“This high level of international interest clearly documents the dynamism of the global retail world and the exceptional position EuroShop enjoys as its economic engine,” says Michael Gerling, chairman of the EuroShop advisory board and CEO of the EHI Retail Institute Cologne.
“The success of online trading is really encouraging retailers: They have realized that they have to give customers reasons to come into the store beyond the product range. Competition has pushed the entire retail sector to the next quality level. Investments are being made in shop fitting to create worlds of experience,” explains Gerling. “In addition, digitization is booming in the retail sector. On the one hand, it enables retailers to offer customers even more services and to link online and offline channels, and on the other hand it simplifies processes, logistics and much more.”
The exhibitors praised the high professional qualifications of the visitors, in particular their pronounced decision-making authority, as 70 percent of the attendees held top management positions. Many of them also used took advantage of the best practice examples presented on the eight stages to get information about future-oriented trends in retail. The varied lecture programs on the individual stages addressed topics such as retail technology, architecture and store design.
The numerous specials at EuroShop, including the Start-up hub, the Designer Village and the Premium City were also well received.
Overall, 96 percent of the trade fair visitors were satisfied with their visit and confirmed the outstanding position of EuroShop as a trend barometer, networking platform and the largest event in the retail sector.
Due to the current situation associated with the coronavirus, 19,000 fewer visitors attended EuroShop 2020 than at the record event in 2017.
EuroShop is the world’s largest trade fair for retail investment requirements. Future-oriented and dynamic as the industry itself, the trade fair presents itself in eight fascinating retail dimensions with all the trends and topics that are moving the future. The next EuroShop will be held in Düsseldorf, Germany, Feb. 26-March 2, 2023. For more info, visit www.euroshop-tradefair.com