The international trade fair for creative handicraft and hobby supplies h+h cologne 2019 goes green

The world's largest trade fair for creative handicraft & hobby supplies, h+h cologne that came to a close in Cologne on Sunday this year had around 16,500 trade visitors from 80 countries (2018: 73 countries). In this way it marked a further chapter in the success story of the international trade fair for creative handicraft and hobby supplies. The number of visitors from abroad rose by 4 percent up to a very good level of 42 percent (2018: 38%). A significantly higher number of visitors particularly from the important European and Asiatic markets such as France, Russia, the Netherlands, Japan or Korea attended h+h cologne 2019 in Cologne.

"No other event brings the international world of creative handicrafts together in one show to this extent and in this quality. This is what distinguishes h+h cologne as the industry's top trading place." Caspary added that this is because the 429 companies presented themselves at the trade fair in such an outstanding manner and is to a significant extent due to the event and workshop programme which is consistently oriented towards the needs of the specialised trade: "As the industry's leading international trade fair, h+h provides the specialised trade with the impulses that are so important for a successful business and this turns the trade fair into a must-attend date in the diaries of the industry professionals", said Catja Caspary, Vice President of the Trade Fair Management of Koelnmesse GmbH about the special strengths of h+h cologne.

This year the trade fair's motto was "colour your business!" and this theme went down very well with the exhibiting companies. Many of the 429 exhibitors picked up on the motto in a creative way and thus ensured that the exhibition halls were characterised by a colourful diversity. The lecture and talk programme was correspondingly colourful and diversified. Over the course of three days, the guests of the "my lovely livingroom" event surface - authors, designers and experts - strove to get the specialised trade fit for the new season. Here tips on the latest trends, plenty of inspiration and know-how for success-oriented marketing with emotions and colours were conveyed. Furthermore, the event and workshop programme of h+h cologne 2019 placed a special focus on current and successful approaches for new customer acquisition and sales promotions.

There was a special event area "h+h cologne goes green!". "Green" products have now established themselves in many consumer areas - even in the handwork sector! Sustainable products are an integral part of the supply chain of many trading companies. Sustainable products are evolving from the trend to self-evident. The more sustainable product variants become established, the greater the need for orientation. Exhibitors of the h+h cologne showed a selection of their products, which consider social as well as ecological points of view, as well as the path to sustainability and the reasons for it.

The textile handicraft industry turned over more than Euro one billion again last year. The overall market for handicraft supplies in Germany was estimated to be Euro 1.16 billion, measured in end consumer prices. According to the industry association: Sewing continues to be the highest turnover section: A turnover of Euro 420 million was made with fabrics alone. The sales of haberdashery items developed in a similar way to the fabric sales. The consumers spent Euro 170 million in total on sewing yarns, ribbons, zips and co. in 2018. The figures for sewing machines remained constant: Here the turnover amounted to Euro 175 million as in the previous year. A turnover of Euro 340 million was attained with knitting and crocheting yarns. Knitting and crocheting are still popular hobbies. These are being enhanced by new trends such as weaving or so-called punch needling.

The next h+h cologne will take place from 20.–22.03.2020.