Approximately 103,000 visitors from 140 countries attended this year“s Tendence international gift fair in Frankfurt, Germany from 27-31 August. As far as glass is concerned, in the Tavola & Cucina s…
Approximately 103,000 visitors from 140 countries attended this year“s Tendence international gift fair in Frankfurt, Germany from 27-31 August. As far as glass is concerned, in the Tavola & Cucina section, the trend to market products in a group rather than individually was ever more apparent. The organizers, Messe Frankfurt, also reported that price remains a determining factor in the success of a product. Many producers of glass tableware and giftware used the impending millenium as the main theme for their products. Other recurring themes in glass tableware were reported to be clearly defined shapes; this was particularly obvious on drinking glasses and accessories. Transparent glass was most popular, and in the case of coloured glass, very subdued, almost transparent shades, or faint hints of green and blue were also used. Decorations in gold and silver colouring were also abundant for special millenium editions. There were 4,671 exhibitors from 80 countries at Tendence this year. 20% of the visitors, much more than last year, came from outside Germany. In particular foreign visitors came from nearby European countries especially the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Belgium and Luxembourg. The majority of specialized buyers from outside the EU were from the US, Japan, South Korea, Formosa, India, Israel, China and Hong Kong. This year, the fact that the fair began on a Friday was welcomed because foreign buyers in particular appreciated having one day of activity before the weekend. The organizers said that, in the future, the fair will always start on a Friday and finish on a Tuesday.