interview with Domotex Director / Ms. Susanne Klaproth
Could you please give us a brief biography of yourself and tell us when does Domotex have started its work?
I still remember the first edition of DOMOTEX in 1989, because I’ve been working for DOMOTEX from the very beginning. Right from the start, the tradeshow was successfully accepted by the market. The show expanded from year to year and has become the biggest global trade fair of its kind.
This task is also very rewarding for me because it is essential to identify market changes in time and include them in the show. With our customers and partners from all over the world we have a close and reliable relationship, which I feel very enriching also from a personal point of view. In my role as DOMOTEX Director since 1995, I’m responsible for the whole trade show. Within the worldwide DOMOTEX portfolio at Deutsche Messe AG, I’m also coordinating the DOMOTEX trade shows in Shanghai and Gaziantep which are geared to the particular requirements and trends in each of the respective countries and regions.
What features and programs will be in Domotex 2018 and what kind of changes it will have compared to previous years?
DOMOTEX 2018 will showcase an extensive lineup of new features. For one thing, the show has a new exhibition layout and hall restructuring that will make it a lot easier for visitors to survey the market and connect with the exhibitors and trends that matter to them. The show will also have a strong overarching focus on the megatrend of product individualization, as reflected in the keynote theme of “UNIQUE YOUNIVERSE”. This theme will find concentrated expression in Hall 9, which will house inspiring and creatively staged display zones by exhibitors, artists and budding young designers. The upcoming show will immerse its visitors in a totally new and captivating world of trends, innovations and lifestyle. Exhibitors and visitors alike can look forward to a wealth of concrete ideas that will help them grow their business and keep up with the trends and innovations that are shaping the future of their industry.
How do you evaluate the Persian carpets presence at Domotex?
Iran is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of handmade and machine woven carpets. This is also obvious at DOMOTEX. Traditionally, many producers of hand-made carpets are presenting their products at DOMOTEX in Hannover. They stand for high-quality and sophisticated carpets. And we also see that the number of Iranian exhibitors in the machine-woven sector has been grown in the last years. Iran is the seventh-biggest exhibition nation in terms of display space.
How much Persian carpet is welcome from professional visitors?
We can see that traditional hand-made carpets are becoming more popular as a beautifully crafted Oriental rug never goes out of style and can be surprisingly versatile in all kinds of homes, these products play a very important role. With numerable options in terms of color, patterns and style, there’s an Oriental rug out there for every space.
What are the standards for holding an International exhibition?
In addition to a versatile infrastructure and the best technical systems of our fair ground and exhibition halls we offer our customers professional services all around the year which cover individualized showcase packages complete with full marketing and press support, unrivaled visitor management program and B2B matchmaking, exquisite dining options and catering services, organization of conferences, forums and other in-show events. We connect supply with demand and match exhibitors and visitors from around the globe to incubate long-term business relationships. Another major plus it that Hannover is supremely easy to get to by train, airplane or car. When trade shows are on, the ICE bullet trains stop at the “Hannover Messe/Laatzen” station just a block away from the exhibition center and Hannover Airport offers daily service to all major European Cities.
What are the most important factors in the success of DOMOTEX?
As a key-business platform an idea-giver at the outset of the year, DOMOTEX is an extremely attractive event for the global carpet and floor coverings industry. It provides the perfect environment to initiate new business, make contacts, showcase products, innovations and trends and meet customers. Over 60 percent of visitors and 80 percent of exhibitors come from outside Germany, and the market leaders from all sectors of the industry are presented at DOMOTEX. Companies who want to make international contacts and tap in to new markets can’t afford to miss out on DOMOTEX in Hannover. As in just 4 days, they can meet with their most important customers from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and America. This combination of professionalism and internationality and the clear focus on the flooring industry sets DOMOTEX apart from other trade shows.
