Time to talk: Ambiente 2023 along with some new friends

It's not without reason that fair organisers like Messe Frankfurt operate with both a feeling of optimism as well as a spirit of adaptation. Yes, one could be forgiven for imagining that the internet holds all the answers to our shopping needs – particularly in light of our extensive use of online retail options during covid lockdowns – but there is a simple reason why this is not so: the online world lacks three- and, indeed, four-dimensionality. So, those who prefer to get hands-on with new products, who seek spontaneous personal exchange, will come away empty-handed in this digital space. The trade fair remains a reliably fine-tuned instrument of the market, seismographically detecting, analysing and serving our needs – and sometimes even awakening them.

At the beginning of February 2023, Messe Frankfurt will once again be the place to be for the international consumer-goods sector – for the first time as a trio of Ambiente, Christmasworld and Creativeworld. In this highly condensed format, it will not only be exhibitors and visitors from the hotel, gastronomy, catering, contract and decoration concept sectors who will be in attendance, It will be worthwhile too for architects and interior designers to be there at this, the biggest show of its kind in the world. Here, the planners and designers of living, business and working environments will find an enormous selection of products, business contacts as well as plenty of inspiration. One example is Decoration Unlimited at Christmasworld, which, under the banner ‘Down to Earth’, will show how seasonal decoration enhances the user experience at the point of sale. At Creativeworld, meanwhile, the Creative Impulse Award will once again be presented in five categories for outstanding products from the world of DIY.

Ambiente remains the clear focal point, where, as usual, the three tried-and-tested sections – plus a new focus area – offer orientation. The Dining section, for example, once again brings together everything to do with cooking, baking, eating and serving. Living is divided into Furnishing/Decoration and Interior Design (including brands such as Alessi, Blomus, Georg Jensen, Lambert and Stelton). And Giving is the stage for trend and design-oriented gifts, decorative and personal accessories, writing utensils, souvenirs and traditional crafts. The Ambiente Working category, meanwhile, is the newly established space.

‘The Working section is the ideal strategic and conceptual extension to Living, Giving and Dining’, says Yvonne Engelmann, Head of Living, Giving, Working at Ambiente. ‘It initially covers the themes of office supplies, including reprocessed printer consumables, office equipment and furnishings, as well as conferencing and moderation.’ Last but not least, the fair is also intended to reflect the extent to which living and working worlds now overlap, and also the reason why the special ‘Future of Work’ show in Hall 3.1 as well as the concept presentations for office and work spaces, co-working spaces and mobile working or the home office are directly adjacent to the living concepts, furniture, lighting, home textiles, home and design accessories in the Living area.

Of course, the 2023 edition of the three fairs would not be complete without the trends that are regularly developed and staged by Frankfurt-based style agency bora.herke.palmisano on behalf of Messe Frankfurt. Not giving too much away, meta-topics such as sustainability, the future of trade and New Work will all be present in numerous places on the exhibition grounds. Particularly sustainable examples from the consumer goods sector will also be on show at the newly established Ethical Style Spots, which will be located at central junctions in Galleria 0 and in the foyer of Hall 3.1. The programme will be rounded off by specialist lectures, for example, in the Future of Work Academy, one of a total of five lecture stages with an engaging selection of speakers.

Consumer-goods trade fairs are thus returning at a time when real, face-to-face meeting is more important than ever, with major challenges to be faced that need to be met in dialogue with others: questions around supply chains, scarcity of resources, inflation, rising energy costs as well as changing moods among consumers. At the same time, the online world will also find its place. In addition to the physical trade fair experience, the programme will be expanded to include digital offerings, even beyond the actual event days. This includes, for example, the Digital Extension matchmaking platform, which can be used for the presentation of products, for video calls and livestreams.

Throughout the year, the fairs are also accompanied by interviews, videos and podcasts on Messe Frankfurt's Conzoom Solutions platform. ‘This means we are increasingly becoming a year-round business enabler, with a wide range of digital services that we offer 24/7,’ says Philipp Ferger, Vice President of Consumer Goods Fairs at Messe Frankfurt. The warm-up phase has already begun online. The countdown for the long-awaited start of the fair is on!

Ambiente and Christmasworld will kick off on 3 February 2023, followed one day later by Creativeworld on 4 February. All three fairs will run until 7 February 2023.

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