Direct from Market: Tendence, Frankfurt, Germany
Caroline Kennedy -- Gifts and Dec, 9/1/2010 1:42:56 PM
Messe Frankfurt's summer fair, Tendence, got off to a easy start with relatively light buyer traffic on Friday, August 27, opening day. Nevertheless, in spite of light traffic, the exhibitors that Gifts & Decorative Accessories spoke to were pleased with the contacts they were making and the early order-writing. Both Saturday and Sunday projected a different picture in terms of attendance; aisles were crowded and exhibitor stands seemed quite busy.
Messe FrankfurtMuch to the applause of both buyers and exhibitors, Tendence has returned to its traditional late August timing. For the past two years, Messe Frankfurt had retimed the fair to early July to run under the umbrella title of "Decorate Life," combined with other lifestyle shows: The Design Annual and Collecione Preview Spring + Summer. The new timing was intended to help buyers fulfill their fourth quarter buying needs better. However, the date shift did not seem to achieve the desired results, and the earlier timing also was not agreeable to both international exhibitors and buyers, especially those who also would be moving on to attend the Paris shows, which follow at the beginning of September.
Tina Elvang, an exhibitor from Denmark presenting a line of scarves, throws, pillows and tuffets made of lusciously soft and colorful baby alpaca, was one of many exhibitors questioned who agreed that the late August timing of the show was much better for both buyers and exhibitors. She noted that she was seeing mostly customers from Germany, but had also seen a few buyers from elsewhere. While making our rounds of the show, we did overhear French and several other languages being spoken.
Following the reorganization of divisions established at Ambiente earlier this year, the fair is divided into two segments — Living and Giving — making it easier for buyers to plan their buying strategy. Living groups together exhibitors of mostly home and interior lifestyle products, while Giving presents more giftwares, stationery and fashion accessories. That's not to say that there isn't crossover of products in each area.
The new Hall 11, which debuted in February, houses "Loft," a Living segment, on the lower level, and "Young & Trendy," part of the Giving classification, on the upper level. Both sections should be a destination for any visitor; they present many of the more directional and design-forward companies.
Compared to Ambiente, Tendence is smaller and more compact, only filling four of the 11 halls. But that does not mean that there is less of interest to shop. The fair offers a well edited selection of quality exhibitors, along with a collection of well presented special exhibits that stand out in this venue. The more intimate nature of the fair allows such areas as the Talents section of new up-and-coming designers to receive more focused attention from attendees. Another special exhibit area, Arts & Crafts Special, presented a selection of design-forward artisans showcasing their one-of-a-kind work, which ranged from slab glass wall art by Jasmin Berthold to free-form gossamer wire sculptures by Henriette Tomasi to sculptural jewelry by Saskia Detering.
And for some, getting around the halls was easier on the feet. They coasted around on Razor scooters!
Americans in Attendance
Americans were much in evidence both on the exhibiting as well as the buying side of the aisle. Paul Stewart-Stand is a first-time exhibitor bringing his Flatlink cufflinks, stainless steel wallets and handbags, Flatterware and other accessories to Europe. He is also going on to exhibit in Paris as well. Positioned in the Young & Trendy section in Hall 11, he was pleased with the initial contacts made and hopes to return in February for Ambiente. He also noted that he encountered some of his Canadian customers who were shopping the show.
Other familiar American companies with a presence at the fair are Yankee Candle, Enesco and Blue Q, among others. Blue Q's edgy humor product line was drawing a lot of interest from buyers. Demdaco's Willow Tree line by Susan Lordi was receiving a lot of attention in the Enesco stand; Enesco distributes the line in Europe.
We also ran into Trip van Roden of Wellspring, who was attending the fair for inspiration as well as to meet with suppliers. The Hall 10 exhibits provide a wonderful opportunity for U.S. distributors and manufacturers to meet with exhibiting suppliers from India, China, Taiwan, The Philippines and elsewhere, especially when a buying trip to Asia is not possible. Retailer Mary Liz Curtin was also shopping the aisles, sourcing new products and display ideas for her award-winning Clawson, MI, store Leon & Lulu.
Special Exhibits
There were several notable special exhibits housed within the fair. Form 2010 was a juried display of exhibitors' products organized by the German Crafts Association. The selected products from both the craft and production sectors had a modern edge, representative of current design form. Exhibitors whose products were selected for the exhibit proudly displayed a Form 2010 sign in their booths.
China and Turkey also had special design exhibits. OOO China was a presentation of young Chinese design companies whose aesthetic definitely had modern global appeal. A Turkish display featured prize-winning designs by industrial designers in several different categories of kitchenwares.
Emzwo by Dominik Bruening of Studio BSTalented Showcases
The Talents and Next special exhibits showcased the innovative and creative new products of young designers and entrepreneurs. Several designers creatively focused on solutions to modern lifestyle problems. Studio BS and its designers Dominic Bruning and Violetta Sowo introduced the Emzwo a compact unit perfect for small living spaces that is a coffee table/storage unit with a built-in radio. It is on wheels so that it can roll out to patio or around the room wherever it is needed.
The ComPENion solves the problem of not being able to find a pen when you go to write in a journal. The large size ComPENion journal comes with its own pen that nests in a specially shaped die-cut area off the side of the page near the binding.
Heimschlafer by Michael Bensch
solves the problem of where to put an overnight guest when there is not guest room or extra guest bed. The compact unit is based on a camping sleeping bag. About the size of a suitcase, this hard-cased unit opens up and the bedding rolls out. The case can then be closed to serve as a night stand complete with reading lamp and bud vase.
Alessandro di Prisco offers a solution to sheltering the homeless from the elements. His tent-like Urbankit is a small portable cardboard house that open like a tent. It is lightweight, recyclable and inexpensive to produce. The unit could also be marketed as playhouse for kids.
Child's Play
And speaking of kids, several other exhibitors offered creative play environments for kids. The Tukluk gives them the opportunity to be creative in constructive play. The Tukluk is collection of foam triangle mats covered in bright microfiber sueded fabric. They can be easily fastened together in many different combinations to build a fort or some such "structure"; they can be jumped on and roughhoused on without hurting the child.
MeroWings Forest Collection
Or how about letting the kids create an indoor "tent," but instead of using the clothesline and taking the blankets off the bed, the Kadoki from Ping Pong Studio comes with easy-to-use connectors for sticks to create the "structure" and special fabric drape.
There were a few style statements noted that may be emerging trends. Large floor pillows and tuffets for casual seating were much in evidence. Of interest were a number of different exhibitors whose products were designed to look like natural materials such as rocks or tree logs — quite the opposite of the implied comfort; while others mimicked pool balls or soccer balls. MeroWings presented its Forest Collection of cushions and pillows covered in fabric to mimic the look of logs and tree stumps; and if you wished to be seated on faux rocks in varying sizes, Unseen Products had a selection. There were also oversized soccer balls by Sonnen-Leder and pool balls such as Potin's Lojo.
Bag to Life collection
Kar-Bag totes made from recycled auto airbags
Designers are sourcing innovative recycled materials to take recycling and being eco-conscious to new levels. We encountered messenger, laptop and other styles of bags by Feuerwear made from recycled fire hoses; Kar-bag totes, shoppers and handbags by Taschen Design made from recycled air bag materials for cars, as well as the Bag to Life collection from Ehrensache, which are made from old aircraft life vests and parachutes.
Since the bicycle is used more commonly as everyday transportation in Europe, a European trend that probably will not cross to this side of the Atlantic in any big way are bicycle accessories. To add a bit of practical fashion to the bike, we noted brightly patterned oilcloth seats, basket crate and handlebar grip covers. Cycling wallets, handbags and iPhone holders that attach to the bike frame or handle bars were showcased by Fahrer.
Yarn and knits were being used in different ways from handbags to lampshades to candle centerpieces. Yarn-wrapped chickens, wreaths and eggs provided a fresh take on spring decoratives from Schütte Lueder + Leigenberg.
 Knit lampshades |
 Knit handbag |
 Yarn-wrapped accessories |
Purple hues are still very much in the color mix in home fashion, especially combined with rich raspberry hues. But neutrals — creamy whites, beiges and tans — seem to be an increasingly dominant color direction. Mirrored and silver 
Neutral palette at Riviera Maison
metal finishes are big in home accents.
Innovative and Notable
Relatively new to the American market, but an established brand in Europe, S.T.A.M.P.S watches by Timehouse, introduced new designs in its interchangeable watches, which will most likely be available to U.S. buyers come January. One of the designs is an upclose image of an eye — perhaps as a reference to keeping an eye on time? Also new for the company, but not yet available to the American buyer, is a beautiful collection of funky, chunky colorful fashion jewelry. But most likely you won't have to wait too long.
The Flux Chair
is a practical modern take on the folding chair. This portable, stylish, go-anywhere chair looks as good in a modern apartment as it does on the beach. It is based on a folded paper design, is easy to assemble and folds up flat.
Personality socks from Chris & Ruby add a little whimsy to plain wooden chairs. These knit socks in different patterns from argyle to colorful stripes slip over the feet of chairs to dress them up and protect the floor.
Salad servers from Monkey Business
Among the many clever and chic kitchenwares and on display through out the show, the new salad servers from Monkey Business stand up and stand out. The Monkey Business line is currently available in the U.S. through Chocolate Fish. And the Teasub tea infuser, a yellow submarine, is playful fun.
Stenz, an innovative housewares tool was launched at the show to great interest. This whimsical looking item attaches to the spokes in the dishwasher rack to provide additional support to stemware and tall beer glasses.
Suzusan
A real statement-maker are the Luminaires by Suzusan, which incorporate customized covers of handmade fabrics. The intricate needlework creates sculptural qualities.
Are you looking for a new take on stuffed monsters, aliens and big-eyed critters? The stuffed monster line from 
DW-Handel's big-eyed monsters
is enchanting with its imaginative styles and handcrafted elements. Another take on this toy category is the Monstars line from Fluffy White Pink. These critters have big bulbous bug eyes.
Although European consumers are being as careful with their spending as many Americans are, the busy aisles and attractive product selections shown at Tendence bode well for a decent fourth quarter selling season.
We would love your feedback!
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