subscribe to news Russian group stand at IMM Cologne 2020 proves highly effective

Russian furniture companies presented their products at the Russian group stand at the major international furniture and interior exhibition IMM Cologne 2020 held in Germany on January 13-19. The stand was organised with the support of the Russian Export Center and operated by Expocentre AO.  

Nine Russian companies – Almaz (Lyubimy Dom), Rival, Apriori Furniture Factory (O’Prime), Dedal, DIW Complekt (Vardek), ARS (GreenTree), individual entrepreneur Linevich A.S. (E1 Furniture Company), ChFMK Trade House, and SVEZA-Les – put their new products on display on an area of 400 square meters.

The Russian group stand at IMM Cologne 2020 drew much attention. It was visited by businessmen of Germany and other European countries interested in cooperating with Russian furniture manufacturers. The Russian exhibitors met with representatives of leading European trade and procurement associations, furniture stores, and furniture market actors.

The talks resulted in the conclusion of export contracts with XXXLutz, Bega and Agata retailers and one of the biggest online retailers, Interdesign24.de, for the delivery of Russian-made furniture products. In addition, the Russian exhibitors reached preliminary agreements on cooperating with companies from Germany, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, India, Israel, Mongolia, and a number of other countries. Russian furniture companies and their foreign partners will continue to coordinate product specifications, prices, and other delivery terms after the exhibition.

The event programme for Russian exhibitors and visitors included a joint meeting with Panalpa Handels und Entwicklung KG where sides shared practices of operation on the German and Austrian markets. Development Director of the Association of Furniture and Woodworking Enterprises of Russia (AMEDORO) Marina Shkarbun moderated the meeting. The meeting addressed technicalities of exports, delivery issues, digitalization of the furniture market, and specific features of online furniture sales in Europe.

The Russian exhibitors also attended a seminar on global trends in furniture design and production held by VDMD Designer Association General Director Mara Michel.  

The Russian delegation was busy all through seven days of the exhibition: companies were holding negotiations, presenting their products, exchanging contact details, participating in seminars and other business events of the exhibition, and actively analysing furniture retail trade in Cologne and Dusseldorf and the product range for the purpose of evaluating demand and elaborating an export strategy.

At the end of the show, all participants thanked the Russian Export Center for the presented opportunity, and Expocentre for the well-managed event. According to the preliminary information, each company generated from 15 to 30 business contacts. All exhibitors described contacts made at the exhibition and negotiations as the laying of good groundwork but said a lot had yet to be done for transforming them into export contracts.

Press Service, Expocentre AO