Trade Fair Innovations - Ambiente 2011

The world biggest fair for consumer goods has ended at the 15th of February 2011. “With more than 144.000 purchaser out of 150 countries the Ambiente fair has excelled all expectations”, said Detlef Braun, manager of the Messe Frankfurt GmbH. During the fair from the 11th to the 15th February, 4,383 exhibitors from 86 countries presented an international range of products for the fields of tableware, kitchen, home, furnishing and giving.

Trends of the Ambiente fair 2011

Dining
Brands, quality, authenticity, functionality and sustainability are very much in demand. In the porcelain and ceramic segment, authenticity is reflected by products that include ‘old’ elements in their shape or decoration. White crockery is decorated with relief motifs or with delicate colors, especially blue. Alongside such products are articles distinguished by bright and rich decorative colors. Drinking glasses are functional and classic, although more and more exhibitors are experimenting with unusual shapes. In the kitchen, colorful accents are to be found on accessories, small electrical appliances and knives. The ‘in’ colors are lime, berry, violet, orange and yellow. Also to be seen in the case of plastic products are transparent shades, such as blue, green, lilac, and natural colours, such as brown, beige and cappuccino. Also findable, products made of renewable raw materials, which can be composted and thus meet the demand for ecological goods.

Living
The recipe for success in the home and furnishing segment is con¬sistency with lots of room for individualism. Consumers are developing a powerful desire for concentration – they want to find favorite pieces and thus create their own individual style. This goes hand in hand with a rekindled interest in branded products and high-quality trademarks. Resource conservation and production transparency are decisive arguments in the consumer’s decision-making process. In the case of home accessories, there are signs of an increased attachment to products made in Germany. Locally produced using domestic wood, cuckoo clocks and walking sticks are making a comeback. The charm of the fifties is blowing through Germany’s living rooms. Chairs and tables reflect the designs of that epoch. When it comes to decor, nature is still the key factor. Never¬theless, works of art, especially paintings and sculptures, are gaining in popularity as decorative elements for the home. The range of colors is broader than for many years with pastel shades from rosé to lime green being particularly popular. Decorations for Easter 2011 will be less elaborate with rabbits and chicks in a pared-down design language or made of rough, untreated wood fitting in with a purer style for the home.

Giving
When it comes to creative ideas for gifts, the trend is towards sus¬tainable products suitable for personalization and unique, high-quality items. Plastic, tarpaulins, parachute silk and woolen blankets are made into individual bags, cases or purses of all sizes. Consumers wanting sustainability but not of the recycled kind look to natural materials, such as felt, leather and bamboo. Objects that bring order into everyday life, such as key rings, mobile-phone cases, cups and notepads, are available in all colors of the rainbow, in accordance with individual preferences. There is some¬thing for all tastes in the jewelry world, too, with system collections of rings, chains, watches and earrings giving the consumer the opportunity to make changes to his or her hearts content.