New start for Spoga+Gafa: Koelnmesse and IVG draw a positive conclusion

Around 25 000 visitors from 112 countries came to Cologne for Spoga+Gafa from 19 to 21 June 2022. They learned about new products and innovations from around 1 000 exhibitors from 52 countries. Koelnmesse's conclusion was very positive: the first Spoga+Gafa without a parallel Spoga Horse and on the new dates in June had successfully returned after three years and impressively confirmed its position as the most important industry meeting for the green sector.

Taking into account the reticence of Asian manufacturers, the fair has reached pre-crisis level on the exhibitor side, the organisers note. As usual, the European core markets of Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain were strongly represented by dealers and buyers. Intercontinental, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Canada, the UK and the USA were strongly represented. The foreign share of visitors rose to 67 per cent (2019: 65 per cent).

Koelnmesse says that top decision-makers in the industry used the fair. This is also confirmed by numerous exhibitors.

"The quality and internationality of the visitors is outstanding. The exhibitors always reflect this to us in conversation. We have used the last two and a half years to further develop Spoga+Gafa and are pleased to experience the first successes live here. With the 365-day platform, which we launched in recent weeks, Spoga+Gafa will also be a strong companion for the green sector during the year in the future," says Koelnmesse Executive Vice President Oliver Frese.

The German Garden Industry Association (IVG), the conceptual sponsor of Spoga+Gafa, was also satisfied with the results of the trade fair: "We are pleased that it is finally trade fair time again. We really missed the personal contact and it did us good to be able to shake hands again. There may have been slightly fewer visitors here than usual before the pandemic, but the quality of the visitors is right. That is the crucial thing," affirmed IVG Managing Director Anna Hackstein.

In September 2019, the last Spoga+Gafa before the pandemic forced a break, slightly more than 40 000 visitors were counted, 2 281 companies were exhibitors in Cologne. The fact that the mere comparison of figures does not adequately express the importance of the event with the new start that has now taken place was a recurring topic of conversation on the exhibition stands.

After the fair in Cologne, there will now be another premiere: on 27 June, the Aftershow will start on the new digital platform of Spoga+Gafa – with live interviews, recordings of the stages and digital events by the exhibitors. Networking can continue seamlessly via the app after the fair has closed. The 365-day platform will soon go live and invites you to a digital deep dive "BBQ" on 8 September.

The date for the next live edition of the fair has also been set: the next Spoga+Gafa will take place from 18 to 20 June 2023. This means that guests at the Global DIY Summit in Berlin, which will take place there from 14 to 16 June 2023, can plan their direct onward journey to Cologne.