NEWS BROUGHT TO YOU BY
NEWS BROUGHT TO YOU BY EDITORIAL Richard Barnes Editor-In-Chief IFA – INCREASINGLY INTERNATIONAL This publication’s name “IFA INTERNATIONAL” is increasingly apt when it comes to describing the show. Especially this year. Why more now than before? Because for the third year in a row, more than half of all the trade visitors attending IFA came from outside of Germany. Added to this is the fact that media from 160 countries attended this year, and 2,800 of them were from outside Germany. What does all this mean? Basically, it means there is no other consumer electronics and home appliances event of this kind on the planet bringing so many international trade visitors and press to one place. Added to that, we have the fact that IFA takes place at a crucial moment each year, when final purchase decisions are being made for stocking stores for the holiday season. Dr Christian Göke CEO, Messe Berlin WHEN ONLY THE BEST CAN DO The advantages might seem obvious. This wasn’t always the case. Eight or ten years ago, one executive of the world’s largest electronics manufacturers questioned why IFA wasn’t held at the beginning of the year, when they had their product launches. We suggested that perhaps the product launches should be later in the year. While I would not think that it might stem from our conversation, it is interesting to note that nowadays most companies are having important product launches at this time, rather than at the beginning of the year. As was also so wisely pointed out by Mr Kamp of gfu (see page 20), not only will there be more “buzz” for the holiday season for these products, but the margins will be much higher. All this just goes to underline the fact – yet again – that IFA is the right show, in the right place at the right time This year once again, IFA lived up to its reputation as the world’s most important trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances. “As an important driving force for trade and industry and the world’s most important platform for consumer electronics and home appliances, IFA 2019 met the high expectations. With its large number of innovations, it has a positive influence on the mood of the international markets. IFA witnessed unexpectedly stable high order volume in regard to the current market situation which laid the foundation for a successful year-end business,” explains Hans- Joachim Kamp, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of IFA organizer gfu Consumer & Home Electronics. “We are satisfied with the results of IFA 2019. Accordingly, the household appliance industry is optimistic about the future. This year too, IFA has strengthened its position as the world’s significant trade show for home appliances and made a positive contribution to the market development,” states Dr. Reinhard Zinkann, Chairman of the ZVEI. Meanwhile, picking up a theme developed in one of IFA’s most famous keynotes, by Albert Einstein in 1930, Dr Christian Göke, CEO of Messe Berlin, said that in today’s day and age Einstein would probably “call on the best and the brightest minds in the world, whoever they are, and wherever they live, whichever country they call their home, to pool their knowledge and co-innovate to create a better world” IFA International is a CLEVERDIS Publication • 65 avenue Jules Cantini - Tour Méditerranée – 13006 Marseille, France • Tel: + 33 442 77 46 00 • SARL capitalised at €155,750 • VAT FR 95413604471 • RCS Marseille 413 604 471 • info@cleverdis.com • www.cleverdis.com • During IFA: Press Center – Hall 6.3 – Room 201• info@ifa-international.org • www.ifa-international.org • Publisher: Gérard Lefebvre • Publishing Director: Jean-Guy Bienfait • Managing Director: Jean-François Pieri • Project Manager: Bettina Badon • Editor-in-Chief: Richard Barnes • Head of Editorial team: John Falchetto • Editorial team: Stuart Braun, Neil Churchman, Neil Cole, Andy Fry, Simon King, Rosamund Mather, Julian Newby, Brendan O’Shea, Bob Snyder • Photos: Tom Maelsa • Art Director: Hélène Beunat • Design & Page Setting: Guillaume Kaercher, Guillaume Vinrich • Distribution Manager: Jasdeep Singh • With the participation of: Siyu Geng, Benjamin Klene, Luciana Lodolo, Dominic Streuber • To contact them : first name.last name@ifa-international.org • Cover: Messe Berlin GmbH © CLEVERDIS 2019 - Registration of Copyright September 2019 Information presented in this publication is purely indicative in order to illustrate subjects contained therein. 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