Craft Focus - April/May 2020 (Issue 78)

61 PROFILE CREATIVEWORLD TRENDS Experts from Stilbüro Bora.Herke.Palmisano were on-hand to present three themes for the 2020/21 creative season: update, workout and re-form. Each trend was staged by the creative team under Tai Elshorts, who explains: “We begin our creative process around three weeks before Creativeworld opened its doors. Sometimes, it’s like working in a laboratory. We have an idea or vision in our minds and begin to tinker. This is a fascinating phase and we sometimes surprise ourselves by the exhibits we create using exhibitor products.” The show’s trends provide visitors with an insight into creative techniques, also providing a source of inspiration for appealing in-shop displays. “The preparations for Creativeworld 2021 are already in ful l swing. Our advertising strategy for the coming event is up-and-running and the invitations to register have already been sent to the manufacturers.” Trends and the Creative Impulse Award. It’s there that buyers find inspiration; with the Trends they can look into the future of creative crafts and plan with foresight. We continue to develop concepts to support the high street retail trade and keep it fit for the future, so that it can maintain its position amongst the ever-growing competition. One area that is particularly exciting for individual specialist retailers is the Creativeworld Academy. Here, we organise a host of workshops, where people can try out the latest products and take home some hints and tips for their own customers. Everyone needs to display their core ranges clearly at the highly competitive point of sale, in order to win over customers for their own business. It’s in personal advice and visual appeal that we see the strengths of the specialist retail shop. What was your personal show highlight? My own personal highlight occurred before the event had even begun, when we knew that we had achieved a record number of exhibitors - 369 manufacturers from all over the world, demonstrating just how important Creativeworld is. At the show itself, it was, above all, the buzz in the halls, people’s enthusiasm for Creativeworld and the theme that fascinated me. I was also overwhelmed by the innovations and novelties, the creative ideas and the developments of existing products that define the sector and are driving it forward. It’s great for me, as a trade fair organiser, when the show is received so positively. When will preparations for the 2021 event begin? The preparations for Creativeworld 2021 are already in full swing. Our advertising strategy for the coming event is up-and-running and the invitations to register have already been sent to the manufacturers. We have, even at this early stage, over 150 companies who have already signed up for 2021. We shall begin the detailed planning at the beginning of March, and I’m certain that the event will again provide both space and opportunity for extremely creative exchanges within the sector.