NEWS

Kind + Jugend set to re-start the baby and toddler products industry with a ‘Special Edition’

Published on: 1st July 2021

A Special Edition of the physical trade fair, featuring around 250 German and European exhibitors and enhanced by digital elements, will take place from 9th-11th September 2021.

Kind + Jugend is planning to re-start the baby and toddler product industry with what organiser Koelnmesse is calling a ‘Special Edition’ of its international trade fair. Centred around a focused industry event, to be staged in a Covid-secure manner in Hall 10 of the Cologne fair grounds, the trade fair will platform the latest product and trend inspiration in what is widely being considered a transitional year for manufacturers and the wider trade.

“The industry is missing its annual get-together in Cologne,” said Oliver Frese, chief operating officer of Koelnmesse. “Together with the participating companies, we are convinced that the re-start in September will provide the impetus needed for a strong final quarter.”

A recent survey carried out shows how high interest in Kind + Jugend 2021 is within the trade, with around half those interviewed in Europe saying they are planning to visit the fair in September. Thanks to the progress made with vaccination campaigns, particularly in Europe, and the gradual lifting of travel restrictions, the demand for business trips and visits to trade fairs is also increasing significantly. As a result, airlines and travel companies are continually expanding their capacities and offers.

Working closely with participating companies, the Koelnmesse team is currently finalising the most suitable presentation options for the trade fair. Lectures and trend reports will take place within the Trend Forum, while those companies unable to attend the trade fair this year will have the opportunity to present their products from their own stand under the Remote Booth Plus programme. Packages for this stand model include numerous benefits, such as stand staff assigned to take care of the company’s products and guarantee visitor interaction.

The Kind + Jugend Special Edition will be staged in Hall 10 in compliance with all Covid-19 regulations. To further ensure the safety of visitors and staff alike, Koelnmesse has developed an extensive package of measures under the name #B-SAFE4business. These measures interlock seamlessly to carefully govern the interaction among everyone present at the fair.

Trends in the kids world

In 2019, Kind + Jugend commenced an initiative aimed at heightening the visibility of sustainable textiles among trade visitors. The recognised seals introduced as part of the initiative include GOTS, Oekotex, bluesign and Made in Green. The full list of manufacturers exhibiting sustainable textiles at the trade fair can be viewed on the Kind + Jugend website, allowing visitors with a particular interest in this area to plan their trip accordingly. The initiative has been well received by producers and buyers, as well as young parents seeking sustainable and environmentally-friendly products when buying new items for their children.

Sustainability is also an unmissable trend in toys and furniture. The raft of products for parents to choose from continues to grow. In the face of pollution and large quantities of packaging waste, parents are searching for sustainable alternatives: for playthings that are unobjectionable in terms of planetary and ecological health, and that are durable, recyclable and repairable. Fair working conditions in the supply chain are also an important factor to consumers. As a result, many toy manufacturers are turning to wood from sustainable forestry and testing innovative new materials. Sustainable toys are not throw-away articles; they stay with a child for a long period of time and help promote their development.

The same is true of furniture. Sustainable furniture is produced with careful regard for the environment and ecology, and is designed to ‘grow’ with little ones thanks to innovative adjustable designs and special features that adapt and evolve along with the child.

Koelnmesse is also seeing a tangible move away from traditional pink and blue designs for babies, as more and more gender-neutral products for kids enter the marketplace. It’s not only young, start-up companies engaging in the design and production of such products – established brands are also offering alternatives to pink and blue and are therefore fuelling the gender-neutral trend.

Of course, high tech is also part of kids’ worlds. Not only do digital gadgets help guard the well-being of children and parents in their homes, electro-mobility is now making an appearance in the construction of prams and bike trailers. In Europe’s big cities, more and more parents are moving away from the use of cars and turning to eco-friendly mobility options instead.

To find out more out Kind + Jugend 2021, click here.

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