D – The spring edition of Trend was held at the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre on February 12, 2025. The GWW event was staged in one of the many exhibition halls in the building, parallel to the Didacta. As usual, the Trend was exclusively open to promotional products consultants, the Newsweek for industry customers was held just one day later.
A good 100 exhibitors participated at the Trend that was located in Hall 10 of the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre, to present their novelties and bestsellers. The offer ranged from brand items, to cuddly toys and sweets, through to technology and fashionable trendy items, including appropriate products for every budget and occasion. This was the first larger show after the PSI for some of the exhibitors, and furthermore the first show in South Germany, which meant that novelties already presented in Düsseldorf were exhibited here in a different catchment area. “We were run off our feet at the PSI and our new, homemade chocolate is going down very well here too,” commented Ralf Stefansky from Kalfany Süße Werbung.
With exhibition space spanning 14,600 m², Hall 10 of the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre is actually too big for an event of the GWW-Trend’s size. This had an impact on the visual appearance – the show appeared to be less vibrant than would have been the case in narrower aisles.
According to the official figures, 396 consultants visited the GWW-Trend (2024: 509 visitors, Autumn edition of Trend 2024: 556 visitors). And although several exhibitors would have welcomed a higher frequency of visitors, many of them were often engaged in lively discussions and an intensive exchange with the trade audience. “We were busy in the morning, including also customers that we had never met previously. And it continued that way after the lunch break, when our sweet offer was, of course, particularly apt,” stated Janaina Ketterl from CD-Lux. “We were able to hold many discussions here that we didn’t have the time for at the PSI Show,” summed up Lorne Spranz, Spranz GmbH, whilst Emin Nazli, Makito, found the “venue date too close to the PSI”. “In general, I would prefer it if all of the shows were scheduled a bit later.”
Pleasing: The negative economic climate didn’t rub off on the event. Peter Fuchs from Trigon Germany: “The mood here as at the PSI and the Toy Fair is unlike that of the economy. The customers are very positive, which makes the show fun, of course.”
After the official end of the show day, the participants had the opportunity to engage in an exchange while enjoying finger food and cool drinks at the get-together, which meant the relaxed atmosphere carried on into the evening.
The next day the opening event of this year’s GWW Newsweek was held in Stuttgart, which impressed with exciting products and a relaxed atmosphere. The event was held parallel to the Expo 4.0 this year instead of the GiveADays.
A high number of exhibitors presented an interesting combination between novelties, trends and haptic highlights to the visitors at the roadshow organised by the GWW. The concept of the event series foresees industry customers being invited to the roadshow by the participating promotional products distributors. Hence, in addition to the exhibiting suppliers, several promotional products agencies were also represented with own stands, where they welcomed industry users. The participating agencies were Andrang, Bartenbach Werbemittel, Das Präsent, Engel Werbung, Kolibri, Quadro, Scholz Promotion Service, schröder + baur, Werbepartner Renz, Winterhoff Werbung and Zippy.
As in the previous year, the Newsweek event in Stuttgart was well-attended and the exhibitors were delighted at a good attendance in the morning already. According to official accounts, 716 visitors came (2024: 551 visitors at the Newsweek leg in Stuttgart).
As such, for instance Loredana Barnaba from Easy Gifts stated: “The mood is good, the visitors are openminded and a good, lively exchange is taking place.” Great day, great show,” summed up the team of Kolibri, which had symbolically and visually invited its customers to a first-class flight.
Both the exhibitors and the visitors were equally pleased to experience a personal, open exchange, to hold interesting discussions and to try out haptic advertising media. “I am delighted to be able to communicate personally with the visitors and thus promote and strengthen customer relations,” Nicholas Krimmel from Tüpfelchen reported.
Laura Hahn from Die Stadtgärtner confirmed: “This show offers the opportunity to talk to existing contacts personally as well as establish new contacts. So, I am delighted at the opportunity to hold good discussions.”
The promotional products roadshow stopped off in Hamburg on February 19, whilst Wuppertal and Frankfurt are on the agenda on March 12 and 25, respectively. The Newsweek comes to a close with venues in Dresden and Berlin on May 13 and 14, respectively.
// Sophia Arnold and Helen Lorenz
Photos: Sophia Arnold, Helen Lorenz, Michael Scherer, © WA Media
