At Ambiente, held from January 26-30, retailers gathered in Frankfurt, Germany to view the latest consumer goods from housewares to office furniture. Even though the fair was held during a railway operators’ strike that lasted for several days, 140,000 visitors were on hand to discover the products presented by nearly 5,000 exhibitors.
A highlight of the show was the Future of Work area, back again after its debut in 2023, with an updated look. The modern blue and white booths were replaced with four dome constructions made of wood and surrounded by greenery, a reflection of a more eco-centric approach. “This year, the design of the area and the exhibitor program focused strongly on the topic of sustainability, which is driving a huge change in the consumer goods market, including international contract business and the hospitality sector,” said Julia Uherek, vice president, consumer goods fairs, Messe Frankfurt. “We are actively supporting consumers’ purchasing decisions for a better, greener future.”
Showing for the first time at Ambiente, the team at Xbrick featured its eponymous product, a lightweight seating cube. Made of expanded polypropylene with low energy requirements, the pieces can be recycled when no longer in use. This responsible manufacturing appealed to attendees. “Customers are interested when they realize that Xbrick is sustainably and locally produced here in Germany,” noted Helen Scholz, marketing and project coordinator at Xbrick.
As a regular at Orgatec, where the emphasis is solely on solutions for the office, Scholz said that the curation at Ambiente aligns with the way people are living and working today. With a blend of items from different categories, users can create more inviting interiors, especially with a range of brighter hues. “At Orgatec, we didn’t show all of the available shades, and here, it is the first time that people have mentioned the colors. It is all part of the mix of hospitality and the workplace at the fair, which is important.”
Michael Daubner, creator of the Xbrick, and managing partner, decided to exhibit at Ambiente for both greater reach and to find untapped avenues to help bolster the business of the small company. “The distribution channels are changing, and so we are looking for international partners,” he explained. During the fair he connected with professionals in education and gift segments, and he’s optimistic about what may develop. “I met with a supplier of contract furniture used in kindergartens, and I didn’t expect that. The crossover is interesting for us.”
In 2023 there was an abundance of compact, multifunctional pieces on view, designed for smaller spaces within the home. Larger modular systems and phone booths were back in a big way, necessities for the return to the open office that many employees are making. Vario introduced a prototype called Shelter, which is expected to be ready for a formal launch in a few months.
The curtains allow users to create a softer division, a welcome respite from the rigid barriers prevalent in recent seasons. “Shelter is a freestanding element that can be placed anywhere in a room,” said Collyn Praekelt, head of support and projects at Vario. “You can separate yourself for privacy, but it is flexible. It is not like a basic box.”
There were plenty of pods on the show floor, including those from new exhibitor Mute Labs. Conradin Castell, founder and CEO, noted that the demand for booths shows no signs of slowing due to the number of virtual meetings that are now commonplace. “A hybrid setup is the new normal, and there are more video conferences than ever before in noisy open-plan offices. We have seen tremendous growth over the past year.”
Castell added that clients want models that do not compete with an interior, but rather complement the existing design of the workplace, and are fabricated of wood and glass for a clean style. “Some booths on the market are designed to be seen, the center of attention. There tends to be too much customization or strong colors that can be a bit polarizing,” he said. “When I started Mute Labs, I wanted our products to blend in with different office environments as part of the background.”
While many local companies attend year after year, Ambiente is truly a global trade show, with more than 170 countries and regions represented. John Edelman, president and CEO of Heller, was surprised by the whole experience, and he plans to return next year. ”It’s actually the first time I have been to Ambiente, and it is an amazing show,” he explained. “I am blown away by the scale and the diversity of products. I didn’t expect to see people from all over the world—Singapore, Turkey, China, and Switzerland, every place that you can imagine. I am able to give them all the same level of service in one location, and for me, that is difficult to replicate.”
