The Cologne design journalist and trend researcher Frank A. Reinhardt (FAR.consulting) is a trend expert in the field of living and furnishing. As a jury member of design awards and as a speaker at various industry forums, he has been passing on his knowledge to interested trade visitors at spoga+gafa for years.
E-commerce in the gardening sector is also gaining ground. But what about the customer experience? Studies show that there is still room for improvement in this area.
Digital technologies make it possible to fulfil many customer requirements directly. The expectations have grown as a result and the so-called "immediacy" often prevails.
Furniture for the terrace or balcony is increasingly being made from recycled materials. This looks good and saves resources.
How does the POS have to be designed so that it also works in times of Corona? And how does one address particularly the younger target groups expediently?
Which trends will influence outdoor design in 2021? A look at current developments in living.
More and more garden centres are planning to set up their own webshop. This can be accomplished amazingly fast and at little cost.
Where are the most beautiful private gardens in the German-speaking world? The Gardens of the Year competition provides a current overview.
Current changes in the world of work offer new opportunities for the gardening industry.
Momentum for the garden centre of the future
The digital change is not only boosting the eCommerce in the garden trade. It is also lending the stationary business new momentum.
Blooming outlooks for eCommerce
eCommerce has also long since hit the garden industry by storm. Even plants are purchased more and more frequently online. Dealers can impress on the Internet with good ideas and top service.
The green industry is becoming greener
The theme sustainability has not just been playing a growing role in the garden industry since Fridays for Future.
We talked to him about the current situation in the BBQ industry and the upcoming spoga+gafa.
We talked to her about the next spoga+gafa and the topic of sustainability.
The Chessington Garden Centre UK has everything the green heart desires: Outdoor Living, Outdoor Cooking and Outdoor Gardening. We spoke to Paul Smith about how important spoga+gafa is for him and his team.
The last two years went down in history as drought summers. There is too little rain in extensive parts of Germany in 2020 as well. Efficient water management thus plays an increasingly important role in gardens.
We talked to him about the latest trends and the upcoming spoga+gafa.
As the largest garden trade fair in the world, spoga+gafa always keeps a close eye on new outdoor trends. We are taking a look at the current outdoor furniture design.
The Polish Garden Centers Association (PSCO) promotes the development of greenery and horticultural culture. We talked to president Mirosław Łakomiec about the current situation in Poland and the upcoming spoga+gafa.
Nobody can say when exactly stone gardens started becoming popular. All of a sudden it became noticeable that more and more private green spaces were being replaced by grey gravel. However, resistance has been rising its head for some time already...
spoga+gafa is the largest trade fair for grills & BBQs worldwide. We spoke with the Director, Stefan Lohrberg, about the advantages the new trade fair date brings the industry.
Green houses could be an answer to climate change. New projects around the world show how.
On 01.01.2010, the former branch of Aebi Kaderli AG was sold to the company Arbasta AG. This was the foundation stone of Garten Center Säriswil.
Green excursion destination: The new Naturgartencenter Kremer has been open in all areas for customers at its main location in Lennestadt since 2 June.
The project garden of spoga+gafa is gradually taking on its ultimate form: The garden shed has now also been erected. The garden blogger, Beatrice Degenhart, showed it to us.
"We are specialists in the garden furniture segment and have long been interested in the question of how we can design our furniture to be 'more sustainable'."
The Corona crisis is also facing family businesses with special tasks. We spoke to Johannes Jäger, Executive Director of the furniture store Jäger.
Catrin and Christian Dinger are fourth-generation gardeners. Dinger‘s Gartencenter was the first garden centre in Europe following the American example.
The Corona crisis is currently also presenting procurement with huge challenges. We spoke about this with Jens Westerwelle, Managing Director Procurement with Möbelverband Einrichtungspartnerring VME.
The corona crisis is also currently posing challenges for German garden centres. We spoke to Martina Mensing-Meckelburg, President of the VDG e.V.
As the leading German online shop for high quality garden and leisure furniture, Garten-und-Freizeit.de has a head start on many companies when it comes to digitalisation.
Especially in times of crisis, members can profit from the strengths and advantages of agile associations. GIGA International has demonstrated this.
Outdoor kitchens are trendy and are becoming more and more versatile. About the new desire for outdoor cooking.
What long-term effects will the corona crisis have on the stationary trade? How can the green industry address young consumers? We talked with Florian Topf from OPUS Marketing about this.
The Corona crisis is currently presenting the stationary retail trade with huge challenges. POS design as a whole plays a subordinate role compared to this theme this year. We spoke with an expert about this.
What effects does the theme sustainability have on the transport concepts of the green industry? Taking a look at current examples.
Sage, dahlias, savoury, yarrow, butterfly bush... the new spoga+gafa garden is gradually filling up and is getting green. But which plants turn it into a sustainable project?
The green sector in Germany is reacting to the current exceptional situation with joint measures. Diy stores and garden centers protect employees and customers.
The focus at spoga+gafa 2020 is on sustainable gardens. However, the theme will already be examined intensively and very practically in Cologne months before the trade fair in September: we are creating our own project garden.
The European DIY stores association is underlining the fact that DIY stores must also be classified as indispensable retail outlets during the current Corona crisis.
The discussions of the last years on insect and bee protection are now starting to have an impact: The theme biodiversity is playing an important role for more and more garden owners also in one's own green space.
People and plants don’t talk the same language. That is why the communications are rather difficult. The company FYTA is striving to change this. With a smart sensor and the respective app, they intend to lend room plants a voice.
What makes our cities worth living? The Ingolstadt State Garden Show answers this question with sustainable garden concepts.
The DIY retail chain Obi motivates people to individually design their balcony - directly at the POS.
Lawn mowing, weeding and digging – garden work is not exactly easy on the back and joints. The new generation of garden tools are about to change all that.
People, who don't have their own garden, mustn't do without greenery. Indoor gardening has developed into the practical deco trend with plants and herbs.
The current highlights in garden design were distinguished at the award ceremony of Gardens of the Year 2020.
Sustainability is an important theme for the BHB - the Trade Association for Home Improvement, Construction & Gardening e.V. Which is why it plans to plant 200,000 trees - not just anywhere in the world, but indeed here in Germany.
Living is increasingly moving outdoors while nature is conquering the house. Both could be seen at the last imm cologne.
Camillo Tomanek is well-networked on the scene with his blog Don Caruso BBQ. We spoke to the 2008 World Champion Grill Master about the last spoga+gafa and future-looking developments within the BBQ industry.
As soon as Christmas is over, the green industry already sets its sights on Easter, the next seasonal business. We talked to a Marketing and Sales Consultant about the start of the new garden year.
"Sustainable gardens" is the focal theme of spoga+gafa 2020. In the scope of various events, lectures and on special exhibition areas it is to be demonstrated how a garden can be designed in a resource-saving and eco-friendly manner.
Consciously doing without is currently also an ongoing trend in the outdoor furniture sector. New collections have an air of elegant minimalism.
.jpg "For more green in the cities")
The next storm or another hot summer can't be stopped, but we can ensure that our cities are better prepared for them in future. Many organisations and initiatives are currently campaigning for this.
Thomas Holzportz regularly publishes articles on barbecuing in his blog called baconzumsteak.de. We spoke to him about the latest developments on the BBQ scene and about sustainable meat consumption.
Martina Mensing-Meckelburg has been President of the German Garden Centre Association (Verbands Deutscher Garten-Center – VDG) for four years. We spoke to her about her tasks.
After the drought summer last year, it has also been extraordinarily dry in many regions this spring. Hence, devices and automatic systems for irrigating the garden are particularly coming under focus in 2020.
Plants improve the work climate. This recognition is not new, but it is one that is gaining in topicality again.
Art connoisseur Roland Doschka is convinced that nature and gardens have influenced artists throughout the ages. He, on the other hand, allowed himself to be inspired by the work of famous painters when creating his garden.
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The intention behind Silvia Appel's various social media channels is to enthuse people for living with plants. The 33-year-old woman from Würzburg/Germany has been active on the web under the name "Garten Fräulein" (Garden Miss) for six years already.
Especially during the pre-Christmas season a good POS design and appealing online marketing is very important. We discussed the topic with Oliver Mathys.
.jpg "The largest collection of roses in the world")
The small city of Sangerhausen is located on the mountain slopes of Südharz, Germany. Every summer a sea of millions of blossoms await the visitors there, because this is where the largest collection of roses in the world is at home.
On his tours around spoga+gafa 2019, Oliver Mathys was once again able to discover new ideas for the design of the POS. The marketing and sales consultant was also responsible for the realisation of the POS Green Solution Islands this year.
From 1 to 3 September, the latest trends and topics for garden furniture and decoration were on show at spoga+gafa. An overview of new products for the upcoming outdoor season.
After three successful days, spoga+gafa 2019 came to a close on 3 September after recording an extremely positive result and an increased number of visitors. A good 40,000 trade visitors underlined the international significance of the trade fair.
The new “City Gardening” market research study was presented on the second day of the spoga+gafa garden trade fair. The study surveyed more than 1,000 city gardeners and gathered relevant market data on the topic.
As the largest garden trade fair in the world, spoga+gafa presents the latest developments in outdoor design. One of the highlights of this year's fair is the Trendshow Outdoor Furniture & Decoration.
From 1 to 3 September the world's largest garden fair presented the current trends and theme worlds of the green industry in Cologne. In addition, once again 2019 a comprehensive event programme was offered. Here a few of the highlights:
The blue and yellow can with a red cap is well-known all over the world: The products of the WD-40 Company are sold in over 188 countries. The company is of course on board again at this year's garden fair, spoga+gafa.
As the largest garden trade fair in the world, spoga+gafa will be presenting all the new products for outdoor living from 30 May to 1 June. We talked to Stefan Lohrberg, Director of spoga+gafa, about the trade fair highlights and current developments in the industry.
"Wellness in Nature”, “Kids Garden”, “Flower Power”, “My Tiny Coffee Shop” and “City Gardening” – these are the themes of the POS Green Solution Islands at this year's spoga+gafa. Have a look and get inspired!
-kopie.jpg "Practical Garden Day at spoga+gafa")
spoga+gafa 2019 is presenting a special offer for landscape gardeners and the executing companies: The Practical Garden Day on 2 September addresses the theme planning and building for 50+.
On the theme islands of spoga+gafa 2019 in hall 6, everything revolves around innovative and smart technologies for the garden, as well as new products for the patio and balcony. In addition to product presentations, there are also informative lectures.
Together with her office brandherm + krumrey Susanne Brandherm is the curator of this year's Trendshow at spoga+gafa. We talked to her about basic developments in outdoor design and her expectations for future trends.
Nicole Espey has been Executive Director of the German Association of the Sporting Goods Industry (Bundesverband der Deutschen Sportartikel-Industrie – BSI) since 2014. The association is patron of spoga+gafa and spoga horse in Cologne.
This year, too, an exciting event programme will be offered at and around the international garden trade fair in Cologne. Prior registration is required for some events. Here is an overview with direct links to registration.
spoga+gafa is also being accompanied by a diversified supporting programme in 2019. In the Garden Café Forum, exciting lectures and discussion rounds on current themes and issues of the green industry await the trade fair visitors.
.jpg "There is great potential in pop-up stores")
In May 2019, a hagebau DIY shop opened up a pop-up store in the city centre of Mülheim in Germany and presented a selected assortment of DIY products for a period of 90 days. The Executive Director, Timo Buhren, is presenting the project at this year's BHB GardenSummit.
As the largest garden fair in the world, the upcoming spoga+gafa will be showcasing a wide range of outdoor furniture and accessories - including numerous new products for the contract business.
In October BEEF! is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The first food and lifestyle magazine for men was developed by Jan Spielhagen in 2009. He is still the Chief Editor of the successful publication today.
Which special needs do big city dwellers have when gardening in urban spaces? Together the IFH Cologne, spoga+gafa is addressing this issue. We spoke to Jens-Peter Gödde from IFH about the new survey, "City Gardening".
In summer, city residents are drawn back outdoors. Every tiny outdoor space is used for relaxing in the open air. Exhibitors of spoga+gafa are offering new furniture and accessories for City Gardening.
The BBQ/grill blog by the SizzleBrothers is online since 2015. Since then, the three friends from Hanover, Germany have been sharing new grilling recipes, instructions and tests with their ever-growing fan community every week.
.jpg "City Gardening: The focus is on fun")
A few years ago only a few people planted flowers and plants on tree slices or wasteland in urban districts. Today, more and more city dwellers are turning their immediate living environments into green spaces.
Summertime is barbecue time - even on the balcony or the roof terrace. Exhibitors of spoga+gafa show how the best of the barbecue can be made in the city.
Current discussions revolve around the avoidance of plastic or closed material cycles. Exhibitors of spoga+gafa have been focusing on recycling and sustainable production processes for some time.
The largest garden fair in the world scores this year not only with a unique exhibition offer, but also with a tremendous depth. The emphasis is being placed on City Gardening.
Konni van Delft has been working as a freelance visual merchandiser since 1986. She advises garden centres and DIY stores throughout Europe. We spoke with her about the current trends in POS design.
Global megatrends significantly shape our lives and living. The influence of topics such as urbanization or sustainability on the latest outdoor design is demonstrated by the "Trendshow Outdoor Furniture & Decoration" at the upcoming spoga+gafa.
With the increasing popularity of BBQ, the demands of consumers have also increased. Therefore, special store concepts are countering the growing online trade with an extraordinary shopping experience.
The increased urbanisation is one of the global mega trends of our era: More and more people are moving to the city. Hence, spoga+gafa is setting a new main focus with "City Gardening".
Substrate manufacturers, environmentalists and consumers have been dealing with the issue of peat for years. There is a great deal of commitment to find sustainable alternatives for gardening.
Erwin Meier-Honegger and his sister manage the Swiss family business Ernst Meier AG with one of the most innovative garden centres in Europe.
.jpg "Strengthening and protecting box trees")
The box tree (buxus) is extremely popular among garden owners. However, at the moment it has developed into a problem case in many places.
The assortment of grill products was one of the growth drivers of the green industry once again in 2018. The summer with its record temperatures also played a significant role here.
Since December 2018, the ‘Handelsverband Heimwerken, Bauen und Garten – BHB’ has a new executive spokesman: Dr. Ralf Bartsch.
Hardly any other development in recent years has confronted companies with such major challenges as digitalisation. The technical progress in this area is often so fast that many have a hard time keeping up.
Oliver Mathys is an acknowledged market expert and networker of the green industry. He develops sales concepts for garden centres and DIY stores and supports them with the implementation thereof throughout the whole of Europe. We talked to him about his ideas for POS design in the summer and about what garden centres should definitely pay attention to during these months.
Volker Püschel won the “Garden of the Year 2019” competition with a house garden designed by him. We talked with the landscape architect about his award-winning project, enchanted ruins as a design element and today’s demands on garden planning.
The extensive product assortment of Birchmeier AG extends from small hand spray devices to spray systems for carrying on the back or on carts and is used worldwide in the house or garden, in agriculture, in the most varied trades and in industry.
The cities are growing all over the world. This not only increases the population, but also the density of the development. Greened façades and roofs can help to improve the climate and air quality in urban areas. Current projects therefore allow plants to grow on and on houses.
Armin Rehberg has been the CEO of Landgard, Germany’s largest marketing producer cooperative for flowers and plants, fruit and vegetables, since mid-2013.
From pruning shears to chainsaws, through to robotic lawnmowers or ride-on mowers – the specialised department “Garden and Lawn Care Appliances” of the Industrieverband Garten (IVG) e.V. (Industry Garden Association) unites all of the manufacturers of products that are needed for the care of a beautiful garden.
Last summer has shown what effects climate change can have. Manufacturers of outdoor furniture are adapting to such climatic changes with particularly durable materials.
John. W. Herbert, general secretary of the European Retail Association (EDRA), is the “elder statesman” in the DIY landscape. For 35 years he has been in charge of leading positions in German and international DIY companies as well as in national and international DIY associations.
Especially in winter, we long for something green in our own four walls. So why not plant a herb garden in the kitchen? “Indoor Farming” is the urban trend towards self-sufficiency in herbs and vegetables.
From gardens with ruins, to grass gardens with a pool, through to the small city oasis with a circular lawn – the gardens of the year voted at Schloss Dyck in Rhineland on 8 February show the wide spectrum of current garden design and give an insight into present trends.
