In what is the first major change to next year’s greeting card trade exhibition calendar, as a result of Covid-19 and the associated travel restrictions, Paperworld 2021, will not take place January 30-2 February in Frankfurt’s Messe as planned. Instead, the show (which showcases cards, wrap, stationery and office products) will form part of a one-off joint event with Christmasworld and Ambiente (the major giftware and homewares show) which will take place April 17-20 in Frankfurt. This physical event, dubbed the International Consumer Goods Show – Special Edition, will be supplemented with an online programme of Consumer Goods Digital Days. The latter will also be home to the purely digital Creativeworld.
Despite Messe Frankfurt reassuring customers that its halls are ‘among the safest enclosed buildings in which people can spend time without being subjected to an increased risk of infection,’ with continuous fresh air and strict hygiene regimes, its decision reflects the tightening of travel restrictions by governments and companies as the worldwide pandemic continues to develop.
“It is important for our customers that we make a decision at an early date, as it would otherwise be time for them to begin investing in their trade fair presentations,” commented Wolfgang Marzin, Messe Frankfurt’s president and chief executive officer. He confirmed: “Messe Frankfurt will continue working closely with its customers to ensure that its decisions serve the interests of the exhibiting industries.”
- Heimtextil, a textile show, which is popular among creatives in the greeting card industry for trendspotting, is moving from its January dates to 4-7 May 2021 , taking place alongside Techtextil and Texprocess 2021 in Frankfurt.
Top: Messe Frankfurt is not to host any trade shows from January to March next year.
