spoga+gafa 2023 reports significant increase in attendance

Trade show spoga+gafa 2023 reported a significant increase in attendance during its three-day show in Cologne, Germany, called “Social Gardens - Places of encounter,” focusing on gardens as social meeting places, according to show organizer Koelnmesse. 

Around 30,000 visitors from 122 countries and 1,853 exhibitors from 58 countries attended the garden and BBQ trade show from June 18-20, with the numbers almost matching the record figures for 2019’s show. 

The show saw a 20% increase in attendance, with visitors from 10 new countries. Along with Germany, the countries with the most visitors were Great Britain, Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands, with Great Britain, Italy, the U.S. and Canada seeing the most growth in visitors. 

Koelnmesse specifically noted the number of European exhibitors and intercontinental growth from Asia and the U.S. 

"We are delighted that we were able to follow on from the fantastic results of the year 2019 with spoga+gafa 2023," Koelnmesse GmbH Chief Operating Officer Oliver Frese said in a statement. “With a strong increase in the number of visitors from Germany and at the same time around 70 percent of foreign trade visitors, spoga+gafa once again confirmed its relevance as the industry's most important international trade and networking platform." 

© Koelnmesse / spoga+gafa / Hanne Engwald | spogagafa.com

The show’s conclusion was that “the gardens of the future are sustainable, promote the social exchange and offer more potential than ever as extended living and working space." 

"The significance of the personal contact was confirmed once again at spoga+gafa. Business deals are still always transacted by people. Being able to look each other in the eyes during conversations, but also being able to see and touch the new products and innovations is of great significance,” German Garden Centre Association President Martina Mensing-Meckelburg said in a statement. “In our capacity as an association, we were able to welcome many participants, members and international guests at our stand. The interest and curiosity is unabated again in 2023, which I am delighted about for the industry." 

Next year’s spoga+gafa will be at the fairgrounds of Koelnmesse in Cologne from June 16-18. 

For a full summary of the show, click here. 

"We were relatively skeptical about how the trade fair would go because of the economic framework conditions — what the mood of the visitors, exhibitors and buyers would be like. However, the enthusiasm for the industry, the season, turnovers and innovations of all those involved positively surprised us,” said Peter Wüst, managing director of the Retailers' Association for Home Improvement, Building and Gardening. “The message is clear: Everyone found it important to take enough time for discussions and the mutual exchange. We totally stand behind the trade fair. It was of high quality, very aesthetic and we had great fun. Taking part was extremely worthwhile for us again and we are convinced that spoga+gafa is on the right track. We are very satisfied."