All is on the up and up for retail design, as seemingly witnessed at the 2011 Euroshop. Held this year from February 26-March 2 in Dusseldorf, the annual global retail trade fair experienced its largest turnout to date, with 106,000 attendees (about 2,000 more than in 2010) and 2,038 exhibitors from 53 countries reporting either “good” or “excellent” business contacts and deals. (Click the “more photos” link on the left to view some of the 2011 highlights, thanks to our sister publication DDI.)

Hans Werner Reinhard, deputy managing director at Messe Düsseldorf, says in a statement, “All sectors of this industry are experiencing a dynamic upswing. The mood prevailing in the halls was extremely positive.” International visitors made up the majority of attendees (60 percent) and visitors from Italy, Brazil, and the United States showed positive increase. “This great international interest demonstrates very clearly how dynamic global retail is and the exceptional position of EuroShop as its economic driver,” adds Dr. Bernd Hallier, chairman of the EuroShop Advisory Board and CEO of the EHI Retail Institute, Cologne.

Euroshop 2011 featured four, independently themed areas—Euroconcept, EuroSales, EuroCIS, and EuroExpo—all of which took on a sustainability focus, from products such as energy-saving cabinets and technology to display mannequins and interior materials.

In the EuroConcept area, lighting, in particular LED solutions, proved in the to be one of the fastest growing segments, with more than 150 international lighting manufacturers, while abstract and elegant, child-themed, and display mannequin trends led the EuroSales segment.

The EuroCIS area featured advancements in mobile devices for self-scanning solutions and Smart Phone applications, while the EuroExpo area showcased examples of successful stand design.

>> View more highlights from Euroshop 2011 at DDI in Part II of the event coverage. 

The next EuroShop will be held from February 15-19, 2014. More information on the event is available at www.euroshop.de.

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