News

Personal and safe meetings in the limelight at Formland

18 August 2020

Relationships have been strengthened, new products have been purchased and inspiration has been shared at Formland Autumn 2020, which brought the interior and design industry together for four days, offering the opportunity to meet in safe surroundings.

Formland Autumn 2020 was the 73rd time the interior and design fair has been held. Photo: MCH/Tony Brøchner.

The value of the personal meeting was clearly apparent during the Danish trade show Formland Autumn 2020, which ended on Sunday after four inspiring days brimming with networking, news, knowledge-sharing and the biggest current trends.  Both exhibitors and visitors agree that the greatest highlight for them was the opportunity to once again meet customers and colleagues in a safe and secure setting.

One of them is exhibitor Camilla Dybdal Christensen, CEO of design company AU Maison, who recently participated at Formland to meet existing and new customers.

"It's been so great to finally meet our customers at eye level again. The quality of the visitors has been really high, and there was a steady flow of customers already from Thursday. So our preconception that this time the show would be a little quieter than normal because of Corona completely flew out of the window! We've had a fantastic fair where we have presented our four brands and received some really attractive orders, as well as enjoying a positive dialogue with our customers," says Camilla Dybdal Christensen, adding:

"But Formland is so much more than just sales. The sense of community that the fair brings simply makes you become a better organisation. The fair helps strengthen the company DNA and create a special unity in our own team and in the industry as a whole," she says.

A boost for the entire industry
Jan Tasholm Jørgensen, Market Manager at Eva Solo, confirms he has the same experience.

"It gives a boost to the entire industry when Formland gathers all the different brands under one roof, and for us to stand together as a collective industry and show what we as suppliers have to offer," he says and continues:

"Formland gives us a unique opportunity to showcase our products in different environments, so that they excite, motivate and inspire the shops. It isn't the same as an iPad or a sales display case - physical meetings build relationships and help create the foundation for deeper dialogues. This is what Formland really excels at, he emphasises.

Paustian: Formland is always worth a visit
The opportunity for dialogue is also highlighted by Paustian Aarhus CEO Susanne Kristensen, who perceived the fair as being a safe meeting place.

"We save a great deal of time by visiting Formland, where the entire industry is gathered and where we get to meet all our suppliers in just a few days and can also look for new ones. I enjoyed talking to the suppliers and, as always, I have taken away a lot of inspiration. Formland is worth a visit every time, and there's no way we could do without the fair. Never, she reinforces.

Positive statements bring joy
The management at the organiser MCH A/S are pleased with the buyers' and exhibitors' statements.

"Safety was a crucial factor at this Formland trade show, and we are delighted that our TrygtMCH concept has been so well received. At the same time, we are pleased with the amount of buying interest at the fair, which shows that fairs can help strengthen trade and the Danish business community," says Georg Sørensen, CEO of MCH A/S.

Formland Autumn had 284 exhibitors and was visited by 5,729 professionals, and the figures should be considered in the light of the Corona situation in Denmark and the rest of Europe. The organiser is pleased that the proportion of shop owners among the visitors has risen from 16 to 24 per cent, which can be a contributory factor to the buying interest at the fair.

MCH's next interior and design show, Formland Spring, will take place on 4-7 February 2021.

Professional shopping centre

The 73rd Formland show was the first trade show to be held since the lockdown in March.

Trade shows are subject to the same regulations as department stores and shopping centres, which stipulate a minimum amount of floor space per person.

To supplement these measures, MCH has also developed the TrygtMCH concept, which uses basic principles of numbers, distance and hygiene to provide the industry with a responsible and attractive meeting place.  Read more here

Overview