The countdown is on: From 2 to 4 September 2018 the green industry will once again be meeting up at spoga+gafa, the world's no. 1 garden trade fair. Around 2,100 exhibitors from 60 countries will present the whole world of the garden to the international trade audience on 230,000 square metres of exhibition space. As such the exhibition space has increased once again by a further 5,000 square metres. The expected share of foreign exhibitors is 84 percent. "The success of spoga+gafa is based on the wide offer of top garden products, an enormous depth in themes to do with the green industry and unique added values provided through the theme islands, special events and an extensive event programme," stated Katharina C. Hamma, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH. "The high level of internationality among the exhibitors and trade visitors underlines its worldwide position as the perfect industry meeting point." As of the status in May 2018, 98 percent of the planned surface area is already sold. The theme islands, POS Green Solution Islands and the Outdoor Kitchen World, which were successfully introduced in 2017, are being repeated and expanded. A further highlight at spoga+gafa 2018 is a trend show in the garden unique segment.

All segments of the garden world will be presented in Halls 1 to 10, on the Central and North Boulevard, the entire Piazza and the outdoor areas between Halls 6, 7 and 8 in the coming September. The established division into the four segments garden unique, garden living, garden creation & care and garden bbq remains unchanged.

Spanning 121,000 square metres, the product segment garden living is the largest segment of spoga+gafa, located in Halls 1 to 4, 5.2, 9 and 10.1. The segment offers a complete overview of the theme life in the garden. It comprises of garden furniture, decorations and new products from the sport and games section as well as camping and leisure items. Within garden living the theme lifestyle in the garden and at the garden table becomes more and more present, which is for instance made clear by the further increased number of exhibitors from EFSA. garden unique also has a strong thematic orientation on garden living. Exclusive presentations of premium outdoor furniture are the focus of Hall 10.2. The product segment garden creation and care in Passage 4/5, the so-called Plant Allee, Halls 5.1 and 6, is the green lung of spoga+gafa. In addition to the appropriate machines, tools, garden equipment and the necessary accessories for the creation and care of the garden and terrace, everything on the theme of "living green" and the planting and growing thereof can be found here. Alongside their ordering days with their international alignment, in Hall 5.1 Landgard will present the international trade visitors with exciting ideas for concepts on the themes plants and the point of sale. In the garden bbq section in Halls 7 and 8 as well as their outdoor areas, the largest coherent exhibition offer of grills & BBQs worldwide is awaiting the trade visitors again: The area dedicated to grills at spoga+gafa is being extended by a further outdoor area between Halls 7 and 8 this year, increasing the overall space by a further 5,000 square metres- Through the relocation of companies like Rösle, Landman and Napoleon to Hall 8, there will be a first class level of high-quality in both halls. The product offer will be enhanced by cooking shows, live demonstrations, the increased presentation of grill accessories and focal themes such as accessories, sauces and spices. Beyond this the entire spectrum of outdoor kitchens will be on display in Hall 8 in the scope of the Outdoor Kitchen World. The format shows the purist, clear and modern furniture, accessories and appliances of a wide range of suppliers of outdoor kitchens from all over the globe - from exclusive manufacturing companies through to global players. The focus of the special event is an event area with interactive cooking shows.

spoga+gafa trend show: A future vision
For the first time, spoga+gafa 2018 is dedicating an own special zone to the furniture trends of tomorrow. On several product islands in the garden unique section, outdoor furniture that is trendsetting and ground-breaking for at least the next season will be on display. The focus here lies on materials and functionality. On the one hand it is about innovative product characteristics, new combinations and the theme sustainability, as well as comfort and ergonomics, flexibility and multifunctionality on the other. The trend show is being curated by selected international industry experts from the sections design, the retail trade, universities and trend research. In the follow-up to spoga+gafa, the Trend Islands will be presented again at imm cologne 2019. A special event entitled "Icons of Outdoor Furniture Design" offers the appropriate setting for the trend show. An emotional journey through the bestselling and most stylish garden furniture of the current and also former exhibitors of spoga+gafa.

Theme islands with added value
Innovative technologies and smart solutions for outdoor lighting, lawn care and irrigation will once again be the focus of the IVG Power Place AKKU and the Smart Gardening World. The success in 2017 laid the foundation for approx. 50 percent growth in the amount of exhibition space. Exciting lectures on current technology developments, new products and relevant trade themes as well as a talk round with decision-makers from the smart and battery world will enhance the offer of the exhibitors. True to the motto "All good things come in threes", a new addition is joining the two trend platforms: Exhibitors from the sections, soils, turf, fertilisers, substrates, plants and plant protection will be presented in a striking manner on Passage 4/5.

POS Green Solution Islands
Plant trend themes at the point of sale were already the focal point of the POS Green Solution Islands in 2017. spoga+gafa 2018 is continuing on from this success: They offer inspiration and clear examples of implementation for the campaign areas of the garden centres and DIY stores. Hereby, the theme islands always pick up on a relevant theme of how the end user can design his own four walls, or rather his garden. As such, they provide a very direct buying impulse for the customer and above all real added value for the trade visitors of spoga+gafa. This year's themes of the POS Green Solution Islands are 'Grab & Go', 'Living with plants', 'Homemade', 'Upside Down' and 'The Plant hunter'.

Koelnmesse – Global Competence in Furniture, Interiors and Design: Koelnmesse is the world’s top trade fair organiser for the areas of furnishing, living and lifestyle. At the trade fair hub of Cologne, the leading international fair imm cologne as well as the trade fair formats of LivingKitchen, ORGATEC, spoga+gafa, interzum and Kind + Jugend rank among the internationally renowned and established industry meeting places. These fairs comprehensively represent the upholstered and case furniture segment, the kitchen industry, the office furniture sector and outdoor living as well as the innovations of the furniture supply industry. Over the last few years, Koelnmesse has specifically added international fairs in the most important fast-expanding markets to its portfolio. These include CIKB in Shanghai, interzum guangzhou in Guangzhou and Pueri Expo in Sao Paulo. With ambista, the online portal for the interiors business, Koelnmesse offers direct access to products, contacts, expertise and events relevant to the industry all year round.

The spoga+gafa 2018 is open to trade visitors on 2 and 3 September from 09:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m. and on 4 September from 09:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. Further information is available at www.spogagafa.com.

See GTN Xtra's photo gallery from the Press Conference below including visits to Hampton Court palace Gardens, B&Q New Malden, Squires Twickenham and Chessington Garden Centre, below: