Spoga+gafa is coming back to Cologne, Germany, Sept. 2 to 4, creating a global marketplace for outdoor living buyers and sellers. 

One of the buzzwords at this year’s event is sustainability, which will play a more prominent role in the event’s “Boulevard of Ideas.” The trade fair for the lawn and garden sector -- named for the German words for sports/leisure and garden -- is organized by Koelnmesse and held in Cologne.

During the Internationale Eisenwarenmesse in Cologne, Germany, a steady stream of taxis shuttled visitors from the convention center, across the railroad tracks and to a home center at 20 Istanbul Strasse. That’s where one of the biggest, latest, modern Bauhaus home center attracts customers from this ancient city on the Rhine.

Coming out of a cab, one visitor from China asked a reporter: “Did they allow you to take photos?”

Answer: Well, nobody said we couldn’t.

From the Internationale Eisenwarenmesse -- or the International Hardware Fair --  in Cologne, Germany, an editor and a camera crew visit the booths of Pferd, Einhell and Rhodius. 

Cologne, Germany -- Does home center retailing need a new business model? One DIY pioneer thinks so. 

Manfred Maus, who in 1970 founded OBI, which grew to become Germany’s largest DIY home center, spoke to Home Channel News at the 2012 Internationale Eisenwarenmesse – or International Hardware Fair – in Cologne, Germany. 

“My children and my grandchildren will buy completely differently than we buy,” he said. “I think the home center concept is old. We need a new business model.”

Cologne, Germany -- The Internationale Eisenwarenmesse -- or, International Hardware Fair -- opened its doors Sunday, kicking off four days of product hunting and business dealing with an international flavor.

Of the 2,657 companies exhibiting on the massive Koelnmesse trade show complex, 83 hail from the United States -- from Arrow Fastener to Zircon Corp.

More than 2,700 exhibitors from more than 50 countries are planning to  show their products in Cologne, Germany, for the "Internationale Eisenwarenmesse" -- or International Hardware Fair.

For the first time, the Internationale Eisenwarenmesse in Cologne, Germany, will offer an Industrial Supply section, providing attendees with industrial and safety applications.

The new section will be one of the highlights of the March 4 to 7 event in Cologne, Germany.

International trade show organizer Koelnmesse named Katharina Hamma as its new chief operating officer. 

She will be responsible for the operations of the trade fair program in Cologne, Germany, as well as for company's sales, communications and services. 

Organizers of the Internationale Eisenwarenmesse -- or, International Hardware Fair -- are seeing growing industry demand in worldwide hand-held power tools.

According to Koelnmesse, the 2010 growth rates in Europe matched the ones in Asia with 8%. Europe is currently the world’s largest market for handheld power tools (EUR 3.2 billion) followed by North America (EUR 1.9 billion) and the Asia Pacific region (EUR 1.5 billion).

Organizers of international trade fair spoga+gafa have adopted the motto "Time to grow," for their Sept. 4 to 6 event in Cologne, Germany.

The trade fair for the lawn and garden sector -- named for the German words for sports/leisure and garden -- is organized by Koelnmesse and held in Cologne, Germany. 

The garden trade fair with the funny name -- spoga+gafa -- came to a close this week in Cologne, Germany, tallying 40,800 trade visitors from 106 countries.

“The international spectrum of exhibitors including numerous top brands has impressively confirmed its innovativeness,” said Oliver P. Kuhrt, executive VP Koelnmesse GmbH. “Thanks to the large presence of the decision-makers from the trade and industry, spoga+gafa has once again underlined its position as the leading business platform for the green market.”