Yvonne Engelmann, the Director of Ambiente Living, Giving and Working
Recently, I caught up with Yvonne Engelmann, the Director of Ambiente Living, Giving and Working, to talk about this year’s show and what we can expect for next year. For those who don’t know Ambiente Working also includes Remanexpo.
SU: How successful was this year’s show and are there any numbers you can share?
YE: We had a successful new start with our trio Ambiente, Christmasworld and Creativeworld. All the indicators of success – such as a fully booked-up exhibition centre, good visitor registration figures and enthusiastic feedback from the market – have been confirmed and even topped at Ambiente.
In other words: the anticipation for the new live fair experience after a two-year break was already great – the reality exceeded our expectations. Finally, we had the world back home at our exhibition centre.
In total, more than 154,000 visitors came to Frankfurt. More than 170 participating nations were present. 67% of Ambiente visitors came from outside Germany. The new fair format was a success from the start. It was a relief for us as an international trade fair organiser – but even more so for our customers, because they need this international trade fair platform to develop their international business. It has shown: the personal encounter is key.
SU: What did you learn about Remanexpo?
YE: This year, we have for the first time embedded Remanexpo in Ambiente together with the entire range of products and services of the stationery sector. Ambiente is the international platform for furnishing and equipping all areas of life – from Dining, Living, Giving to Working – the newly introduced section focusing on furnishing and equipping modern working environments, be it corporate offices, co-working spaces or home offices.
It was a very good start. I am truly fascinated by this business segment focussing on the reuse and refurbishment of printer cartridges and components, which functions so successfully in itself and simultaneously catches the spirit of the times – especially with regard to the circular economy and environmental management.
Nowadays, sustainability is the strategic imperative for society and companies alike and thus one of the major guiding themes of Ambiente. For example, Ambiente suppliers with sustainable products, productions, processes, and services will be highlighted for visitors through their own externally curated programme called “Ethical Style”.
SU: Can you provide any sneak peeks or teasers for what we can expect from the 2024 show?
YE: The basic structure remains the same – however, we are developing and expanding individual product segments in a targeted and strategic manner. This includes the entire paper, office supplies and stationery range at Ambiente, including Remanexpo, the office product groups Office Supplies, Technology and Equipment, Stationery, the Office Design & Solutions product category and the Ambiente highlight Future of Work.
We will grow in all these segments. To achieve this, we are moving the office segment to the Festhalle on the one hand and to the directly connected Forum 1 on the same level on the other. Remanexpo will continue to occupy the Congress Centre and additionally grow into the neighbouring Forum 1 – also on the same level: We want to be the largest and most international platform for the remanufacturing of printer cartridges and components and expand this offer in the future to include printer hardware, consumables, IT and mobile reuse, spare parts and services. The need is there and continues to grow.
SU: We see that Office and Remanexpo are going to be closer together. What is the strategy behind that?
Yes, the Congress Centre, Forum and Festhalle are located close together. We are thus very happy to meet the industry’s wish for more proximity, because we clearly see the synergies between the product segments.
We are therefore creating a stationery-office-Remanexpo cosmos with short distances for buyers in prominent locations on the exhibition grounds: In the Forum, the Remanexpo remanufacturers grow together on one level with the office supplies brands on the other. Thus, the sustainability approach of the brands of these two sectors creates an own Office EcoSphere in the new House of Brands in the Forum.
SU: Can you tell us more about the Zone concept?
YE: As mentioned before, we want to grow in Working and this growth has to be structured in a way that makes sense for the market and the buyers.
Hence, for the Remanexpo we are introducing three distinct zones, each with its own unique identity, to accommodate the changing market in 2024. The market is currently characterized by competition among reuse, distribution, and new products, technologies, and services.
Exhibitors can position their businesses, products, and services in the relevant zone, thereby effectively engaging with the market. For visitors, the zones provide an opportunity to make the most of their time at the show and navigate the hall more efficiently to find the products and services they require.
- The Reuse Zone is centred on reuse brands, which is a fundamental aspect of the EU’s Green agenda and will be featured in all sectors in the coming years. Remanufactured products, services, and dedicated supplies from exhibitors whose primary business is the reprocessing of printer Hardware and consumables, and other office technology will be on display in this zone.
- The Distributor Zone is where distributors, full-service providers, component suppliers, OEM and aftermarket dealers, and companies offering a full range of products and services are located – in Forum level 0 together with Reuse. This sector supplies parts and components to remanufacturers and new non-OEM producers.
- The Print Plus Zone for products and additional services including printer software, 3D printing, new technologies and products and the exhibitors consist of new, up-and-coming and mainstream producers who are positioned outside the reuse or distribution zone. The Print Plus zone is in the Congress Centre which is just a two minutes’ walk to the Forum 1 hall level.
SU: How are booking for next year’s show going?
YE: The interest in the upcoming event is huge. We are getting very good feedback, not only from the companies that participated in 2023, but also from newly interested parties. We already have more registrations than we had participants at this year’s event.
SU: How crucial is it for exhibitors to secure their spot by registering early, given the overwhelming demand?
YE: Very important. On the one hand, to secure a stand and thus participation. On the other hand, for the stand positioning in itself.
SU: Will you be holding a Remanexpo Academy again at the show?
YE: In addition to the special presentations such as Future of Work or Ms Paper & Friends, the extensive lecture programme is an important content added value and service for exhibitors and visitors alike. It provides orientation, inspiration and important indications for their business success. The Remanexpo Academy is an important service for this target group.
SU: How important is it for the 2024 show to remain relevant and valuable for attendees and exhibitors alike?
YE: We claim that our trade fairs reflect the international market – on the supplier side as well as on the buyer side. Both sides invest money and time to provide added value. That is why we also invest – and we are doing this continuously – in our event concepts, in our international sales network, which covers around 180 countries world-wide, in our communication and marketing budgets, as well as in our supporting programme, and this exceeds by far the trade fair time. In addition, we work with many renowned international partners. We are convinced that 2024 will even top this year’s trade fair. I am already very much looking forward to it.
Thank you, Yvonne, for sharing your insights on the recent Ambiente and Remanexpo shows and the exciting developments for the upcoming 2024 show. We appreciate your time and expertise, and we wish you and your team all the best in putting together another successful event next year.
