Interview with trade fair director Cornelia Lutz-Wagner: Highlights and insights at Heim+Handwerk

We talk to Cornelia Lutz-Wagner, who will be responsible for the B2C trade fair division of GHM at Heim+Handwerk 2022.

Heim+Handwerk: Restart after three years - focus on living quality, energy & sustainability

After a three-year break, Heim und Handwerk is back - bigger, more diverse and more up-to-date than ever. For visitors and exhibitors alike, it is more than just a trade fair: It is a place for direct exchange, for touching, discovering and consciously investing in your own home. At a time characterized by uncertainty, energy issues and social change, the trade fair sends out a strong signal for orientation, quality and proximity.

A look back and a new start: the trade fair as a platform after the crisis

The past few years have left deep scars. Many companies had to give up - which makes it all the more important that Heim+Handwerk can take place again. The fact that so many exhibitors have found their way back shows: The trade fair remains a reliable anchor for crafts and home decor. Personal discussions and direct product experience are noticeably missed - by manufacturers and visitors alike. The trade fair offers space to meet in person again and develop perspectives together.

Visitors focus on energy efficiency and new heating solutions

Energy supply is a key topic at the trade fair. The ongoing uncertainties - from geopolitical crises to rising costs - are confronting many households with concrete decisions: How can we heat efficiently? What role do photovoltaics or new insulation materials play? Visitors show great interest in sustainable solutions, with a clear desire to invest wisely. Products that save costs in the long term and at the same time contribute to independence are in demand. This is precisely where Heim+Handwerk offers orientation and shows practicable solutions - regardless of long waiting times at trade businesses.

Value, regionality and personal discussions

The need for transparency of origin and quality is growing, particularly in the furnishing and renovation sector. The trade fair brings people together with producers - furniture manufacturers, building trades and design labels explain their materials, show their ideas and make their origins visible. Products are not only shown, but made tangible. Visitors learn the story behind the product, where it was made and how it can enrich their home. This closeness creates trust - and does not replace an online store, but complements it in a meaningful way.

Digitalization as a supplement - not a replacement

Digitalization is part of everyday life, even in the trade. Online stores and digital catalogs are established tools, but they do not replace the haptic experience. Heim+Handwerk creates a bridge: Many exhibitors use the trade fair to make initial contact and then follow up with customers via digital channels. This creates lasting customer contact - with personal advice on site and digital support for subsequent purchases or follow-up questions.

Awareness of sustainable materials is increasing noticeably

Ecological building materials and sustainable furnishing solutions are particularly in demand at this year's trade fair. Whether clay plaster, low-emission wall paints, solid wood furniture or innovative insulating materials - interest in ecological alternatives has increased noticeably. Compared to previous years, visitors are more informed and more specific in their questions. Sustainability is no longer a niche, but a central selection criterion.

Trade fair experience with a lasting impression - for visitors and exhibitors alike

For many, the home has become a place of retreat - a place that should offer security and stability. The trade fair supports this need by bringing together ideas, products and contacts. Whether it's a new kitchen, furniture or smart heating technology: anyone who finds what they are looking for at Heim+Handwerk takes home more than just a product - namely a feeling of orientation, quality and personal exchange.