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The trade fair year 2020 marks a historic turning point. At the beginning of the year, major events were still taking place as usual – a few weeks later, cancellations, hygiene concepts and uncertainty characterised the industry. The archive thus documents a year that was divided into two parts: technological innovation and normality on the one hand, pandemic-related standstill on the other. Events such as boot Düsseldorf, Caravan Salon, EuroShop and Spielwarenmesse form the main focus of the content.
boot 2020 was still very much dominated by technical developments in water sports. Sailing yacht performance, designer sports boats and luxury motor yachts demonstrated the innovative strength of classic shipyards. At the same time, there was a greater focus on sustainable approaches: electric boats, green boat solutions and recycled bracelets represent the first serious environmental concepts in a traditionally material-intensive industry. Products such as the unsinkable folding boat, the SUP Stepper and powerful inflatable boats illustrate the spectrum from recreational fun to high-performance applications. The SEABOB from CAYAGO also highlighted the trend towards electrified water sports equipment.
The Caravan Salon 2020 took on new social significance due to the pandemic. Compact campers, roof tents, compact motorhomes and electric caravans met with growing demand for individual mobility. Luxury camping and well-designed family models reflect the desire for self-sufficient travel. The trade fair context itself became a topic of discussion: events took place under special conditions. The Caravan Salon showed how trade fairs had to be rethought in terms of organisation in the age of coronavirus – with hygiene concepts and changed visitor structures.
EuroShop 2020 was one of the last major international events before the lockdown. LED panels, modular aluminium systems, profile systems for trade fair and shop construction, and easy-to-assemble complete systems demonstrate the technical advances in retail and trade fair architecture. System solutions such as Octanorm or modular matrix systems stand for flexible construction methods that can be used multiple times. Sustainable exhibition stand construction was already being treated as a strategic issue before the pandemic – an aspect that was to become even more important later on.
Spielwarenmesse 2020 documents a broad spectrum of products, from classic items to digital enhancements. Magnetic building blocks, marble runs and model railways stand alongside AR apps, RC vehicles and hybrid play systems. Traditional brands such as Schleich and Steiff celebrated anniversaries, while new themes such as EverDreamerz and fantasy action series addressed younger target groups. The combination of analogue play and technical enhancements was clearly evident in 2020.
Looking back, the 2020 archive shows a clear dividing line. The first few months were characterised by innovative strength, international presence and packed exhibition halls. With the outbreak of the pandemic, the environment changed fundamentally. The 2020 trade fair year is therefore not just a collection of products and trends, but a document of its time. It shows how quickly conditions can change – and how strongly topics such as sustainability, electrification and modular systems were already established before the crisis.
Trade fair reporting Germany - Trade fair knowledge, dates & events
