Paperworld – The Heart of the Business 
The next Paperworld, the world’s leading trade fair for paper, office supplies and stationery, will open its doors in Frankfurt am Main from 30 January to 2 February 2016. Held right at the start of the new business year, it presents a huge range of the latest products from the sector in a variety characterised by great breadth and depth. Moreover, the new-products show scores with numerous attractive events. Thus, visitors can look forward to a presentation of the latest trends from the paper, office supplies and stationery market, as well as interesting lectures on recent developments in the retail and purchasing fields.
Additionally, Paperworld is the setting for the presentation of the sector’s most important awards for highly innovative products. Further inspiration is provided by special exhibitions and shows offering practical insights into subjects of topical interest. These highlights supplement the international mix of exhibitors, from big brand-name manufacturers to trade-goods producers and smaller start-ups. Hence, Paperworld is not only the leading business and order fair for the sector but also a high grade networking and information platform.
“In 2016, we will once again offer an attractive programme of highlights and training events. In the heart of the business, Paperworld is a source of information, inspiration and professional enrichment for all participants, whether exhibitors, wholesalers, retailers, buyers or tradeassociation representatives”, says Paperworld Director Michael Reichhold.
Programme of lectures and awards offer topical insights
The lecture programme of the Paperworld Academy is distinguished by new thematic focal points for the national and international trade on all days of the fair. Thanks to its diversity, the programme provides value added for representatives of all segments. This also applies to the awards, which are presented at the Paperworld Academy area throughout the fair, e.g., the Product of the Year, the Personality of the Year, the Retailer of the Year, the ISPA Award, the Insider Award, the Recycler Award and the Card Award.
The foyer of Christmasworld is the setting for more interesting focus lectures. In Hall 11.0, renowned internet experts will discuss the various opportunities offered by the web as a sales channel. Visitors will be able to gather useful information about greetings cards at the new ‘Greetings Card Centre of Expertise’ in Hall 5.1 while, in Hall 6.0, all visitors of Paperworld Remanexpo can find out about the latest developments in the field of remanufactured printer consumables and hardcopy components.
Inspiring and innovative special shows and areas
Next year, the designers of Stilbüro bora.herke.palmisano will present the Trend Show in a new location, in the foyer of Halls 5.1 and 6.1. There, the retail trade will find the latest ideas for assortment compilation and shop decoration. The industry profits from valuable feedback for its product developments. On behalf of Messe Frankfurt, the designers identify current trends from fashion, architecture and art, and adapt them to the realm of paper, office supplies and stationery in three trend worlds: Graphic Vitality, Essential Serenity and Floral Liberty. Informative guided tours will be held daily for all visitors interested in in-depth information. Mr. Books & Mrs. Paper in Hall 5.1 is another special show and aimed primarily at booksellers and all retailers wanting to skilfully combine books and non-book articles. The combination of different products in a home-like setting shows how the bricks-and-mortar trade can create emotional presentations at the point of sale.
At the promotional area of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie – BMWi) in Hall 6.1, young start-ups present their fresh ideas and unconventional products. This innovation platform represents a valuable boost for young entrepreneurs and is sponsored by the BMWi. For visitors, the area is an inspiring source of information where they can discover future-oriented product ideas for the paper, office supplies and stationery sector. In her ‘Let’s wrap’ special show in Hall 4.0, internationally renowned giftwrapping expert Arona Khan will demonstrate ways of wrapping gifts to give that ‘extra special something’ several times a day.
Trio of fairs offers additional value added
Paperworld buyers can also profit from the valuable synergistic effects generated by the neighbouring Creativeworld and Christmasworld fairs. Today, the decorating, writing and handicrafts are moving closer together. Hence, the exhibitors of the trio of fairs offer the retail trade a variety of lucrative opportunities to expand their assortments. By attending the programmes of events of all three fairs and looking closely at the sector-specific trends and future-oriented themes, visitors can gain supplementary knowledge that will give them a head-start in the fiercely competitive market.
