Leading Scottish retailer and kbbreview columnist Derek Miller has hailed the 2017 edition of Frankfurt bathroom exhibition ISH as a “show of strength for the industry”.
The show attracted a 5% increase in international visitors of 80,045 this year, underpinning the show’s reputation as the world’s leading trade fair for the sector. The total attendance over the five days was 200,114 – up from 196,777 in 2015.
“The 2017 exhibition was undoubtedly a vintage year for ISH,” Miller (pictured) said. “Design creativity was bursting out all over and the overwhelming theme of the show was luxury over functionality. I have never seen it so busy – I understand that on day one visitor numbers were 25% up on last time.
“Given worldwide economic and political turbulence, this was a great show of strength for the bathroom industry. I am already looking forward to ISH 2019.”
Miller’s top picks from the show were Duravit’s new Luv and Durasquare ranges; the relaunched Axor Uno; the Jee O Soho shower column from Grand & Johnson and the Liber8 shower enclosure from UK company Roman.
Exhibitors also saw the economic outlook in a positive light, according to an ISH survey, with 88% assessing it as satisfactory to good. German exhibitors gave this a 93% rating.
“ISH is growing and becoming increasingly international,” said Wolfgang Marzin, president and chief executive of Messe Frankfurt. “The indices are outstanding and the mood in the exhibition halls was excellent. We are extremely pleased with the results of the event.”
- For a full review of ISH 2017, see the April issue of kbbreview magazine