Kind + Jugend spotlights European trends

Cologne, Germany — With a new focus on juvenile furniture and gear, the 2004 Kind + Jugend show got under way here at the Koelnmesse last month with a look at the latest trends and offerings in the European market.

More than 500 companies from 41 countries exhibited their juvenile goods here in the categories of children's furniture, carseats, textiles, strollers, feeding products, toys and apparel. The show boasted 11,400 visitors from more than 87 countries, an increase of 5% from last year's show.

This marked the first time the Kind + Jugend has been held in September; previously, with more of a focus on apparel, the show was held in July. Oliver P. Kuhrt, executive vice president of Koelnmesse, said the decision to focus on hardware and to hold the show later in the year paid off.

"We acquired new exhibitors who had previously been unable to participate in Kind + Jugend, and ... we were able to reach new and, most importantly, even more international specialist buyers," he said.

Fisher-Price showed its juvenile products to the European market for the first time (see story, page 22). Stephane Hyvert, director of marketing for Fisher-Price Europe, said the company had a great show. "We are very, very happy. We've seen both big accounts and independent stores, and the response has been extremely positive," he said.

Luanne Whiting-Lager, vice president of U.S. distributor Regal Lager, attends the show both to meet with the European companies she works with and to keep an eye on trends in the market.

"A lot of times, what's here will come to the States," she said. "I also like to see what's come from the United States to here and how it's changed. It's important to keep a finger on the pulse of the industry."

While this year's All Baby and Child Expo saw more vibrant colors on strollers than ever before (see story page 16), the European market has its own trendy colors for 2005. Hues of orange leaning towards rust were popular, as were purple tones of plum. Modern and floral patterns appeared on both strollers and carseats, making a bold statement.

Furniture styles leaned more towards modern, with simple, clean-lined cribs and armoires with a retro-modern feel showing up the most.

"America is much more traditional," said Dominique Godbout, vice president of marketing and sales for Dutailier. "They're open to styling, but there are still a limited number of customers looking for transitional and modern, whereas in Europe, that's more of the norm."

Dutailier showed its glider rockers for the first time at the Kind + Jugend in 2003 and has broken into the European market with a category that barely existed before. "Gliding is not a known European product category, but where we have introduced it, it seems to be a viable category," Godbout said.

"For us, the big challenge in coming here is to see how we need to evolve and change our style for the European market," he said.

Dutailier's Avent Glide II, which debuted at the All Baby and Child Expo last month, was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic with its more transitional styling.

"People want us to explore outside of more traditional styling," Godbout said. "When you look at it, there is some kind of synergy between what needs to be done for both North America and Europe."

This bed from Formschluss, a company that specializes in designs that change and transform, includes a canopy that doubles as a hammock that will support the weight of an adult.

Dorel's Maxi Cosi brand showed striking new patterns in carseats, including this floral model.

This new crib from Atliers Devilers features Plexiglas for easy viewing of baby and includes coordinating case pieces with a contemporary feel.

This high chair from Handley Kuester provides an alternative to traditional designs.

The Leander Bed grows from a crib to a child's bed and is shown with coordinating linens that feature a pattern based on paper cuttings from Hans Christian Andersen.

European crib bedding often features canopies, like this one shown in a bold orange bedding group with sun motifs, from Arel.