Final Press Release 2008

The fourth TOP HAIR INTERNATIONAL Trend & Fashion Days Düsseldorf impressively demonstrated on 8 and 9 March 2008 that it has become the leading event in the industry. Next to the unique mixture of trade fair, shows, workshops and congress, this is primarily due to the high quality of the event and the unique ambience, according to Project Director Helmut Winkler. "In regards to the programme and the ambience, TOP HAIR INTERNATIONAL Trend & Fashion Days Düsseldorf focuses on quality rather than quantity and is apparently spot on target with this. The latest developments show that the industry is looking to quality," Winkler explains. 21,000 visitors came to the fourth hairdressing trade fair, a suitable continuation of the success of last year's event.

Rolf Wilms, Managing Director of TOP HAIR INTERNATIONAL GmbH and publisher of the identically named magazine, concurs with the positive résumé: "This year's event continues the huge success we've been having in Düsseldorf for four years, whereas the event as a whole became more sophisticated and exclusive this year through the more spacious structure with increased area.  We have created a trade fair format here that is unique in all of Europe. It delights us that the best hairdressers are accepting this concept, since one of our goals was to demonstrate along with them just how amazing the hairdressing trade is. We wanted to create an image event for the entire profession, and we have succeeded with this event."

This also pleases Frank Hartmann, Messe Düsseldorf Division Director for Lifestyle Trade Fairs, "because with this event we can help Düsseldorf become internationally known not only as a fashion location, but also as a hairdressing hot spot. TOP HAIR INTERNATIONAL Trend & Fashion Days Düsseldorf has already reached the top in Germany, and Europe-wide it has become an event that the industry can't imagine being without."

Whether shows, workshops or congress, TOP HAIR INTERNATIONAL Trend & Fashion Days Düsseldorf 2008 fulfilled all expectations in offering top quality for top hairdressers: Next to the Spanish hairdressing legend Lluis Llongueras, whose celebrated show on Saturday evening marked his first German appearance in years, and British Hairdresser of the Year 2007, Angelo Seminara for Trevor Sorbie, industry greats such as Oliver Schmidt and the teams from KERTU, Great Lengths, CAT Team Farouk Systems USA and Machts Hair Academy showed their interpretations of current trends on the 30-meter long show stage. In addition, pros such as Team Balmain for EuroHair, Brandts Barber & Shop, the Paul Mitchell Associate Club and Keller the school and mod's hair international for L'Oréal offered everyday-compatible tips on colour, cut and styling in 74 workshop presentations. At the congress, top speakers such as Wolf Davids and former high bar world champion Eberhardt Gienger shared entrepreneurial knowledge, and at the trade fair 175 national and international exhibitors and labels showed a comprehensive selection of hair care products and tools, as well as other hairdressing supplies.

According to a survey, visitors were extremely satisfied with the broad offerings of TOP HAIR INTERNATIONAL Trend & Fashion Days; more than 90 percent gave the event top scores. The same is true of the exhibitors, who praised the high quota of salon owners and high-level decision-makers among the visitors and were pleased with the intense and productive talks. The ambience also received high kudos. The segmentation of the trade fair into direct sales and ordering areas created a clear structuring of the offerings, a more relaxed atmosphere for professional interchange, and an improvement in the look of the exhibition hall. Next to the congress, the party on Saturday evening offered an excellent opportunity for networking with colleagues—everybody who is anybody was there.

The next TOP HAIR INTERNATIONAL Trend & Fashion Days Düsseldorf will take place from March 21 to 23 2009. Concurrently, BEAUTY INTERNATIONAL DÜSSELDORF takes place from 20 through 22 March 2009.

Press Contact
Andrea Erps, Claudia Hackbeil
Tel.: +49-(0)211-4560-997/-994
Fax: +49-(0)211-4560-8548

Statements by Exhibitors and Visitors at
TOP HAIR INTERNATIONAL Trend & Fashion Days Düsseldorf 2008

Exhibitors and artists:

Gerhard Heckmann, Distribution Manager for Hairdressers, Schwarzkopf
We like the classic, high-end clientele that comes here and this is why like being here so much. We had interesting conversations and very much appreciate this forum with its beautiful ambience and the great setting. I have been participating since day one and have to admit the event has improved year on year. And this is exactly what skilled hairdressers want to see!

Stephanie Ludewig, Marketing Manager Olymp
We are attending for the second time now and the talks are quite promising. For details I will have to wait until after the trade fair. Apart from that I find the new halls very appealing – the only drawback being the long distance between Beauty and TOP HAIR.

Lluis Llongueras
I think TOP HAIR is every year better: better places, better organisation, top names. I think people now know that TOP HAIR is a good show. Compared to other shows I think this is the most elegant. On many festivals there is no space to move but here it is more spacious, you can sit and watch the show. I think it is a good concept.

Angelo Seminara
My first time I worked with TOP HAIR (Anmerkung: Magazin) was when I was 17, when I worked as a hair dresser in Italy. One of my first covers was on TOP HAIR. I think it is a very professional magazine and I enjoy working here. I am glad that I was invited and I will try and give my best today. The event is very well organised. It is great. Compared to other events as in London, it is not as big but it is unique. The structure and the shows are really good.

Trevor Sorbie
I have done many shows in my life but I do have to say that the German organisation, the organisation behind this, is the best I ever had! I can compare it to America, Japan, Australia – around the world – the way that they organised everything is really the best I ever experienced. The place here is packed and I think it will grow every year. I am sure that the people who have stands here are very happy too.

Jean-Marc Weiser, General Manager La Biosthetique
We are happy here and have deliberately opted for Düsseldorf – which proved the right decision. The response is good, we have had many interesting talks with hairdressers whom we familiarised with our concept. I also like the two new exhibition halls – this has regulated the flow somewhat. As a matter of principle we believe in the concept of presenting one’s company through technical information, on the one hand and via services and products, on the other. TOP HAIR also stands up to the international comparison because the concept is exactly right.

Marcell Witkowski, Directeur Général Commercial L’ORÉAL
Visitor quality is outstanding. We had very good talks. On Saturday we hade more time while we were virtually inundated on Sunday. The audience is very good. We have noticed that many visitors are owners with an interest in modern concepts. Another asset are the workshops and shows which also help to make contacts with customers.

Visitors:

Dieter Baumgarten, Master Hairdresser, Solingen
TOP Hair is a very informative trade fair with many interesting lectures. Other trade fairs revolve too much around hairdressing contests and these no longer interest me so much. All renowned companies are here and that’s all I need. To me TOP HAIR is the No. 1 in terms of class.
Gabriele Davids, Self-Employed Hairdresser, Mönchengladbach
I have visited TOP HAIR from day one. To me TOP HAIR is not a trade fair but an outstanding event bringing together top-notch people from the sector and you hardly get this anywhere else. I stopped visiting the Frankfurt trade fair a few years ago.  

Karlheinz Höhmann, Master of the Solingen Hairdressers’ Guild    
The TOP HAIR trade fair came out the clear winner over Frankfurt boasting a better location and a higher quality. The only thing missing are new innovative hairdressers’ contests especially for apprentices. After all, apprentices are our future and they should be given a platform here in the form of a competition. However, I am thinking of a competition for fashionable trend styles, i.e. lifestyle hairstyles, and not so much of hairdressing contests. This would give our sector valuable momentum. In addition to TOP HAIR I regularly go to Rotterdam and London. In my opinion TOP HAIR can stand any international comparison – it can become the leading event.

Christian Kleber, Hairdresser, Munich
I like the trade fair very much. It is definitely the best in Germany! I visit it because of the workshops and the specialised exhibitors.            

Peter Polzer, Salon Owner Hamburg
The Top Hair Fashion Days stand for a special type of trade fair previously not seen before. This type of trade fair has only been in existence for five years and has already asserted itself. Visitors and exhibitors all say how the event is attended by decision-makers here rather than salon staff. Not exclusively but the percentage is higher than at other trade fairs before. And in terms of organisation the Messe and Top Hair can definitely give themselves a pat on the back. 

Heinz Rabel, Kirchheim
I like TOP HAIR better and better every year. Visitor quality is really very high. I am visiting today with 15 members of staff – all from Stuttgart, and we will not miss out on anything: the workshops, the speakers, the shows. We agree on who goes to see what beforehand and exchange later. I am an ardent supporter of this event – to me this is the best event in Germany.

Christian Reichenbach, Owner Haute Coiffure Christian, Bern / Switzerland 
I like TOP HAIR very much. Extensions were the subject that impressed me most of all. To my mind the hall layout comprising two halls was also very well thought-out.  

Thommy Stöber, CAT Vice-President Germany, Frankfurt
I represent one of the biggest associations in Germany and am therefore particularly interested in seeing what companies and organisations exhibit and offer here. I consider trade fairs to be very important and do appreciate being professionally addressed here as hairdressers. You clearly feel the development and improvement in the event and its pioneering role for the industry.       

Mario Susak, General Manager of the Frankfurt Hairdressers’ Guild
I regularly visit TOP HAIR because I appreciate the systematic segmentation of the trade fair and the workshops.
                    
Klaus Tischer, Owner haarschneider, Munich
Since the inception of Top Hair I have come here every year. The event here is especially designed around workshop stages and less geared to the standard exhibition setting you would be familiar with. I quite fancy the design, it is a little less hectic, slightly more relaxed and does not have that run-of-the-mill trade fair character. My intention is to learn about further training and continuous education – see what others are doing. I like the new halls better than the old location because there is more space between the stages and they no longer compete with each other so much.