imm cologne is sharpening its profile as an international interior business event by introducing a new brand world for its 2027 edition, which will be held in Cologne from 19 to 22 January 2027. At the upcoming trade fair, two clearly positioned sub-brands – Global Sourcing and Retail Furniture – will be added under the established imm cologne umbrella, creating more structured guidance for exhibitors and trade visitors in the consumer-oriented furniture sector.
With this revised brand architecture, the trade fair aims to reflect the differing requirements and business priorities of the international furniture market more precisely, while maintaining a shared focus on consumer-oriented interior design. Global Sourcing and Retail Furniture are designed to mirror the way procurement and product range planning are evolving for European retailers, from international manufacturing and supply expertise through to store-ready, design-led collections.
The backdrop to this change is a furniture market in transition. Global manufacturers and suppliers are playing an increasingly important role for European retailers, and sourcing structures are becoming more complex. At the same time, demand remains strong for market-ready products in the entry-level to mid-range price segments, especially in categories such as living room, bedroom and upholstered furniture.
“With the new sub-brands Global Sourcing and Retail Furniture, imm cologne brings greater clarity and opens up targeted business opportunities for market participants. As an international business platform for the consumer-oriented furniture industry, it provides a single venue where diverse requirements for sourcing and product range planning can be met,” explains Bernd Sanden, Director of imm cologne.
By clearly distinguishing between a sourcing-focused segment and a retail-oriented segment, imm cologne 2027 is positioning itself as a compact, B2B-only platform that brings together international production expertise and the needs of European bricks-and-mortar and online retail under one roof.
Global Sourcing – international procurement in focus
Global Sourcing in Hall 11.1 will debut as imm cologne’s new sub-brand dedicated to sourcing and procurement for the consumer-oriented furniture industry. Conceived as a clearly positioned B2B marketplace, it will connect international production and supply expertise with demand from the European furniture market and provide a structured framework for cross-border business.
The segment will span OEM and ODM production, private-label and contract manufacturing, the development and sourcing of new products and collections, and the building of global supply chains. This broad scope is intended to support buyers looking for scalable production options, reliable partners and efficient routes to competitively priced products that offer value for money.
Buyers from across Europe will benefit from a concise overview of manufacturing capabilities and new sources of supply, covering both established producers and emerging manufacturing locations. The setting is designed to help purchasing and procurement decision-makers evaluate production capacity, compare offers and identify suppliers that match their sourcing strategies.
International manufacturers and suppliers, in turn, will have the opportunity to meet key purchasing and procurement decision-makers and gain access to new customer groups, sales markets and business partnerships throughout Europe. For many, Global Sourcing will serve as an entry point to the European market as well as a platform for expanding existing business relationships.
Global Sourcing will cover a wide range of products in the entry-level price segment, including upholstered furniture, living room furniture, bedroom furniture and mattresses, tables and chairs, space-saving furniture, smaller and stand-alone pieces of furniture, furniture for children and teenagers, and bathroom furniture. The curated mix of categories is aimed at buyers who want to build or extend volume-driven assortments while keeping an eye on cost efficiency and reliability of supply.
Retail Furniture – market-ready concepts for European stores
Retail Furniture, located in Hall 10.2, will be introduced as imm cologne’s new sub-brand for store-ready furniture, market-ready ranges and design-led furnishing solutions in the entry-level to mid-price segment. This area is conceived as a meeting point for manufacturers and brands on one side and buying groups and decision-makers from European furniture retail – both bricks-and-mortar and online – on the other.
Trade visitors will gain a focused overview of expertly crafted furniture and interior design solutions that meet the expectations of the European consumer market. The presentation is intended to provide inspiration for planning product ranges, highlighting collections that balance price competitiveness with design quality and suitability for everyday retail environments.
Exhibitors within Retail Furniture will be able to engage directly with relevant retailers and trade partners across Germany and Central Europe, using the segment as a platform to strengthen existing partnerships and to tap into new sales markets. The structured environment of Hall 10.2 will make it easier for brands to present coherent ranges and for buyers to compare concepts and identify ranges that fit their target audiences.
The extensive product range offered by the Retail Furniture segment will include upholstered furniture, living room furniture, bedroom furniture and mattresses, kitchen and dining room furniture, tables and chairs, space-saving furniture, smaller and stand-alone pieces of furniture, furniture for children and teenagers, bathroom furniture, home textiles, accessories, lights and lighting systems, floor coverings, wall and ceiling decoration, and various other interior design elements. Together, these categories will give retailers a broad palette for building comprehensive interior offerings geared to European consumers.
With Global Sourcing and Retail Furniture under one umbrella, imm cologne 2027 aims to provide a single meeting place where international production and procurement, on the one hand, and market-ready retail concepts, on the other, can be aligned more efficiently.
