At the end of the spring edition, Maison&Objet noticed notable growth, both on the visitors' side and for the brands, and a desire, of specifiers and retail professionals, to identify new business opportunities through particularly demanding curation of the offer, and inspiration through the special features staged by Maison&Objet.
Key figures: a growing exhibition
On the exhibitor side, it is noteworthy that the exhibition has made a strong effort to renew
its offerings: a 9% increase in the total number of exhibitors compared to January 2023,
with 2,516 brands, of which more than 60% are international and 30% of new brands or
exhibiting again on the fair.
In response to this enhanced, attractive offer, the number of visitors was up by 5%. While
September 2023 saw a more modest response from French visitors, the drive to win back
this key target audience was successful in January. This session's growth was driven more by visitors from France (+9%) and significant export markets (+25%), with the United States up by 8% and Asia up by 83%, driven by Japan, up by 52%, India, up by 18% and the return of China. By contrast, Europe, down 9%, is suffering from a complex economic situation, partly due to inflation.
At the end of the fair, there was an almost even split between French and international visitors (58% from France, 42% from abroad). We can also see that the three major visitor profiles, interior designers - who recorded the strongest growth at +8% - hospitality professionals (+2%) and retailers (+1%) came in search of solutions, inspiration, and newness. Although the latter may have suffered from a mixed end to the year, this is a time for dynamism and renewal as they seek out products and solutions that are innovative, desirable, and respectful of the planet.
The growth in visitor numbers, particularly specifiers, is a sign of the upmarket nature of the show's offering, which has been reorganised into clear, coherent categories – including WHAT'S NEW? In Decor; WHAT'S NEW? In Retail and the Hospitality Lab - has given visitors a clearer picture of the full range of creative and business solutions on offer in all the halls.
The strong participation of interior designers and decorators underlines Maison&Objet's
increased desirability, enabling the show to reaffirm the essential dimension of this
international event for all decor, design, and lifestyle professionals looking for inspiration,
curation, new products, and solutions to ensure the success of their projects.
Take a look at our photo report of the fair!
A high-end, forward-looking offer in the decor market
Conceived as a dedicated showcase for upscale decor, Hall 7 and its Signature universe welcomed two flagship installations from the exhibition at each entrance, engaging in a dialogue of heritage, poetry, and exploration. It first presented "Alchemy", an immersive and unprecedented installation by Baccarat. This crystal Maison, recognised worldwide as a flagship for French craftsmanship, took advantage of its return to celebrate its 260th anniversary at the exhibition.
Echoing, on the other side of the journey, a second highlight through the scenography by Maison&Objet's 2024 Designer of the Year, Mathieu Lehanneur. This designer of the Olympic flame also unveiled exclusively for Maison&Objet his visionary and dreamlike installation "Outonomy" in an already- iconic yellow monochrome.
In her "WHAT'S NEW? In Decor", entitled "About new territories", Elizabeth Leriche offered, in line with the year's theme, TECH EDEN, a dive into dreamlike and mysterious nature marked by bold, sophisticated patterns and strong colours. It’s a reconciliation between technology and nature, projecting an Eden onto interior design projects.
Alongside these prominent names, Maison&Objet also showcased the new vanguard of design through various programmes:
• The Rising Talent Awards, with seven young international talents interpreting the TECH EDEN theme of the season with pieces that combine "high tech and savoirfaire," blending an excellence of gesture with technological innovation, especially for this special thirtieth edition of the fair.
• The Future On Stage launching pad, Maison&Objet's incubator program dedicated to young brands, allowing them to participate in the exhibition. Three award-winning brands, deeply involved in ethical approaches, presented products and materials that are recycled, recyclable, and aesthetically inspiring.
• Finally, The Maison&Objet Factory, a selection made from the finest pieces from Paris Design Week Factory presented last September.
Maison&Objet will be back from September 5-9, 2024, to continue celebrating its thirty years in a second, equally dynamic instalment.
More information:
Maison&Objet
www.maison-objet.com