FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact:

KIND + JUGEND 2007 – KIND + JUGEND KEEPS GROWING TO RECORD LEVELS

Three months prior to the 31st edition of Kind + Jugend 2007, the show is experiencing a tremendous interest. The number of exhibitors has now grown to a record level of 700 companies from 40 countries.

Kind + Jugend is widely considered to be the world’s largest industry event in the children’s outfitting industry. Show dates are September 13-16, 2007 in Cologne, Germany.

The organizer expects more than 12,000 trade buyers from all five continents to make their way to Cologne.

Upon the request of the international buying community the organizer has extended the show dates by one day to a total of four days. Kind + Jugend features Children’s Furniture, Strollers, Safety Items, Hygiene Articles, Clothing and Educational Toys which is the fastest growing segment within this event.

Koelnmesse, Inc. Chicago, the U.S. based subsidiary office of the show organizer is seeing a sharp increase in exhibitor interest among U.S. manufacturers. Says Mette Petersen, President of Koelnmesse, Inc.: “U.S. manufacturers in the Juvenile products industry have visibly stepped up their efforts to promote the export side of their business in the past years. We are seeing growth rates of 25% compared to last year. We contribute much of this interest to the low dollar valuation over the last years as well as a positive response to Kind + Jugend’s new concept.”

Many of the U.S. exhibitors will show their goods via the U.S. Group Exhibit located in hall 11.2 and 10.2. First-time U.S. Pavilion exhibitors will be: Cardinal Gates, Primo, Jill McDonald Design, Floppy Products, Kuji Sports, LillyGold, Outside Baby and Ubimed. Other first-time U.S. exhibitors will be Infantino, P’Kolino, Joovy and Nurseryworks.

Asked for her expectations regarding Kind + Jugend Traci Fleming, Founder of Nurseryworks said: “Over the last months we have received many inquiries from international consumers in our modern furniture, bedding, rugs, and accessories products. Modern design in nursery and kids products is under-represented in many areas of the world. Our hope is that we secure distribution relationships at Kind + Jugend which will help us enter those markets that are demanding our products.”

Added Samuel Lippmann, Marketing Director at UBIMED: “We have a worldwide perspective and Europe is a big Market for us. We already have distribution in France, Belgium and Switzerland. By exhibiting at Kind + Jugend we plan to expand to the rest of Europe. We will show Cleanoz, as the unique electric nasal aspirator for babies that uses disposable nozzle pieces. Our product manual is already available in English, Spanish and French and we are currently working on other languages”.

Gradual planning towards exporting is also the strategy of first-time exhibitor Infantino, manufacturer of baby slings, developmental toys and infant travel accessories. Says Gretchen Tyker, Director of International Markets: “Our first step was opening European offices in the UK earlier this year and the Kind + Jugend exhibition is the next vital step for international expansion. We are already a market leader in the U.S. and now we want to build brand awareness for Infantino products in Europe. From their feedback during Kind + Jugend we will gain a better understanding of the markets we are looking to enter which will help us in expanding our distributor network”.

U.S. attendees are using Kind + Jugend to look for new product sourcing ideas. Among them are large U.S. retailers such as Walmart, Target, Sears, Lands’ End, Cosco, J.Crew and Toys R US who are regularly sending their buying teams to Cologne. Kind + Jugend which is takes place every year in the middle of September is visited by importers, distributors, specialist retailers, wholesalers, clothing outlets, department stores and buying associations.

Online attendee registration is now available and can be accessed via www.kindundjugend.com

Complete details on all aspects of exhibiting or attending can be obtained by contacting

Ken Dickerson
U.S. Project Manager of KIND + JUGEND at Koelnmesse, Inc.
Phone: (773) 326-9926
Fax: (773) 714-0063
k.dickersonkoelnmesse.us | www.kindundjugend.com