“Ludwig Erhard doesn’t want to see the word ‘German’ here again next year.” That’s what Germany’s Minister of Economic Affairs said. Now we stand before the Trade Fair Nuremberg. It is a place with a rich history. This history significantly shaped Nuremberg.
The Trade Fair Nuremberg’s story begins long before this modern complex. Nuremberg was a city of crafts and trade in the Middle Ages. King Sigismund granted Nuremberg trade fair privileges in 1424. He permitted the city to display the Imperial Regalia during a yearly trade fair.
However, Nuremberg didn’t establish a continuous trade fair tradition then. The real story of today’s Nuremberg as a trade fair city began after World War II. The early 1970s marked a significant step. A new exhibition center was constructed in Nuremberg. This was the beginning of NurnbergMesse. Today it is an international company.
The first German Toy Fair was opened in Nuremberg. It was a pivotal event. From March 12 to 18 in 1950, 351 companies exhibited their products. About 4,300 buyers attended. Following this debut, the exhibition committee and 46 firms formed a cooperative.
In 1957, the German Toy Fair began inviting international exhibitors. Sixty foreign companies joined. The total number of exhibitors reached 830. Foreign companies continued to grow. About a third of the 12,000 visitors came from abroad.
The Trade Fair Nuremberg experienced rapid growth in the 1960s. Further expansion became necessary. Negotiations began for a new exhibition center.
The International Toy Fair moved to the new exhibition center in Nuremberg-Langwasser in 1973. The exhibition area increased to 52,000 square meters.
Visitor levels crossed 30,000 for the first time in 1977. There were 1,567 toy manufacturers, including 644 international companies. Nuremberg became the “Mecca” of the toy industry.
The Frankenhalle opened in 1984. This added 10,000 square meters to the exhibition area. The Toy Fair celebrated its 40th anniversary in 1989.
The Trade Fair Nuremberg became more international in the 1990s. The number of exhibitors exceeded 2,000 in 1991. 938 of the 2,078 companies were from abroad. Of the 51,140 visitors, 15,737 came from outside Germany.
In 1998, an innovative permanent stand concept was introduced. This added a new dimension to stand design. Around 30 international companies rented the stand space year-round.
The Spielwarenmesse International Toy Fair Nuremberg celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1999. Gerhard Schroder became the first Chancellor of Germany to appear at the event in 2001.
The exhibition team launched a strategy to showcase innovations more effectively in 2004. They complemented the PressPreview with the InnovationCenter and the InnovationGuide. Exhibitors could also enter the ToyAwards for the first time.
The Trade Fair Nuremberg continues to evolve. It expands its international presence. It adapts to new challenges. This place remains a vital hub for global trade. It is an important part of Nuremberg’s identity.
Now, let’s step inside the Trade Fair Nuremberg. Let’s explore the world of innovation and commerce that thrives within these halls.