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Editorial Director Julie McCallum and Allison McKenzie, Great American Media Services multimedia designer, recently attended Paperworld and Creativeworld in Frankurt, Germany. It was an exciting opportunity to discover products and trends in Europe to share with retailers in the United States.

Both manufacturers and retailers had a successful start to the new business season at the Christmasworld, Paperworld and Creativeworld consumer-goods fairs, as well as at Floradecora, the floral market place. A total of 3,023 exhibitors from 69 countries presented their latest festive and seasonal decorations, fresh flowers and plants, paper, office supplies and stationery, and hobby, art and craft supplies to the national and international trade. Altogether, around 87,000 visitors from 162 countries, an increase of 2 percent, made their way to Frankfurt to discover trends and top themes to boost their business in the future.

This year’s consumer-goods fairs were dominated by botany — plants, leaves, cacti and beetles are trending — as reflected by a host of high-grade designs and materials, especially in dark blue and green with gold accents.

At Paperworld, this trend was to be seen decorating notebooks, files and accessories for the private workplace. The top theme in the field of commercial office supplies is health for body and soul, and was vividly explained via products and lectures at the ‘Future Office’ special show.

At Creativeworld, the focus was on well-being and stylish ‘hygge’ cosiness. With XXL yarn and mini-gardening, dwellings can be turned into individually designed sanctuaries. Creative personalities from all over the world find inspiration in natural and maritime themes. Additionally, the trend themes of street art and hand lettering were to be seen in an unrivalled abundance. The combination of different techniques and materials shows that graffiti and calligraphy on both porcelain and fabrics, as well as on walls and other surfaces, are ideal for creating special highlights.