A week ago, Retro Classics announced that the 2021 trade fair in Stuttgart would be moved forward to 5 to 7 February 2020. Zwischengas asked organizer Andreas Herrmann why this was necessary and how the new date was chosen.
Intermediate gas (ZG): How has Covid-19 affected Retro Classics and Retro Promotion?
Andreas Herrmann (AH): Fortunately, we were still able to hold Retro Classics as usual at the beginning of the year. However, there was already a thirty percent drop in visitor numbers. Nevertheless, we are very pleased that Retro Classics was the last classic car show to be held successfully before the shutdown. Unfortunately, some Retro Promotion events could not be held as planned in the first half of the year. However, some of these have now been rescheduled for the second half of the year.
We are generally enjoying very good booking figures for our events; you can tell that people simply want to get out and about again. The Rothaus Schwarzwald Classic in August is almost fully booked and the Concours at Tegernsee has also been very well received with the new concept.
ZG: The last trade fair before the lockdown, you were really lucky in March 2020, weren't you?
AH: Yes, we were very lucky to be able to hold the trade fair largely without any problems. The exhibitors were very satisfied all round and sold well. The visitors were also very satisfied, which was certainly due to the many great highlights of the trade fair.
Whether it was the globally unique Gulf special show in the Atrium, the exclusive Voisin models in Hall 10 or the large agricultural machinery in Hall 8, there was something for everyone again.
ZG: Now the date for the 2021 trade fair has had to be postponed, why?
AH: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many trade fairs and events have been canceled this year. This presents the planners for the coming year 2021 with the great challenge of adding as many events as possible to the already well-filled trade fair calendar. Unfortunately, there are also premises and restrictions of all kinds that have an influence on trade fair dates. Of particular importance here are the set-up and dismantling times, which visitors do not immediately think about, but which are very important for exhibitors and can vary greatly depending on the type of trade fair.
Around 80 trade fairs and congresses are held at the Stuttgart Exhibition Center every year. This year, many of them have been canceled due to Corona. Some trade fairs only take place every second or third year anyway. This means that if such a trade fair could not take place in 2020, the time span between the last trade fair and the next one would be six years, for example. That is why we are trying to make up as much as possible in 2021. However, as the trade fair calendar for the following years is already full to bursting, a lot has to be rescheduled and relocated.
As a result, another trade fair from the education sector, which has a longer set-up time, is tied to a specific date and also requires all halls, was postponed to our date. As a direct consequence, our trade fair was also postponed. Our change of dates also forced two other smaller events from the medical sector to reschedule. So everything interlocks like clockwork. Believe me, this is not an enviable task for the planners. Every postponement involves a huge number of coordination meetings with many people involved.
However, the earlier date is also an opportunity for everyone involved in the industry to go to the market six weeks earlier. After a generally weak economic year in 2020, exhibitors will be able to offer their products to customers again right at the start of the year and hopefully get off to a good start in 2021.
ZG: Not only is the date different from the original announcement, but also the duration?
AH: That's right, we had to reschedule due to the circumstances of the trade fair calendar and decided to use Thursday as a set-up day for the exhibitors, as well as the nights before the trade fair. We have also extended the opening hours for visitors on Friday and Saturday. The trade fair will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and again from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
ZG: What does the second half of 2020 look like for Retro Promotion?
AH: As already explained, the second half of the year looks quite good from today's perspective. We are assuming that all the events on offer can take place as planned. The demand for events such as trips and classic car meetings is very high, people finally want to experience something again and are really keen to do so. The Rothaus Schwarzwald Classic takes place in August. Here, participants are offered four days of pure Black Forest in combination with driving fun. We are already almost fully booked.
In September, the Concours d'Elégance takes place at the beautiful Tegernsee. This year we have developed a new concept and divided the field of participants into vehicles according to the FIVA A guidelines and NeoClassics® vehicles. The interplay between old and new makes this event unique. We are looking forward to the second half of the year and are looking forward to numerous events.
ZG: Thank you for the interview, Mr. Herrmann.
Further information on Retro Classics Stuttgart can of course be found on the trade fair website.
