Positive and very satisfactory figures were given last Sunday afternoon, right after the official closing of the 58th edition of the Salone del Mobile: The 386,236 attendees, over the 6 days, from 181 different countries made for a 12 percent increase over the 2017 edition, which also featured Euroluce and Workplace3.0.
The comparison must be made with 2017, as the Salone focuses on light and workplace and on bathroom and kitchen at alternate years. Inevitably, compared to 2018, attendance decreased: “434,509 visitors in six days ( 26 percent more than last year)”, wrote the official press release in 2018.
Apart from figures, we can share the enthusiasm of the president of Salone del Mobile Claudio Luti “We are closing this edition of the Salone del Mobile with a very positive feeling. (…)we have taken things much further than just business, offering a global experience, in which ideas are what counts.”
2,418 exhibitors, 34 percent of them from 43 different foreign countries, were split between the Salone Internazionale del Mobile, the International Furnishing Accessories Exhibition, Euroluce, Workplace3.0 and S.Project, including the 550 designers under 35 who took part in SaloneSatellite.
“Investment, creativity and enthusiasm are the words that sum up an event that has seen the entrepreneurs take on the challenge of helping to make a success of an edition which, yet again, has demonstrated the importance of a sector that can pull together to tackle the challenges of international markets. A global success achieved also thanks to the staunch and unwavering support of the institutions – not least the Italian Trade Agency Ice, which has recognised Salone del Mobile.Milano as a crucial player in the expansion of Made in Italy around the world – and Confindustria which, for the first time in its history, held its General Council meeting at our event, underscoring the need to carry forward a very real dialogue with politics in order to support and underpin the businesses that, as well as contributing to the success of the trade fair, are one of the jewels in the crown of the national economy”, said Emanuele Orsini, president of Federlegno Arredo Eventi.
“Aqua”, Leonardo’s Water Vision, was also a huge attraction, averaging over 2,000 visitors a day. Conceived in partnership with Balich Worldwide Shows, it breathed new life into the Conca dell’Incoronata and was a perfect progression of the Salone in the city. There was an equally great influx of visitors to the installation devoted to the Renaissance genius at the fairgrounds – De-Signo. The Art of Italian Design Before and After Leonardo. Curated by Davide Rampello and beautifully narrated by Diego Abatantuono, DE-SIGNO compared and contrasted the savoir-faire of today’s businesses with Leonardo’s design skills.
The Mayor Giuseppe Sala marked the close of the business events at palazzo Marino, and the course of the evening, the Salone del Mobile.Milano also presented a Special Lifetime Award to Mario Bellini, also intended as a thank you for his huge contribution to the Salone through his collaboration with so many exhibiting companies.
The next edition of the Salone will be held in Milan from 21st to 26th April 2020.
