After a successful premier in 2016, the DIY Boulevard at the Eisenwarenmesse – International Hardware Fair enters its second round next year and organisers say all space has been sold.

Koelnmesse vice president Catja Caspary explained: “The premiere of the DIY Boulevard was a total success. The concept is totally in line with the suppliers' demands. Due to the high demand we are not only fully-booked, but have also been able to extend the Boulevard by 235 metres.”

The dedicated area for DIY suppliers in the centre of Hall 5.1, is organised in cooperation with the manufacturers association, Haus & Garten e.V. Key brands who exhibited in 2016 and have signed up again for the coming show include  Abus, Burg-Wächter, Fischer, Hailo, Hettich, Schellenberg and Tesa, while newcomers include Alpina Farben, SPAX and MEM Bauchemie.

The DIY Boulevard, which boasts the headers "Innovations by the metre" and "Shelf competence",  gives the exhibitors the opportunity to present their competence and innovations in an authentic POS environment, says organisers.

The section will also feature a networking area this year, while organisers explain a growing trend for exhibitors utilising shelves on the Boulevard facing their stand area in the main part of the trade show. The pioneers for this combined presence in 2016 were Conacord and Hettich. At the next event further big players like Abus, Burg-Wächter, Schwerter, Schellenberg, Dolle Wohnregale and Hailo are building their presence in the same way, occupying space both on and alongside the DIY Boulevard.

The International Hardware Fair will take place on March 4-7, 2018 at Koelnmesse in Cologne.