• The number of exhibitors increased by 19 per cent
• Visitors‘ favourite special was “How to Prepare Fossils“

About 6.000 visitors attended the 19th West German Mineral Days at the exhibition ground of the Messe Westfalenhallen Dortmund during the last weekend (November 29th  and 30th, 2008). There they found an enormous range of beautiful minerals, rare fossils and precious gems. 222 commercial and non-profit exhibitors from a total of 16 countries presented high-quality collectors‘ items as well as selected pieces of jewellery from all over the world.

Due to an increase of exhibitors by 19 per cent in comparison with the previous year, the high level of 2006 could be achieved once again. The traders came from every continent to offer their exhibits to collectors, hobby geologists and lovers of precious stones. A survey taken by an independent trade fair market research institute revealed that over 80 per cent of all exhibitors more than enjoyed the West German Mineral Days.

“The trade fair looks great“

One of them is Peter Ohlerich. “I’m satisfied with our turnover,“ he says. Ohlerich also has nothing but praise for the trade fair: “The whole ambience feels excellent. I also took a look at it from the gallery. The trade fair looks great.”

Peter Jeckel, who represents Firm Achatwelt, is also content with the results of the trade fair: “Regarding our turnover, it went very well.” The agates, the majority of which the dealer selects in person in Argentina, sold best. Yet in the end it was the mix that made the difference: “It turned out to be a good idea to offer a balanced mix between valuable collectors’ items and health and wellness stones.“

Wellness with the aid of stones – a topic of the future

That puts Jeckel right into the current trend since one of this year’s special exhibition topics were titled ”Wellness with the Aid of Stones“. The visitors were able to learn interesting facts about the “healing powers” of various stones from the Association Steinheilkunde e.V. and to test their effectiveness at the action centre set up at the trade fair for that very purpose. As Ute Schmidt-Hüser, a member of the association, knows, “That topic will be a hot one in the future.“ And it was received well by the visitors. Particularly the lectures on that subject boasted large audiences. According to Schmidt-Hüser, “We got very positive feedback from the visitors. Wellness and the science of healing stones are topics that will be increasingly interesting to people.“

“Our presentation was a great success“

The presentation of the internet forum Steinkern.de was successful as well. “Our first presentation was a great success. We were able to achieve the goal we had set for ourselves: to make our forum known to a wider public,” Sönke Simonsen states. And Paul Winkler adds, “Some visitors came all the way from Weimar just to visit us here at the trade fair.“ Apart from using the trade fair as an information exchange, the collectors of fossils also took the opportunity the trade fair offered to sell several beautiful collectors‘ items. “We are satisfied with the turnover,“ states Simonsen. Steinkern.de is offered by collectors of fossils to other collectors of fossils as an information and discussion platform dealing with all aspects of the collective hobby – collecting, preparing and presenting fossils.

„How to Prepare Fossils“ was a great attraction for children

In general the special exhibitions were received well by the public, as was the presentation of the Treasure Chest of Idar-Oberstein. However, once again this year the visitors‘ favourite features were the special presentation named “How to Prepare Fossils“ and the two sandboxes where the youngest trade fair visitors could dig for real gems and fossils. They attracted many a future collector. “The seats available to attend the fossil preparation presentation were occupied round the clock. Every day there certainly were over 250 children here,” reports Michael Schwickert of fossils worldwide.

The exhibitors appreciated the special activities as well. “The special features offered in Dortmund are the best you can find at the largest European exchanges,“ states Sebastian Müller, Managing Director of Company Krantz.

Hundreds of gems tested each day

The DMF Test Booth was one of the highlights for adult visitors. Many visitors had jewelry they had taken from home or just purchased tested here. “We checked hundreds of gems every day. There were times when we had stacks of jewelry items here,” reports the Certified Mineral Expert Bernhard Bruder, and his colleague, Karola Sieber, adds, ”This year we had many exquisite opals and considerably more real gems than treated stones.”
 
The Messe Westfalenhallen Dortmund GmbH feels positive about a successful 2009 Trade Fair. That is because at the time the survey was taken nearly eight out of ten exhibitors had already decided to exhibit again in the coming year. The West German Mineral Days will take place on November 28th  and 29th.

You may find additional information and photos under http://www.mineralientage-dortmund.de/.

Media-Information 141 / 2008 - 02.12.2008
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