In short
interzum is where furniture makers find what goes inside their products: fittings, surfaces, mechanisms and materials. Products are small, so a stand needs them in use. Show hinges in a door and fabrics on a seat, and give designers a sample library they can take away from. Start a custom stand about 6–9 months ahead and confirm dates, height limits and rules in the exhibitor manual.
Key points
- Where and when: Cologne, every two years in Cologne, in odd years.
- The audience is mostly furniture manufacturers.
- Products shown in use.
- Sample libraries.
- Plan a custom stand about 6–9 months before the show.
interzum for exhibitors
Suppliers meet furniture and interior manufacturers planning their next ranges. Trends in surfaces and materials are a big draw, and designers often visit as well as engineers.
| interzum | |
|---|---|
| City | Cologne |
| Venue | Koelnmesse |
| Sector | Furniture components and interiors |
| Cycle | Every two years in Cologne, in odd years |
| Main stand activity | Product display and orders |
| Custom stand lead time | 6–9 months |
Who you are designing for
Furniture manufacturers, interior designers, product developers and sourcing teams.
What matters most on an interzum stand:
- Products shown in use.
- Sample libraries.
- Trend stories.
- Space for specifications talk.
Layouts for product display and orders, by stand type
Most interzum exhibitors build around product display and orders. How that works depends on how many sides of your plot are open. If you are unsure which type you have, see exhibition stand types.
| Stand type | Open sides | What works |
|---|---|---|
| Row (inline) | 1 | A shop-like display wall with a counter for orders, leaving the floor clear to browse. |
| Island | 4 | A gallery route around a central feature, with order desks and buyer seating along one side. |
Stand ideas for interzum
- A door you can open and close a hundred times.
- A sample wall with QR data sheets.
- A trend table for the next season.
Planning, approvals and logistics
Mock-ups are heavy for their size. Pack samples well, and plan a refill for take-away swatches.
Allow about 6–9 months for a custom stand. The exhibitor manual sets height limits, open-side rules and service deadlines; see venue approval and technical drawings.
Where the budget goes at interzum
Samples and display items are the main cost. Make the stand itself a demonstration of your materials.
Mistakes we see at interzum
- Hinges on a board.
- No samples to take away.
An example interzum brief
A 9 × 6 m stand with a fittings wall, a material library, a kitchen mock-up showing hinges in use and a designer's table.
Replace the size and the zones with your own. The plot and height limit come from your contract and the exhibitor manual.
Try your interzum layout in 3D
ExhibitionBase Studio turns your plot size, open sides and a brief about product display and orders into an editable 3D stand for 5 credits, renders it and exports a plan for your builder. New workspaces get 5 free credits.
Frequently asked questions
01Where is interzum held?
At Koelnmesse in Cologne, every two years.
02Who visits?
Furniture and interior makers looking for components and materials.
03How early should I start designing an interzum stand?
For a custom stand, about 6–9 months ahead: long enough for design, organiser approval, production and shipping. Shell scheme stands can be planned in weeks.
04Can I reuse my interzum stand at other shows?
Often, if it is modular. Design the core (walls, counters, product display and orders area) to work on several plot sizes, and swap graphics per show. See [modular vs custom stands](/guides/modular-vs-custom-exhibition-stands).
Put it into practice
From a client brief to a 3D stand concept in minutes
An editable 3D exhibition stand concept from a written brief and the brand's website, at your exact size.
Guidance here reflects common practice. Venues, organisers and countries set their own rules: always check the exhibitor manual and work with a qualified stand builder and engineer for structures.
