AUSTRIA - Grass wants to explore new sales channels in 2023: Instead of taking part in the interzum in Cologne, the specialist for movement systems will specifically approach its customers and use the new customer center in Hohenems for acquisition and presentations.

Grass emphasizes that this is not a general rejection of trade fairs, but a sign that they are also leaving the usual paths in sales and daring to try new things.

In autumn 2021, Grass opened the new headquarters in Hohenems, Austria. This largest investment in the company's history includes not only a state-of-the-art logistics center with new administration rooms, but also an Experience Center in which modern movement design is shown on two levels over 500 square meters. "For us, this development is an enormous step," says Andreas Marosch, Head of Marketing at Grass. "We have created a place where we can present our products in the best possible way." Against this background, Grass decided not to take part in the interzum trade fair in Cologne in 2023. Instead, the goal is “to try out new formats, to try out alternative sales channels, to use the customer center optimally, in short:

Grass emphasizes that this year's interzum cancellation is not a statement against the format of the trade fair or Cologne's leading trade fair itself. Rather, it is about trying new things and making courageous decisions to establish the sales channels and customer contact points that are most effective for the company. "Two topics came together: During the pandemic we saw that we can also get in touch with our customers and new prospects outside of the concentrated trade fair period - and that more depth of conversation is often possible," explains Andreas Marosch. “The second point is of course the Experience Center. If we have such a state-of-the-art, architecturally appealing presentation opportunity, why not take advantage of it?”

So 2023 will be a year in which Grass will also break new ground in sales - which will be reinforced by the fact that Ralf Priefer, a new sales manager for Germany and France, recently came on board. How to proceed in the next few years, whether with or without classic trade fair formats, "we will decide calmly when we can draw the first conclusions from our new paths," says Andreas Marosch.

The Grass Group is a globally active group of companies, which serves the furniture industry as a development partner and system supplier and specializes in movement systems. The portfolio includes drawer and slide systems as well as hinge and flap systems. The company, which was founded in 1947 and is based in Höchst (Vorarlberg, Austria), employs some 1,800 people at 19 locations. It has more than 200 sales partners in 60 countries. In 2021 Grass achieved revenues of 467 million euros. Since 2004, Grass has been part of the Würth Group.