Each January, Essen, Germany, hosts the largest horticultural trade show in the world – the IPM – which provides an important meeting place and product showcase for all types of horticultural products and has grown from primarily a European show to a global one. Twelve pavilions are divided up by product types so the visitor can experience everything from machinery to retailing ideas and trends. I have experienced no other trade show as comprehensive and exciting as the IPM.
This year was especially pleasant due to unseasonably warm temperatures and the resulting lack of snow or ice. Quite a difference from the “Polar Vortex” that North America has been suffering!
One of the first things I picked up on was the consistently positive business expectations of fellow North Americans. We have been through the wringer the last five years, but judging from the optimism that was pretty consistently shared, things are changing in a most positive way. This optimism was even more noticeable when compared to the dour forecasts expressed by many Europeans about their home markets.
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