In an age when the range of products offered grows unceasingly, independent seals of quality represent a valuable buying aid for consumers. One of these renowned seals of quality is the Home & Trend Award, which will be presented by the LifeCare Initiative in cooperation with Messe Frankfurt at Tendence in Frankfurt am Main from 30th August to 2nd September 2014.
Now in its fourth year, the awards for the Innovation of the Year and Trend Product of the Year are given for consumer-oriented products and concepts from the furnishing sector. The seal of quality goes to the best products in six categories – Garden and Leisure, Furniture and Decoration, Bath and Wellness, Building Fixtures and Interior Design, Large and Small Electrical Appliances and Household and Cleaning – which will be judged on the basis of the following criteria: design, innovation, functionality, product benefits, ergonomics and ecology. The winners will be chosen by a jury of experts and consumers. In the first stage, the jury selects products for consumers to vote on. The second stage takes the form of a poll conducted by an opinion-research institute, during which the consumers pick the best and most popular products in each category.
“As an event for the sector, a source of inspiration and trend barometer for the second half of the year, Tendence is the ideal platform for the Home & Trend Award. With the exhibition and awards ceremony, we are delighted to offer the trade such interesting added value for their visit to the fair,” says Sabine Scharrer, Living director of Tendence.
Manufacturers have until 13th June 2014 to submit their products for nomination and the chance of an award. The award-winning products will be on show in a special exhibition in Galleria 0 throughout the fair. The awards ceremony will be held in nearby Galleria 1 on the Monday of the fair, 1st September. Details, including the competition rules, can be found on the Home & Trend Award website.
All products chosen for a Home & Trend Award will automatically be entered for the EESC European Award for Design and Sustainability, which is to be presented for the second time during Tendence 2014. This award honours products characterised by a skilful combination of sustainability and excellent design. As the European consumer-goods platform, Tendence and the concurrent Ecostyle trade fair for sustainable consumer goods provide the optimum framework for the awards ceremony, which is being held in cooperation with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the LifeCare Initiative.