Following the initial Digital Fair in September 2020 - which brought together 4,292 brands and nearly 215,000 unique international visitors - several online studies and polls were carried out with more than 500 professionals (brands, buyers, specifiers), allowing Maison&Objet's teams to define current market expectations and draw up a proposal best suited to the new context. The result shows that the home decor sector is much less impacted than other activities, perhaps even boosted by new ways consumers purchase items for their homes: work is sustainably exported outside the company premises and consumers are just as eager to create new functional layouts as they are to redefine the comfort of their private spaces. These professionals express their need to meet physically, to diversify their inspirations, touch the materials, understand the colors, discover the new collections of their suppliers, and have the opportunity to meet with new ones.
Reflecting on the various possible options and taking into account the uncertainties related to the current context, the community largely favored the end of March as a time for the long-awaited reunion and the physical presentation of new products. This fair will be framed as the sum of a physical event and an online activation. Several support options will be developed so that exhibitors can extend the presentation of their booths after March 30th through customized digital tools (videos, interviews, etc...), previewing a new trade fair model.
Reflecting on the various possible options and taking into account the uncertainties related to the current context, the community largely favored the end of March as a time for the long-awaited reunion and the physical presentation of new products. This fair will be framed as the sum of a physical event and an online activation. Several support options will be developed so that exhibitors can extend the presentation of their booths after March 30th through customised digital tools (videos, interviews, etc...), previewing a new trade fair model. Maison&Objet will also offer a series of digital fairs addressing themes by market sectors starting in January, enabling brands to connect efficiently with new customers while preparing for the physical edition slated for March 2021. Inspirational formats and a series of talks will also be a part of this program. These digital formats will benefit from Maison&Objet's digital ecosystem, which brings together more than 200,000 professional accounts subscribed to the MOM platform and 830,000 followers on Instagram. Finally, at the end of March, on top of the trade fair, Maison&Objet will develop an off-site Paris tour, to extend the discovery of new products and trends for visitors, professionals and individuals alike, who will enjoy the charm and design assets of the City of Lights. With several options of formats to highlight its home decor, design, crafts, and lifestyle offer, Maison&Objet defines tailormade solutions aligned with the expectations and new needs of its market. | 
