ILM Offenbach 2026

ILM Offenbach 2026: Top Tips for Exhibiting and Walking the Trade Show

ILM – Offenbach am Main, Germany
Venue: Messe Offenbach
Dates: February 7-9 2026

ILM (Internationale Lederwarenmesse / International Leather Goods Fair) Offenbach is the leading international trade fair dedicated specifically to luggage, bags, leather goods, school bag and accessories. For luggage and travel goods brands, it is one of the most important order-focused trade shows of the year, bringing together retailers, distributors and industry professionals from across Europe and beyond.

Compared to large, cross-category events like Ambiente, ILM is smaller and more targeted. That focus is exactly what makes it so valuable for brands looking to strengthen wholesale relationships and secure business for upcoming seasons.

Whether you are exhibiting or visiting, going to ILM with a clear plan helps ensure your time on site is worthwhile.

Top Tips

Know Your Objectives

ILM is a working trade show. Buyers arrive with clear intent, and many conversations move quickly into commercial territory.

Before attending, be clear on what success looks like for your brand. This might include presenting new collections to existing retail partners, writing orders or securing follow-up commitments, gathering buyer feedback on pricing, materials, and positioning or identifying new distributors and regional partners.

Having clear objectives really helps in prioritising meetings and managing your time wisely throughout the show. 

Prepare for an Order-Driven Environment

Unlike larger trade shows where conversations are often exploratory, ILM discussions are frequently commercial from the outset. The show attracts a high concentration of decision-makers and buyers often compare collections side by side before making decisions.

If you are exhibiting, be prepared to discuss:

• Clear product assortments and price positioning
• Availability, MOQs, delivery windows, and lead times
• Which markets, channels or retailers your brand is targeting

Visitors should also prepare questions in advance, particularly when evaluating new suppliers. Having everything well-prepared helps ensure that meetings are more efficient and effective for everyone involved. 

Be Present on the Booth 

At ILM, booth engagement matters. Because the venue is compact, buyers often pass the same stands multiple times. A stand that looks closed, distracted or unprepared is quickly noticed.

Make sure your booth is always staffed by someone who can immediately explain who the brand is for, understands the company’s objectives for the show and knows when to bring in colleagues for deeper commercial or technical discussions.

Stand layout also plays a role. Keeping the front of the stand open and approachable, rather than blocked by furniture or counters, encourages repeat visits and follow-up conversations.

Presenting products in logical groupings makes comparison easier and keeps discussions focused. 

Bring Digital and Physical Materials

Physical business cards and printed brochures remain useful for quick exchanges and in-depth review. At the same time, digital business cards, QR codes and digital line sheets make it easier for buyers to save details, share internally, and follow up after the show.

Being prepared with both formats allows you to adapt to different buyer preferences without friction and reduces the risk of good conversations being lost after the event.

Schedule Meetings 

Using the exhibitor directory and floor plan together helps visitors identify relevant brands efficiently and avoid unnecessary backtracking. For exhibitors, it also helps anticipate buyer traffic throughout the day.

While scheduling meetings in advance is important, ILM also rewards flexibility. Buyers often return to stands after seeing competitors or discussing internally, so leaving small gaps in your schedule allows time for repeat conversations and follow-ups during the show itself.

For many luggage and travel goods professionals, ILM forms part of a broader early-year trade show strategy. With Ambiente taking place in Frankfurt at the same time, some brands choose to divide teams or attend both shows during a single trip.

While Ambiente offers broader lifestyle and retail insight, ILM remains the core event for category-specific meetings and orders. Understanding how each show fits into your overall strategy helps maximise the value of both.

How to Get to ILM Offenbach

ILM Offenbach is well connected by train, public transport, taxi, and air, making it easy to reach from Frankfurt and the surrounding region.

Frankfurt Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) serves as the main hub for most visitors. From there, Offenbach can be reached in around 10–15 minutes via S-Bahn or regional trains. Depending on the station you arrive at, Messe Offenbach is typically a short walk or tram ride.

Taxis and ride services, including Uber, are widely available and take approximately 15–25 minutes from central Frankfurt, depending on traffic. Frankfurt Airport is also well connected, with total travel time to Offenbach usually around 30–40 minutes.

Given traffic patterns during trade fair weeks, public transport is often the most predictable option.

For luggage and travel goods brands looking to build wholesale relationships, present collections, and secure business for the year ahead, ILM remains one of the most important trade shows on the calendar.