Flanders Flooring Days, where business starts with a handshake

Year on year, Flanders Flooring Days (FFD) has grown to become the meeting place for flooring sector professionals in Europe. The 2025 edition welcomed visitors from 78 countries, recording a 57% increase in total visitor numbers compared to the previous year. The number of participants also grew by 17%, representing more than 100 European brands under one roof. And yet, there remains a perception that FFD is only for Flemish manufacturers – time to clear up this misunderstanding. We spoke with Cindy, Thalissa and Sofie – the sales team at Xpo Group, the organiser behind the event – about what makes FFD so special.

Who are you and what is the role of Xpo Group within Flanders Flooring Days?

Cindy: ‘At Xpo Group, we put on more than 40 trade fairs both domestically and abroad, in sectors such as architecture, construction, food and manufacturing. Our mission? “Creating meaningful connections” – connecting people, businesses and communities the best way possible. And with Flanders Flooring Days, that is exactly what we are putting into practice. A viable, high-end event that brings together players from the European flooring sector to do business with one another.’ 

What makes FFD different from other international trade fairs?

Thalissa: ‘We are all about quality over quantity. Businesses can only participate if they are able to demonstrate clear added value in Europe in terms of R&D and design.  This applies not only to European manufacturers, but also to importers and distributors of European brands. This allows us to guarantee a solid, dependable range of hard and soft flooring, textile floor coverings, as well as related products and services.’

Sofie: ‘By taking quality as our benchmark, we are ensuring that we do not become one of those “mega trade shows” with endless floorspace. Rather, we are offering a focused, efficient and niche trade fair experience. Visitors know that, at FFD, they will only find leading European products – and that is something they sure do appreciate. To offer a few examples per category: Classen (DE), hard flooring manufacturers; Lamett(BE), soft flooring importers; Robusta (NL), textile floor covering manufacturers; and Estillon (NL), derived product manufacturers. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.’

What is so unique about the FFD trade fair concept?

Thalissa: ‘Our participants benefit from an online appointment system, providing targeted networking opportunities well in advance. Visitors can request appointments ahead of time with the participants of their choice. As a result, participants receive on average 75 quality leads before the trade fair has even begun. This makes for both peace of mind and efficient scheduling, which is a win-win for everyone. More time for in-depth discussions, leading to effective business outcomes. This is a very different kind of return compared to large, traditional trade fairs.’

Why do you work according to set formulas when it comes to your participants?

Sofie: ‘We offer four packages – 30, 60, 100 and 150 square metres – with clear pricing and content. This helps us to avoid businesses competing against each other when it comes to booth size, as is the case at other trade fairs. With us, everyone is afforded the same opportunities. What’s more, the limited space further encourages participants to only showcase their most recent innovations. Visitors can therefore be sure that, at FFD, they will always get to see the latest offerings from every brand present.’

With ‘Flanders’ in the title, surely this event is just for Flemish businesses. Right?

Sofie: ‘We get that a lot. But, this is very much a misconception. “Flanders” is merely a reference to the fair’s origins, with the region being the epicentre of the European flooring sector, centrally located right in the economic heart of Europe. In fact, Flanders Flooring Days welcomes participants from all over Europe. In fact, the majority of visitors are from overseas, with participants at the 2025 fair spanning 78 countries. Now, you can hardly call that a local event.’

Who visits Flanders Flooring Days?

Thalissa: ‘Our participants reflect the range of products on offer – from the residential and project-based markets to interior design professionals and wholesalers. We are strongly committed to using a personalised approach when it comes to attracting visitors, based on participant client lists. And that is how we are able to attract those high-level decision-makers, with some 40% CEOs and 87% decision-makers in attendance. This approach guarantees high-quality meetings that result in firm leads.’

What does the future of FFD look like?

Cindy: ‘Four years ago, we started with an idea to invite visitors right to the source of the sector, to the showrooms and production departments of Flemish manufacturers. Today, FFD has grown into a fully-fledged European platform, boasting both open showrooms and a trade fair floor at Kortrijk Xpo, where new brands get the opportunity to showcase themselves. Its continued growth lies primarily there, on the trade fair floor, giving the floor to some of the most innovative European brands. After four successful editions, it is evident that Flanders Flooring Days remains a viable, efficient and ever-growing event.’

Want to take part in Flanders Flooring Days 2026?

Want to meet international buyers and put your products in the flooring industry spotlight? Don’t miss the fifth edition of Flanders Flooring Days, running 18 to 21 May 2026. To secure your place at this unmissable event, contact the organisers today. Find more info at flandersflooringdays.com