KNOWLEDGE TRANSMISSION OF INTERIOR DESIGN FIRMS IN TRADE FAIRS

This research explores on an individual level how interior design firms interact with and manage knowledge through participating in trade fairs. By analyzing the processes of participation from the preparation to the post-event phase, this research identifies points where firms acquire, share, and utilise knowledge. To gain an in-depth understanding, this research applies a qualitative method using semistructured interviews with eight interior design firms operating in the Netherlands. The firms are of varying sizes, from 1 to more than 950 employees. Additionally, desk research was conducted to provide a neutral background information regarding the firms and the trade fairs attended by the firms. The findings show that firms are unfamiliar of the term ‘Knowledge Management’ despite their intensive interaction with knowledge. Firms’ interaction with knowledge happens in each activities starting from the preparation phase to the post-event phase. Firms acknowledge the benefits of trade fairs as spaces for exchanging knowledge, constructing network and symbolic capital, bringing together supply and demand, and conducting experiments. Trade fairs motivate and facilitate exhibitors to present new products. Due to visitors’ expectation for new things and competition from other exhibitors, firms are triggered to be innovative in their exhibitions. As the firms gain feedback from visitors and inspiration from fellow exhibitors, they increase their innovation capability by being able to improve their product offerings and create new products according to the market’s needs and taste.