A day at CMT Stuttgart – short, intense, unforgettable
- Flo Eckhoff
- Jan 21
- 3 min read
Yesterday I was at the CMT in Stuttgart, the world's largest camper van trade fair. It was a real day trip: I flew from Hamburg to Stuttgart at 6:38 a.m. and back again at 5:35 p.m. Quite exciting! If I remember correctly, the last time I flew was to Italy in 2018. Oh, and once to Dubai in 2019.
Why do it all in one day? Simple: My children want me to put them to bed in the evening. Family first.
Arriving at the fair, I was initially overwhelmed. So many impressions, so much energy. At first, though, I was also a bit lost, because my original photographer had to cancel the day before due to health reasons. To be honest, until I arrived, I was hoping for a miracle... and yes: manifestation works.
And of course, that's exactly what happened. Nicole , a woman from Instagram, noticed me and got in touch. Nicole is a mother of five, a photographer, and a doula in training. She lives with many animals and is a kindred spirit. From the very first moment, it just clicked. Sometimes you meet exactly the right people at the right time.
From 9:00 AM onwards, I strolled through the still almost empty halls... with one clear goal: to meet Raphael Vogt on or near the living room stage. And what can I say? It felt somehow like home. Strange, but also admirable. I didn't know anyone there personally or from real life. These were my first one-on-one encounters.
Everyone's on a first-name basis. Hugs, handshakes, open conversations. Helpful, friendly, respectful. And everyone so freedom-loving.
I didn't know it was Raphael's birthday that day, otherwise I would have brought a present. He had invited me to present my project on stage, and on his birthday no less. I'll know better next year.
Thank you, Raphael, for opening this space on your birthday, investing your time, making things possible and connecting people.
After the initial conversations in the living room, we continued our tour of the trade fair. I met:
Dennis from Nordic Expert ,
Bernd from Coolcamper ,
Maedes at the Pössl stand ,
Leo from Drivedressy ,
Mirko from Camper and Go .
I've created a dedicated trade fair highlight on my Instagram profile , floeckhoff . There you can find impressions from the day.
The highlight of my one-day visit: a filming session with Regio TV Stuttgart . From 2:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., I was accompanied by a three-person film crew. The segment is scheduled to air later today. SWR had already reported on me the previous week.
And here's an announcement:#
I will be at the Caravanning Fair in Hamburg – from Thursday, February 5th, 2026 to Sunday, February 8th, 2026, during the day. Hamburg is home to me: I lived in Bahrenfeld and in the Neue Mitte Altona district, completed my retail apprenticeship in Hamburg, and am practically around the corner from my former employer at the fairgrounds. I am very familiar with the surrounding neighborhoods.
In Hamburg, I will once again be presenting my bus project together with actor and camper Raphael Vogt, making new contacts, and receiving media coverage. I'm looking forward to conversations, encounters, exchanges, inspiration – and to meeting as many of you as possible in person.
Update on the bus project:
My bus will be back home from the rust repair shop at the beginning of February. Then filming with Hammer will begin. The first flooring samples will be presented, and the installation might even take place by the end of February. In addition, I've managed to find a body shop that has availability for my double-decker bus in February. Very good news.
In recent weeks, I've seen a resurgence in podcast recordings, newspaper articles, and TV segments. I welcome all inquiries – whether for podcasts, magazines, newspapers, radio, or television. And I appreciate every response I receive from those I contact.
In 2026, I'll also be working on several film projects, writing my own book, and recording cover songs in studios. So, if any publishers, film crews, or musicians are reading this, please get in touch.
Everyone starts somewhere.
I'm going to really step on the gas in 2026. We've only been in the new year for three weeks – and things are already getting going.
We read each other's work.
Best regards
Flo
Donation account: From eviction to new beginning – family builds a new life in a bus