08 October 2015
A new concept at the Silmo trade show saw a 5% rise in visitors this year according to the organiser, Comexposium, with a total of 34,250 practitioners visiting the event in Paris (23–26 September).
The new theme presented the show this year “as the largest flagship store dedicated to optics and eyewear.” It was said to win “unanimous approval, injecting new life and delivering a strong message imbued with elegance, glamour, informality and above all dynamism that all the industry professionals found energising.”International visitors were still in the majority, it was revealed this week, with 57% from around the world, however, French practitioners turned out in greater numbers this year, making up 43% of the total.
Comexposium praised the exhibitors for making a key contribution to the shared energy by demonstrating “real creativity, with innovative collections and products in step with today’s marketplace, a big hit with the thousands of buyers at the exhibition.”
The 2015 event featured 892 exhibitors, including 75% from abroad. The total exhibition area was also larger this year, a rise of 5.3% to 33,300 m2.
One of the exhibitors was the shows stalwart, UK company Continental Eyewear. Its sales and marketing director, Neal Grimason, told OT: “We had a very good show – we were 20% up on the orders taken last year.”
Mr Grimason added: “We relocated to a new position in the hall, along the main walkway, and this most certainly paid dividends, as did a complete redesign of our stand. Whilst our regular customers will always seek us out we attracted many new customers solely because of our position, so, all in all, a very productive show.”
A highlight of the event was the 22nd Silmo d’Or Awards ceremony, held at the Paris headquarters of Radio France, the Maison de la Radio.
Organised under the Silmo umbrella, the Silmo d’Or Awards reward “creativity and inventive spirit” in the profession. Every year since 1994, the awards highlight the quality and originality of the optical and eyewear sector.
This year’s winners received their awards from designer and internationally renowned teacher, Emmanuel Gallina, who chaired the panel of judges.
The winner in the contact lenses category was Johnson & Johnson Vision Care with 1-Day Acuvue Moist Multifocal. Essilor won the ophthalmic lenses category with ‘Eyezen.’
On the spectacles side, Masunaga won the ophthalmic frames category with ‘GMS-106.’ The children’s frames section was won by Minima with ‘Junior Hybrid.’
The sunglasses category was won by W-Eye with ‘AIRFIR,’ while Seiko Optical Group won the sports equipment section with ‘Seiko X Changer.’ Blackfin won the technological innovation category with the frame ‘Shark-Lock.’
The equipment category was won by Luneau Technology with ‘Attitude,’ by Briot. The low vision section was won by Visiole with ‘Blaze-Ez’ and Factory 900 won the Jury’s Special Award for ‘FA-087.
Next year’s Silmo will be on for 23–26 September 2016. For more information, visit the Silmo website.
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