Silmo Sydney's Gary Fitz-Roy

The welcoming press conference at Silmo 2018 included a big plug for the Silmo enfants or kids, as director Eric Lenoir described them: Silmo Istanbul, Silmo Sydney and the youngest, Silmo Bangkok, launched in June this year. Each was also given their own stand, complete with representative staff determined to promote their far smaller shows to the world’s buyers and optical media present at Silmo Paris.

Silmo Sydney’s stand featured an Aussie-themed video celebrating the diversity and beauty of Australia, together with Silmo Sydney 2019 creative marketing material, inviting potential visitors to mix business with pleasure.

“Silmo Sydney 2019 will deliver a fresh, different experience with more new exhibitors and brands than any other show in the Australian market,” said Gary Fitz-Roy, managing director of Expertise Events, which owns and runs Silmo Sydney. The 2019 show will also feature a dry eye symposium; provide a specific area dedicated to retail design and practice fitouts; and host a Rising Star Frame Competition, in conjunction with Enmore Design School, focused on shape, material and practicality, with the winning frames displayed at Silmo Paris 2019.

“Plans for 2019 are well on track… there is no chopping or changing other than fulfilling what the retail visitor wants to see more of, and next year we have some great new initiatives,” said Fitz-Roy.