Nov 2016

Jono Hennessy Sceats and his son, and brand manager, Jasper
eye” was particularly eye catching and would suit
anyone, agreed Hennessy Sceats. On the Jono
Hennessy side, the company was using more
combination constructions, featuring interesting
temples and changing some of the colours to
matt finishes, so it’s a more modern finish. “The
big thing that’s happening is everything is round
now, and smaller rounds,” says Hennessy Sceats.
“And everything has to have more detailed
construction now, which is a worldwide trend
to distinguish the quality of the frames and
make the patient feel special.” The company now
exports more than 50% of its range to Europe and
says Silmo is its key sales fair.
TO BE CONTINUED…with so much to see,
we couldn’t fit it all in. Part II of Silmo
2016 will be in our December issue.
Silmo endures, expands
Given the terrible
Paris terrorist
attacks at the
end of last year, Silmo
organisers had feared
its flagship exhibition,
showcasing more than
1,350 optical industry
brands, would not attract
anywhere near the same
numbers as last year,
especially as many other
shows in the region had
poor visitor numbers in the
preceding months.
But the optical industry
is obviously a hardy lot
as visitor numbers were
down just 1.3% on last
year, to 33,791, including
56.5% from abroad and
43.5% from France. Plus,
given the obvious activity
on most stands, it looks like orders are unlikely to
be affected and could even be up on last year, says
director Éric Lenoir.
Last year’s show saw the launch of a new concept,
new image and new look, so changes to this year’s
show were more minor, he says, with tweaks to do
with hospitality and layout as part of the organisers’
continual focus to improve the experience for both
visitor and exhibitor alike. There was, however,
more focus on the “phygital” - convergence of
physical and digital – exhibition side, with an
expanded Experience Store, demonstrating how
optometry businesses, and those who serve them,
can incorporate more digital solutions into their
practices, allowing them to “get smarter” about
how they serve their patients and increase revenues.
Sporting the latest trend in his own eyewear -
round, retro-looking frames from Lafont - Lenoir
says next year’s show from 6-9 October, 2017,
however, will be something special as it will be the
50th anniversary of Silmo Paris; a company he is
still completely passionate about after working for
it for more than 21 years, having joined straight
Silmo Sydney event organiser Gary Fitz-Roy with Silmo director
Eric Lenoir
from college. “I love it. We
are dealing with fashion,
technology, health. It is
a brilliant mix, and even
though it’s a big show, with
a lot of people, it’s a small
family. The optics world
is not that big in terms of
world turnover, but it’s so
creative, so innovative and
every season there is always
a surprise, and it’s a serious
product – because if I didn’t
have my glasses I couldn’t
see you,” he laughs.
Silmo overseas
He is also excited about
Silmo’s international
expansion. After just two
years Silmo Istanbul - a
joint venture with a Turkish
optics media company
and Silmo’s first foray abroad – has made all its
targets, has most, if not all, of the local companies
exhibiting and is now attracting interest from other
countries in the region, including the Middle East,
Africa and North-East Asia. While the new Silmo
Sydney show is set to launch in March next year.
Exporting the brand gives Silmo an opportunity
to grow, says Lenoir. It also helps Silmo Paris attract
more visitors as the exhibitors at Silmo Istanbul, for
example, are the wholesalers and distributors from
the region and thus the most likely visitors to Paris.
He’s expecting the same to happen with Silmo
Sydney. There’s a lot of opportunity in the region
as the market, both for small and new exhibitors
and the level of choice on show for the practices
and stores themselves, has been a bit controlled by
the Australian Optical and Wholesalers Association
(ODMA), which, until 2017, had run the main show
in the region every two years, he says.
Silmo is looking at other areas for expansion,
including South East Asia and South America, both
of which are currently poorly served in the optics
arena, says Lenoir. ▀
2016 Silmo d’Or
Awards
Silmo’s 2016 Silmo d’Or Awards night was
a festive evening liberally fuelled with
canapés and champagne. Belgian designer
Alain Gilles and Silmo president Phillippe Lafont
announced the awards, designed to recognise
and reward the creativity and innovation of the
industry, amid a cabaret of singing, dancing,
visual light illusions and a bubble man at the
Maison de la Mutualité in central Paris. The
award winners were:
● Children: KNCO for “Bili” by Karavan Kids
Sport Equipment: Demetz for “Lazer-Run”
● Low Vision: special prize: Visiole for “Go
Vision”; Essilor for “My Eye”; and Ceciaa for
“NuEyes”
● Frame Technological Innovation: Oxibis Group
for “77H” by Exalto
● Premiere Classe prize: Pride Eyewear for
“305 BL”
● Material/Equipment: Netlooks for “Netlooks
3D”
● Vision: Essilor for its “Eye Protect System”
● Sunglasses: Parasite Design for “Anti Retro X”
● Optical Frame: Blake Kuwahara for “Khan”
● Jury Special Prize: Kuboraum for “Maske E3”
Pride Eyewear’s “305 BL”
Kuboraum’s
“Maske E3”
Blake Kuwahara’s “Khan”
More than 75 years after its creation,
Lacoste has become a lifestyle brand
which exemplifies elegance and comfort.
Lacoste looks at life in an optimistic way by
telling itself it is a beautiful sport: a sport in
which you compete with elegance, show
off your panache, and combine a quest for
performance with an eye on elegance.
L2773 BLUE
L2771 HAVANA
Contact GenOp today to find out how you
can become a stockist.
Toll free: 0800 141 444
www.generaloptical.co.nz
customerservice@genop.co.nz
November 2016
NEW ZEALAND OPTICS
19