Premium Beauty News - What does the coming edition look like?
Pradip Bala - Out of the 480 exhibitors, more than 50% of the offer will be renewed: quite enough to surprise visitors! In 2013, the exhibition will host more than twenty U.S. companies and new Japanese and Korean brands, but also brands from South Africa particularly in the Cosmeeting Color area.
For many international companies, Beyond Beauty is an important communication platform regarded as an essential step in a strategy of export development.
Premium Beauty News - The discovery of small emerging brands has always been one of Cosmeeting’s strength? What does the coming edition of the Zoom look like?
Pradip Bala - It’s going to be particularly rich in innovation! This year the number of “Zoomers” is up by 38%. The discovery of small emerging brands is one of the strengths of Cosmeeting, especially this year with the creation of prizes for each category (perfume, skincare, make-up ...) for the Beauty Challenger Awards.
The Zoom area is a springboard for small brands with a promising future, setting foot on the cosmetics market. The year 2013 will present brands dedicated to women, whether they are pregnant, smokers or active; but men will not be left out...
Premium Beauty News - Precisely, this year the theme of the BBLab, the innovation area of the show will be on men’s cosmetics. Can you tell us more?
Pradip Bala - The BBLab, a true area of reflection on the major issues and challenges in cosmetics, will focus this year on masculine beauty. To paraphrase a popular image: man is not a woman like the others! Product offers and dedicated sales area are not always in line with the real expectations of men in terms of beauty. However, the strongest growth, all categories of cosmetics included, remains the “men’s segment” with an important potential for development, especially in emerging countries. That’s why, this year the BBLab will offer beauty professionals, the opportunity to enter – the men’s much expected – complex but fascinating world of cosmetics.
Marine and mineral ingredients will also be highlighted in this area.
The BBLab will gather 12 companies, 11 cosmetic brands for men, who will dress the shelves of the future, two research firms, Mintel and Information & Inspiration, a Make Up animation for Men organized by Toupie Make Up and the promotion of exhibitors on the Green path of the show, with a sustainable approach.
This area was staged by the architect Alfonso Maligno, a specialist in the design of pharmacies and spas of exception.
Premium Beauty News - What will be the other highlights of the 2013 edition?
Pradip Bala - First, the launch of the Perfume Zone, an area dedicated to the perfume world from its composition to its bottling, to perfumes ready to be marketed; this area presents the crafts of perfumery, the whole of it relayed in the conference room with two round tables.
And of course, again and as always the Beauty Challenger Awards ceremony. Taking part in the Beauty Challenger Awards is the guarantee for brands to pass into the expert hands of international buyers and distributors. Sixty members of the jury will thoroughly vet the different brands and candidates to give them a final score. Among the members of the jury this year distributors as varied and prestigious as: Space NK (UK), Sens Unique (FR), Aelia (FR), Beauty Habit (USA), SLJ (Japan), Silvaron (Estonia), Supercosmetics (Russia), Galeries Lafayette (FR), Cosmetics & Perfume Distribution (UAE), Beauty Bizz (Denmark), Hypoluxe (USA), Biomarket Organik (Turkey)...
A proof of the interest and credibility of the competition: 87% of new brands exhibiting at the show are taking part to the competition. New this year, brands have provided a two-minute video describing their history. More than fifty videos have already been proposed to the French jury during the assessments in July; the second round for the international exhibitors will take place on the first day of the show.
More than fifty conferences are always available to visitors and exhibitors. Different design and communication agencies (Fullsix, Design Way...), but also market research companies (Datamonitor, Mintel...), international consultants will present trends and decrypt global consumer expectations. We will have a great theme this year to honour, China, from every angle: consumer products, retail, regulation, etc.
Premium Beauty News - How do you see the evolution of the French market?
Pradip Bala - The general economic situation is difficult in the whole euro zone. But the cosmetic sector, which is important in France, is resisting well, both with regards to exports sales but also domestic consumption, especially in differentiating segments and thanks to innovation.
The French market is evolving, with in particular the development of independent retailers offering either more selective brands or lesser known brands with a unique positioning. It is the return of independent perfumery, which was almost condemned to disappear in France! This phenomenon, combined with the growth of e-business is a source of new opportunities for emerging brands.
