Jean-Luc Ansel, Director of the Cosmetic Valley

The “competitiveness cluster” based in Chartres, France, has taken the plunge. A new trade show dedicated to cosmetic innovation and research & development should take place next October 15-16, 2015, at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris.

It has been long since manufacturers started telling us a reference trade show was missing in Paris, an event that would be worth the reputation and quality of French cosmetic products,” explains Jean-Luc Ansel, Director of the Cosmetic Valley. In other words, the current shows in Paris are thought not to completely meet the cosmetics industry’s expectations. “To me, it has to do with positioning. We need a show that highlights French know-how in cosmetics and concentrates on innovation, trends, and research,” he adds.

This new event is called Cosmetic 360, and will thus focus on innovation in all its forms: product innovation, packaging innovation, but also innovation in services and marketing. “Everything that contributes to the success of the cosmetics industry, with a particular emphasis on open innovation and outsourcing,” Jean-Luc Ansel specifies.

3,000 m2 and over 100 exhibitors

The Cosmetic Valley has already booked 3,000 m2 at the Carrousel du Louvre in the heart of Paris, and is expecting between 100 and 150 exhibitors for its first edition. The show will be open to all companies of the industry with innovations to showcase, whether they be ingredient or packaging suppliers, full-service companies or even research service providers, whether they be French or foreign, and members of the Cosmetic Valley or not. The date was chosen to make Cosmetic 360 an extension of COSM’innov, the scientific and academic event organized every other year in Orléans, France.

We do not aim to host a big show, but a qualitative, highly technical, high-standard show. We will be selective when choosing the exhibitors,” explains the Director of the competitive cluster. “In the long run, we want all companies seeking cosmetic innovation around the world to know that this is where they will find it.

International partners

In order to succeed in this launching, the Cosmetic Valley relies on its network of international partners, among others. The Japan Cosmetic Center (JCC) and the Italian Polo Tecnologico della Cosmesi are said to have given their support. And the cluster’s partners in Colombia and Quebec have also been approached. In France, the Cosmetic Valley endeavours to unite the profession around its project (FEBEA and the Société Française de Cosmétologie, the French Federation of Beauty Companies and the French Society of Cosmetology, are part of its board of directors), but given the tight deadlines, the competitive cluster has chosen to go ahead and not wait. And the support of a few French cosmetics giants seeking to highlight their excellence in research constitutes another advantage.

It is really a new trade show concept. We have thought about a new positioning adapted and open both to the large groups willing to present their research projects and interested in open innovation, and to the SMEs willing to showcase their technologies. Of course, there will be a substantial conference programme, but also B2B meetings organized beforehand,” Jean-Luc Ansel concludes.

A cluttered market

Now it remains to convince everyone of the relevance of the Cosmetic 360 concept, as the event schedule is already quite busy. There are numerous competitors indeed: Cosmeeting and Creative Paris are scheduled next September 15-17, 2015, and still rely on brands-suppliers synergy. Informa, the organizer, recently restructured its teams, which are now managed by Claudia Bonfiglioli. As for the Luxe Pack show, which will be held in Monaco less than two weeks after Cosmetic 360, it seems unassailable in the prestige packaging sector. And PCD (February 4 and 5, 2015 for the next edition) is already claimed as the show for packaging innovation and cosmetics distribution systems. To be continued.