Regional optical fairs gaining importance

Regional optical exhibitions such as Optrafair and Opti Munich are gaining importance and could diminish the significance of some of the larger international shows such as Mido and Silmo, according to the chief executive of frame manufacturer Alain Mikli.

'Opticians often prefer local shows like in the UK and Munich and it's [going] to be like this again in a lot of countries. It's more convenient for them to attend those shows than fly to Milan, Paris or Manhattan,' Dominique Alba told Optician.

He stated that to him, it appeared regional shows were making a comeback, due to their convenience for both visitors and exhibitors. Detailing the advantages for those exhibiting at regional shows he said: 'Everybody is trying to increase prices, but when you are in Germany or the UK, you can manage the local opticians with less space. When you're in Paris or Milan, you need to manage the export business as well as the opticians, so you need double the space.'