Wunderkid Munich powers on

The optical show calendar got off to a brisk start last week as Opti Munich reported crowds up by 4 per cent to 34,257.

The annual event, which replaced Cologne as the main German show earlier this decade, has grown with remarkable speed. Trends on display revealed brighter, chunkier frames and an emphasis on sports eyewear in this World Cup year for Germany.

Perennial British exhibitors Continental Eyewear and Booth & Bruce echoed organisers' claims that the show was attracting more international visitors.

Continental's sales and marketing director Neal Grimason said early in the three-day event he had spoken to parties from Eastern Europe and elsewhere: 'It's a show which is growing all the time, and becoming more international. Because we have a German distributor who's also showing at the event, we're effectively only dealing with the non-Germans.'

The company revealed that it had added to its X-eyes range at the show, and Grimason commented Munich was well worth attending.

'Everything works here, and it's an easy show to visit' he said, 'it's well organised, it's efficient, and there's a lively enthusiasm to it.'

Frame firm Booth & Bruce, which launched a 16-model stainless steel line in Munich, also noticed a shift in the character of those attending. Peter Booth, partner, who regularly exhibits at all the big European shows, said: 'This year there are definitely more international visitors here. Last year we saw virtually nobody from the UK, this time we've seen three groups of Brits on the first morning.

'Munich is a good show to buy at, it's a manageable size, and visitors can even do their work in one day. Flights here are cheap and the accommodation is good.'

Dr Arno Jager, managing director of organiser OK Messen, said: 'We are particularly pleased that the fair has again broadened its international spectrum considerably this year, both in terms of exhibitors and visitors.'

He confirmed this year had seen a third of visitors travel from outside Germany, with the rise from Eastern Europe countries 'remarkable'. The top 10 countries of origin after Germany, were, in order, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, France, the UK, Slovakia, Poland and Russia.