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53rd Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna Closes with Optimism

53rd Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna Closes with Optimism

Visitors from more than 140 countries attended the 53rd edition of the Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna which drew more than 2,700 exhibitors from 70 countries and supported from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and ITA – Italian Trade Agency as part of projects for the promotion of the Italian beauty industry in the main markets worldwide.

“We are really proud of the results of the exhibition: Cosmoprof has once again confirmed its role as a reference event for the global cosmetics industry, despite the current complicated scenario. The exhibitors highlighted the impressive professional quality of visitors and the high number of international operators. Europe is confirmed as the main area of origin, but attendance from Asia and the Americas goes well beyond expectations. The African and Middle East markets follow with very interesting percentages in view of future prospects. It was very exciting to see the aisles of the fair come alive with operators from all over the world, concluding orders and discussing new projects. We hope to have offered companies and professionals a profitable experience,” said Gianpiero Calzolari, President of BolognaFiere.

From Thursday to Saturday, the Cosmotalks sessions brought together visitors to discuss the new trends that will revolutionize the industry including the World Massage Meeting and Masterclass. The theatre in pavilion 37, saw the On Hair shows that finally brought together hairstylists and employees in the hair sector.

“We waited a long time for this 53rd edition of Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna. To finally finding ourselves in the halls of the Bologna exhibition centre was undoubtedly an important moment for our sector, which highlighted the desire to restart. A relaunch that rests on solid foundations. By 2021 the Italian cosmetics sector has shown its ability to react and by 2022, despite the uncertainties of the international scenario, it is estimated to return to pre-crisis levels with the turnover that will return to exceed 12 billion euros. The historic synergy with our partner BolognaFiere Cosmoprof has allowed us to give voice to the excellence of the Italian cosmetic industry, a real flagship of Made in Italy and a strategic sector for the country system”, commented Renato Ancorotti, President of Cosmetica Italia – the personal care association.

“This edition of Cosmoprof was extremely positive. Our exhibitors have finally met buyers and distributors from all over the world in person. We are aware that many companies had to give up their presence due to the restrictions related to the pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine. For this reason, our match-making system, Cosmoprof My Match, will remain available to our operators also in next days. We want to guarantee the visibility and quality of Cosmoprof business opportunities even beyond the days of the fair. Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna has strengthened its role as business partner for professionals, and our goal is to guarantee a continuous and performing networking platform,” said Enrico Zannini, General Manager of BolognaFiere Cosmoprof.

Visitors From India
Says Samir Shrivastava, CEO Jean Claude Biguine India, that has over 20 salons across 3 metro cities in India, ”

To me cosmoprof was more of a meeting in person and expressing gratitude to our brand partners for their support in the pandemic to JCB. Sure I saw new interesting trends where I thought innovation in the hair color space, hair extensions and body treatments are a definite area that I will be exploring.

Audience was lesser, China Russia wasn’t attending so approx 65% of normal footfalls. Extremely well organised in terms of safety protocols, right from airport to hotel to the fair. India had a decent representation of buyers from retail / salon and importers”

Adds Vikram Bhatt, Co-founder & Director at Enrich Salons that operates a chain of 80 salons in Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Pune “Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna has come back with a bang, post COVID and they managed to re-ignite the much needed enthusiasm in the industry stakeholders. I was there with my partner Director Bhupesh Dhinger and we were extremely impressed by the care we were provided by the organisers, right from the safety protocols to setting up of meetings and the management of the show was seemless and unparalleled in my experience.

There was big focus on natural and organic. For us its always better to have in-person meetings rather than online and we were happy to meet our existing brand partners and explore tie-ups with new ones.”

 

My Experience at Cosmoprof Bologna 2022 by Claudio Barbesino, CEO, C Solutions, Italia
So “the show must go on” and  finally Cosmoprof was back in Bologna. Cosmoprof returned on the stage, leaving behind the havoc created by Covid  and felt like regaining normality whilst hiding the sign of such a long absence. However, in the process,  the event has revealed some difficulties in develop a concept that should have taken into consideration some necessary changes that this last period has now persuaded us to execute in our businesses , for example accomodating the “no longer travelling” Exhibitors and Buyers, maybe a hybrid event.

For those like me visiting Cosmoprof for decades, it definitely felt smaller and fewer visitors this year perhaps due to apprehensions of COVID.
In fact, thank goodness, we are not all the same and Cosmoprof gave us the evidence that offering and demanding part are now divided in two main  clusters:
  • Those that in name of safety and cost effectiveness, prefer virtual meetings. Something that Cosmoprof seems to have missed, at least in this last edition. We could notice empty spaces camouflaged by big posters and new meeting areas in almost all pavillion, set up perhaps as a dress up of unconfirmed or unsold areas. Also the difficulties in finding the usual number of Buyers has confirmed that also on the Buyer’s side a good part of them have still some difficulties to move and possibly their needs  won’t be easily  addressed unless a devoted B2B online Service would be inserted as a part of offering of the proposal of the show.
  • The others that deeply missed  the face to face meetings, encountering old friends, complained   “we are still here despite difficulties and smiling at the future.”
And these are eventually the people that represent the walking stick of the “old giant”, because at the end if you weren’t there  now, you could soon regret.
For the expert visitor, Cosmoprof at Bologna was always and remains a “must be ” place.
On the other hand the Giant is alive but is slowing down and the format has to evolve, become more dynamic, bettering the “in house” package of Services and start to develop Virtual to match the request of the new wave of players that prefer to attend, comfortably sit in their office and, may be pay a fee  in order to be put in condition of performing presentation and take appointment any time during the year, or paying a subscription for a virtual presence that last from one Edition to the one in the following year .
But at the end, You know what:
“People complained that the show was not effective as they would expect, everybody was convinced (with reason) that it could be better, Buyers may have complained about some difficulties with Program for managing B2B but, at the end, next year will be there again.”

Approved by Immediate Connect