PARIS—The Silmo organization has announced changes to this year’s Silmo D’Or Awards. This year the awards will include fewer categories, from last year’s 18 down to eight, plus an award for Sustainable Development. The selection of nominations will be done by a Grand Jury comprising a chairperson, 16 members from each category, major international buyers and journalists, as well as Silmo’s president, Guy Charlot. The reduced categories include:
• Vision: lenses and contact lenses
• Opticians’ Workshop: equipment, eye test, instruments, etc …
• Store design and layout: software programs, sales tools, store fixtures and display stands, etc.
• Optical Frame (best design and innovation) for men or women
• Sunglasses Frames for men or women
• Sport’s Eyewear: frames, lenses, etc.
• Children’s Eyewear: optical or sunglasses frames
• Low Vision & Optical Instrument
• And the special ‘Sustainable Development’ award
Silmo has also made additions to its program including a bilingual International Club to aid international visitors; an expanded Press Club; a new Silmo Club for VIPs, major buyers and visitors of note from large corporations; as well as the first ever Silmo Academy offering opticians three different symposiums on refractive surgery, visual ergonomics and aging eyes. Additionally, the fair will have its own trade fair TV channel and a speed recruiting option for job seekers.
As Vision Monday previously reported, this year’s Silmo Exposition is being held from Sept. 23 to 26, 2010 at a new location, the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition center, located just outside of Paris. The Villepinte location offers more than 850,000 square feet of exhibition space on one floor with initial estimates from the Silmo organization putting the number of exhibitors for this year’s show at 900.
Silmo will be offering a free shuttle service every day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. from/to CDG Airport/Paris Nord Villepinte and Porte Maillot/Paris Nord Villepinte, as well as providing information on reaching the exhibition by RER B, car or train.
More information about the show can be found on their website, www.silmoparis.com. ■ ■
