The SILMO in Paris was originally founded as an initiative of the joined French optical industry. For many years now Guy Charlot was and still is the President of the Silmo Association. Recently the Association announced that it appointed next to him Philippe Lafont in the new role of Exhibition President. He will become responsible for the fair which changed location last year from Porte de Versailles in the city to Villepinte in Paris Nord. The new President will have the difficult task to stop the decrease of visitors and create new initiatives to attract more people. The Silmo just like other major fairs seems to fail in surprising and inspiring its visitors. Many trendy brands now have agents all over the world which makes it less necessary for opticians to visit fairs as the news will be shown to them in their own stores sometimes earlier as at the fairs. Fairs need to renew and become places to learn about trends, fashion, new technology and get inspiration instead of being places where one can purchase what he or she could also find at home. Probably Philippe Lafont can use his international experience and know-how to meet these new challenges.
