‘Focusing on the future’ – Sunglasses Workshop programme for Cannes revealed

The Sunglasses Workshop (last held as an in-person event in 2019) attracts a strong audience of brand owners and retailers to discuss category challenges and key issues

Sunglasses Workshop 2022 co-sponsors and co-hosts EssilorLuxottica, Kering Eyewear, Marchon, Marcolin, Maui Jim, Safilo Group and Thelios today announced the programme for the 13th edition of the event, which takes place on Tuesday, 4 October during TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes.

The ‘by-invitation only’ gathering at beach-side venue, Plage Goeland, is set to facilitate category networking among stakeholders, under the theme ‘Focusing on the future’.

The programme comprises three core elements. Dr. Peter Mohn, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at m1nd-set will present a summary of findings from fresh consumer research on sunglasses shoppers in the travel retail channel. The study was commissioned by seven supplier companies especially for the workshop.

Mohn commented: “We are very curious to see the outcome of the current exclusive research we are conducting for the Sunglasses event. It will be highly interesting to see how shopper journeys have changed due to the pandemic and how trends in sunglasses compare to other categories. We are looking forward to sharing this brand new research with the audience in Cannes.”

Speakers at the special workshop on 4 October include (top row, from left) Thélios Travel Retail Director Alessandro Eucaliptus, EssilorLuxottica Global Travel Retail Director Alessio Crivelli, Marcolin Head of Travel Retail & Online Alessia Voltan; (centre, from left) Kering Eyewear Head of Global Travel Retail Emanuele Lasagna; Marchon Global Travel Retail and E-Commerce Director Erwan Le Guennec, Maui Jim Senior Director, Global Travel Retail Giles Marks; (below, from left) Safilo Group Director Global Travel Retail & Customer Marketing Global Channels Maria Valentina Alessi, m1nd-set Founder Peter Mohn and The Moodie Davitt Report President Dermot Davitt (moderator)

Supplier Panel

The second element is an interactive panel discussion featuring senior representatives from leading sunglasses suppliers, moderated by Dermot Davitt, Co-Owner and President of The Moodie Davitt Report. The expert panel consists of:

Alessandro Eucaliptus, Travel Retail Director, Thélios (LVMH Group)

Alessio Crivelli, Global Travel Retail Director, EssilorLuxottica

Alessia Voltan, Head of Travel Retail & Online, Marcolin

Emanuele Lasagna, Head of Global Travel Retail, Kering Eyewear

Erwan Le Guennec, Global Travel Retail and E-Commerce Director, Marchon

Giles Marks, Senior Director, Global Travel Retail, Maui Jim

Maria Valentina Alessi, Director Global Travel Retail & Customer Marketing Global Channels, Safilo Group

Sunglasses Awards 2023

The final element will see the unveiling of the awards categories for the 2023 Sunglasses Awards, based on consultation with travel retailers. Announced earlier than ever before, the awards are designed to act as inspiration and motivation for efforts in the category over the next 12 months.

The collective of sunglasses suppliers commented: “We all view the return of the Sunglasses Workshop as an important moment for the category and, uniquely and proudly, we have invested together in content to make the event as enriching as possible. We look forward to welcoming our partners in Cannes and spending this precious time to pursue our common interest of maximising the sunglasses category opportunity in the post-Covid-19 landscape.”

The Sunglasses Workshop is organised by integrated retail marketing, design and communications agency FILTR.QINGWA.

Travel retailers, airports, airlines, cruiselines and ferry operators wishing to attend the Sunglasses Workshop may contact: awards@sunglassescategory.com

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