The Shilla Duty Free takes top retailer prize at Sunglasses Workshop & Awards 2019 : Moodie Davitt Report

The Moodie Davitt Report’s Dermot Davitt moderated the annual Sunglasses Workshop & Awards 2019

FRANCE. The 11th annual Sunglasses Workshop & Awards celebrated the big winners and innovators of the sunglasses category with The Shilla Duty Free taking home the top retailer award.

The Moodie Davitt Report President Dermot Davitt opened the awards ceremony and moderated the compelling panel discussion. The panel was made up of heavyweight executives from a crosssection of travel retailers. The line-up included MSC Cruises Head of Retail Adrian Pittaway, China Duty Free Group Fashion Department Director Lee Meili, Gebr Heinemann Fashion & Accessories Director Jan Richter and Bernstein Luxury Goods Managing Director Luca Solca.

Solca also delivered the keynote speech for the event, where he deep dived into the various digital and technology trends making waves in the luxury goods market. He also elaborated on the implications of these digital trends in the sunglasses category.

Bernstein Luxury Goods Managing Director Luca Solca explored how digital is shaping the luxury market today

(From left to right) Bernstein Luxury Goods Managing Director Luca Solca, MSC Cruises Head of Retail Adrian Pittaway, Gebr Heinemann Fashion & Accessories Director Jan Richter, China Duty Free Group Fashion Department Director Lee Meili, The Moodie Davitt Report President Dermot Davitt

(From left to right) China Duty Free Group Fashion Department Director Lee Meili, Gebr Heinemann Fashion & Accessories Director Jan Richter, MSC Cruises Head of Retail Adrian Pittaway

At the Sunglasses Awards, eight awards were up for grabs, two of which went to The Shilla Duty Free. The retailer won the award for Sunglasses Retailer of the Year (over US$2 billion) and the award for Best Off-Airport Sunglasses Retailer. DFS Group was awarded with the Honorary Partnership Award; the retailer was not able to attend the celebrations but was honoured by all eight organisers onstage.

The eight co-sponsors of the event honoured DFS Group with the Partnership Award. The award celebrates the spirit of the Sunglasses Workshop & Awards.

The Sunglasses Workshop and Awards was attended by over 180 delegates. This edition was co-hosted by leading sunglasses suppliers De Rigo, Essilor, Kering Eyewear, Luxottica, Marchon, Marcolin, Maui Jim, and Safilo.

FILTR’s Lucy Hillyard announced the category’s collaboration with Generation Research to create a data-sharing platform for the benefit of the entire sunglasses category

FILTR Public Relations Director Lucy Hillyard also announced a collaboration with Generation Research to create a sunglasses data panel that would give accurate data to reflect the category’s global performance in travel retail.

The co-sponsors commented: “After 11 years of category collaboration, the Sunglasses Workshop and Awards remains a unique partnership between industry stakeholders and a truly rewarding journey as we head towards Vision 2020.

“Being joined on-stage by such remarkable partners as MSC Cruises, Gebr Heinemann and China Duty Free Group is an amazing testament to the relevance and support that the category enjoys. Congratulations to all those shortlisted and of course to the deserving winners of the 2019 awards. We look forward to welcoming everyone again in 2020.”