Report on exhibiting at the eyeglasses/sunglasses exhibition, SILMO PARIS 2021, and a business trip to France I Metronome Staff
Hello, this is OKD.
We will report on our business trip to "SILMO PARIS2021," a glasses and sunglasses sample event held in Paris, France from September 24th to 27th, 2021.
table of contents
<Before departure>
Things were hectic before I left. I wanted to get a health passport if possible to travel around France, but I couldn't get it through the online application process. It seemed I'd have to get it locally. While I was busy making an appointment for a PCR test before returning home, I was constantly worried about whether I'd be able to make it in time and whether I'd be able to return home safely. However, minor issues are normal. I prepared, knowing that there would be various obstacles waiting for me once I got home.
<On the day of departure> There are no people at the airport and the duty-free shops are closed.
First of all, there were very few people at the airport. There were very few people on the monorail to Haneda Airport, and I was the only one getting off at Terminal 3, the international flight platform. It was clear to see how little international flights were being used compared to normal times.
As soon as I arrived at the airport, I realized I'd forgotten something and went shopping. What a waste. Things like this are a sign of a lack of preparation... I was starting to get anxious (lol). In the end, I still hadn't been issued a health passport valid in France, so it looked like I'd need to apply for and obtain one locally in France. (Having this health passport allows you to enter restaurants and other establishments in France.) It seemed like not only restaurants but other shops at the airport were closing earlier too. Or maybe many stores were closed in the first place, which made me realize that the number of international flights was decreasing.
As it got past 7pm and the flight time approached, the number of people at the airport gradually increased. It seems that only night flights are operating, so it seems that people tend to gather at night.
All the members met up around 8pm and headed to check-in. It took longer than expected. It was a long flight of 12 hours, so if you don't get some sleep, you'll feel exhausted later on. Due to the effects of COVID-19, the duty-free shops and restaurants at Haneda Airport closed at 8pm .
~Flight and arrival in Istanbul~
First, we transited through Turkey. The plane was very empty on the way to Istanbul. This was helpful because it meant there was more space and it was more comfortable. The in-flight meal was the same as usual, with no particular changes.
＜Arrival in France ~ SILMO held＞ With Corona and SILMO Exhibition
First day. The flight out was pretty normal (?), and I didn't really feel the impact of COVID-19. It seems like there are few flights from Japan to overseas to begin with. Furthermore, with the state of emergency still in place and PCR tests required upon returning home, it's hard to feel like going out. It would be difficult unless you have work or other circumstances.
After arriving in Istanbul, it was a hectic transit. I had limited time, so I didn't have time to take my time looking around the duty-free shops. However, in contrast to the shops in Japanese airports, which are mostly closed, the duty-free shops in Istanbul were open and there were overwhelmingly many people there.
(Transit in Istanbul)
I think it's because it's a hub airport where flights from various countries converge, but I still feel like I can see the attitude towards COVID-19 overseas. The flight after the connecting flight was uneventful and I arrived in Paris smoothly. Thanks to the vaccination certificate I obtained in Japan, I was able to enter the country smoothly without any particular restrictions.
However, there was some trouble at the airport, which meant we were stranded there for just under five hours, after which we moved to the installation site and hurriedly set up the venue.
My legs were wobbly from walking so much, but I continued setting up camp, and when I went out to do some groceries in the city, I was surprised to find that I wasn't asked to show my health pass. I was able to do my shopping as usual. It seemed like as long as I had proof of vaccination, I was able to go about my daily life as usual. The key is to be able to prove that you've taken measures to prevent infection, so I was grateful for the flexible response in this area.
We quickly finished setting up and took down the tent. After eating, we went to our booked hotel room. There was no Wi-Fi at the hotel, but the room was nice and clean. We did some work on the computer and went to bed without having to prepare for the next day.
<On the day of SILMO >
On the first day, we arrived at the venue just after 8am . We finished the rest of the setup, and buyers and others started entering the venue just after 9am . Many people came to look at the exhibition from the early morning, and we could feel the excitement of the exhibition. We finished setting up the glasses / sunglasses, and our Metronome booth was officially opened.
(Metronome booth at SILMO PARIS2021)
Furthermore, it seems that the antigen test, which was rumored (?) to be required for entry to the SILMO exhibition or venue, is not required. Vaccination certificates obtained in Japan were also valid here. When I actually visited the site, I even thought that the health pass might not be used very often. (However, I used it quite frequently in Paris.) In any case, I was reminded that you can only really understand the local situation by actually being there.
In any case, you will be required to take a PCR test before returning to Japan.
Buyers from Italy and Ukraine visited the booth and placed orders for Metronome eyeglasses and sunglasses. The first day got off to a good start. It seemed like the booth was attracting a lot of attention from customers. Some were amazed by the aquarium display at the Metronome booth, some took photos, and some were amazed by the designs of each item. I think the key to standing out at the exhibition is not only that the glasses themselves are stylish, but also that the exterior of the display is stylishly finished.
(Visitors couldn't help but take photos of the sunglasses in the tank.)
SILMO PARIS 2021 brought together eyewear and sunglasses brands from around the world to showcase the sunglasses trends of 2021-2022. The event was so overwhelmingly large that it made you think, "SILMO will be releasing the sunglasses that will be the trend of 2022."
That day, I returned to the hotel earlier than the previous day, which was spent preparing. I heard that things would be busy from Saturday onwards, so I braced myself for the meal. I felt that this was still the first half of the day, but I still had other work to do, so I worked on that while preparing for tomorrow.
＜ SILMO Day 2 ＞ 09/25
By the second day, Saturday, we were used to it and started setting up early. There was an entrance check in the morning, but we passed through that as well. In the morning, we went shopping for supplies and then headed to the booth opening. There seemed to be a lot of visitors on Saturday. There was a lot of excitement, and it was easy to forget that we are still on high alert for COVID-19.
There seemed to be many visitors from Poland, with whom I have a personal connection, and I had a chance to talk to a Polish person for the first time in a long time. I'm glad that I was able to communicate at least a little. My foreign language skills are still far from the level I'm aiming for, but I think it's important to take advantage of opportunities like this to gain more practice.
(Trad, stylish glasses made in Japan)
It had been a while since I last worked in customer service, but I felt better than the day before. I think I'm just used to people.
Speaking of participants from Asia, I occasionally saw people from Hong Kong. As fashionable sunglasses brands from all over the world were gathered at the event, each one seemed to have their own unique way of promoting themselves.
Apart from the metronome booths, there were also Japanese language exhibits and booths serving alcohol and coffee. It was hard to choose from the variety of booths, from simple to stylishly decorated, and even booths displaying glasses. There was even a booth that brought in lens processing equipment, and I was surprised to see that it was truly a world-class exhibition.
It was interesting to see that even though they were all wearing the same stylish glasses, each one was different and no two were exactly alike. As for food and drink, as usual, many things were expensive, but that's what you might call venue prices (lol).
Well, the metronome booth was more lively than the day before, thanks to the momentum of Saturday. As for individual items, the wire glasses from the Resonance series also attracted a lot of attention. It seems that decorative items that do not use lenses are rare even in Europe. I think I got the question "How do you put the lenses on?" two or three times a day.
Resonance uses acetate material to achieve the best balance between cost-effectiveness and design. This seems to be a global trend, and other sunglasses brands also brought many items with clear designs and colorful designs using acetate material.
Additionally, models with flip-up lenses, such as Metronome's Summer Rain and Trad's Lily , attracted a lot of attention. They were praised not only for their stylishness but also for their high functionality. The luxury feel of the B titanium used and the trust in Made in Japan products seemed to remain strong.
I have a feeling that trends such as "various designs using acetate" and "conservative, sturdy, stylish sunglasses using titanium" will continue into 2022.
In addition, the original metronomes Distortion Melancholia and Adjustment Disorder were also highly praised by overseas buyers for their unique designs.
(Photo: Metronome 2021 Collection)
It was striking to hear many people say that they wanted to take the products home on the same day due to the cost and availability of transportation. While I agree, I think the joy of negotiating business with people from overseas is the best part of these exhibitions.
Personally, I still feel like I have a lot to learn, but I wanted to use this opportunity to absorb each and every bit of it.
<Day 3 > 09/26
In the morning, I prepared as I'm used to. After getting ready, I headed to the breakfast venue for the usual bread, coffee, and ham. It was the same classic breakfast I had in Japan. Today, I headed to the venue and set up again. The unexpected obstacle here was how close I could get to the venue entrance by car. If I requested a normal pick-up, it seemed like I would end up at the main gate, which is a little far from the venue. On this day, I ended up getting off about a five- minute walk from my booth.
The day before, he was an excellent driver and successfully guided me to the back entrance closest to the setup site. A staff member in a suit was waiting at the entrance to the venue, and after showing me my admission pass and vaccination certificate, they put a colored wristband on my wrist as a marker and allowed me to enter. This target will be my pass. It will be a different color every day, so I will need to change it every day. However, it seems that some staff members will let me through even if I have a wristband that I have been wearing since the day before...
Now, about the important part: sales. Things started off calmly, but things started to get quite crowded around noon. People started stopping by our booth, and as always, the aquarium display with the glasses submerged in it seemed to attract a lot of attention.
(Metronome booth/view from the aisle)
There seems to be a clear difference in reactions to design between Japan and overseas, and it seemed that the more unique the design or shape, the more it caught the buyers' attention.
However, since the facial features of Asians and Europeans are different to begin with, it may be natural that tastes differ between Asia and Europe. The majority of visitors come from France.
Meanwhile, visitors continued to flock to the exhibition from Poland, Italy, and other European countries. As always, many people said, "I'd like to buy something on the spot and take it home if possible." Our booths were scattered all over the place, but even at an exhibition filled with unique sunglasses, our brand seemed to stand out quite a bit.
The Resonance series seems to have been somewhat overshadowed by traditional styles in Japan, but the situation has reversed overseas. The coloring and design were highly praised. On the other hand, many people were concerned about whether the products were made in Japan, and in that respect, traditional styles were well-received. There were also many questions about the materials, which I thought was a testament to the professionals. As expected from the attention of discerning buyers, it was a foreshadowing of the trends for 2022.
Speaking of traditional styles, they have Made in Japan quality. I have the impression that buyers of both genders have noticed them as stylish unisex glasses that are suitable for both men and women and are highly functional with blue light blocking lenses.
On the other hand, I once again realized that I need to be more proactive in reaching out to customers. I went to the booth as a customer myself and I found myself wondering things like how much it costs and whether I can buy it and take it home. I once again realized that this kind of experience as a customer is also very important.
＜Last day＞ 09/27
Whether you laugh or cry, it's the last day. I went to bed early last night, but ended up sleeping a little too much. I hurriedly got ready and headed to the breakfast venue. I walked to the venue as I'm used to. There were a few mishaps, but I arrived safely. On the last day, I wandered around the other booths as a customer. I bought some small items and got some souvenirs.
(Appearance like an international conference)
I was surprised to see how many sunglasses and eyeglasses brands there are in the world, even though I had the impression that there were a lot of similar colors and designs. Also, every store had stylish and unique designs, which gave me a glimpse of how they value individuality.
The final day was a Monday, a weekday, so it wasn't as busy as the weekend, but I was surprised to see some capable buyers ordering all sorts of frames.
Some customers even purchased a glasses chain. I tried on a glasses chain myself and found it to be quite convenient. It's very convenient to be able to hang it around your neck when you're not wearing your glasses, and I think it's an impression you'll only get if you try it.
I realized that customer experience comes first, and that it is only by doing this that new perspectives are gained. Also, by going out into the field, I realized that there is still much I do not know and can do. Each individual difference may only be small, but being able to do this makes a big difference. It is important not to overlook the small details.
<About Paris> 09/28 - 09/29
SILMO concluded without incident, and it was time to head to Paris. Unlike the area near the venue, the central area was bustling with people and shops. There were rows of cafes and restaurants, all bustling with activity. As expected, mask wearing was quite common on the trains, and it seemed like many people were taking them off outside.
(I got the impression that many people were going out without masks.)
While it seems like the city is already embodying the post-COVID era, it also seems like there are a lot of homeless people. There are people calling out to cars waiting at traffic lights and people sitting in the street with a cup in hand. There are also many people selling souvenirs that they sourced from somewhere, lining up on furoshiki cloths. It's a city where light and shadow are clearly present, and it's not a city I'd really want to live in.
We visited some of the famous sights, like the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower, and enjoyed some delicious food. The souvenir shops in the city were less crowded than usual, but still had a lively atmosphere. The area with lots of artists was also quite interesting.
Anyway, on the 29th, I was worried about the PCR test I needed to take before returning home. The testing facility I had looked into was a little far from where I was staying, and I wondered if I really needed to go that far, but I chose the option with the highest reliability. (In the end, it seemed like a nearby facility would have been fine, but the most important thing was that I had the necessary documents.)
I managed to secure a negative test result document to return home, so all that's left is to return home in good health. I can only pray that I can return safely. As an aside, when I go abroad, I like to stop by supermarkets. Foreign seasonings and other items make great souvenirs. I think they're just a regular convenience store for locals, but personally, I find them an exciting place.
<Return date> 09/30 - 10/01
Returning home. The return journey was relatively smooth. Although we were a little behind schedule, we flew from Paris, France to Istanbul, Turkey, right on schedule. Like the outbound flight, this section seemed to be crowded. There were no particular issues during the flight, and we arrived on time. However, we ran into a small problem here. Due to a typhoon approaching Japan, the flight from Istanbul to Haneda was delayed by about three hours. This unexpectedly extended our transit time. However, since we were there, we decided to wait while buying some more souvenirs and having some snacks. The terminal information was soon released, so we presented the PCR test sheet we had obtained in advance and boarded the plane.
The flight from here is about 10 hours away. As usual, once we boarded the plane, the impact of COVID-19 didn't seem to be felt, except for the requirement to wear a mask. However, there were still a few empty seats.
We arrived at Haneda Airport. Even from here, it was quite a long journey. First, we had to walk down a long corridor to present our documents. We had to show our PCR test certificate, answer a questionnaire we'd filled out on the plane, and install a designated app. There was another bit of trouble there. There was a slight error with my negative test certificate, so we had to wait a while for confirmation. The documents were eventually approved, but even the people checking them late at night looked exhausted. Normally, we'd be picking people up and dropping them off at the gateway to travel, but now we're having to deal with people who may be at risk of contracting COVID-19. It made me realize that nonessential international travel is something people shouldn't do.
Whatever the actual situation, the Japanese government has already decided on its response, and as a private citizen I have no choice but to comply... Seeing a country with as much freedom as France has given me, I've been pondering a lot: should we all just endure, or should we move forward in line with the actual situation?
Anyway, I passed the document screening. Then I had a simple test using saliva. This too came back negative, so I was allowed to enter the country. At this point, it finally dawned on me that I was back home.
A friend picked me up from here and I got a ride to the quarantine location in my own car. I was completely dependent on others for everything. While some of this kindness was unavoidable, others were unavoidable, and I think it should be avoided as much as possible.
At the very least, I feel sorry for making those around me treat me like this when I travel. It's hard to tell where the line is between selfishness and freedom... At the very least, the fact remains that there are still people who are in difficult situations, so I feel that we should first take proper measures to prevent ourselves from getting infected.
<A quick summary>
Preparation is key. I agree. It's true that the saying "better prepared than worried" is especially true in times like the current one, where many things are being handled irregularly. The key to nipping uncertainty in the bud is to nip it in the bud. It was also great to see firsthand the situation overseas, where people are already well ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic. I think the exhibition gave me a lot to think about from the customer's perspective, so I'll make sure to remember this experience. Above all, I think it was a very valuable experience to be able to participate in SILMO PARIS 2021, the world's largest eyeglasses and sunglasses trade fair. I hope to share the sunglasses trends I noticed at the venue for 2021-2022.
OKD
