The Red Tree at Cosmoprof 2019
22/03/2019 by The Red Tree

Cosmoprof is the leading trade show in the world for the cosmetics and professional beauty industry with over 2,900 exhibitors showing to more than 260,000 visitors. The Bologna event took place from 14th to the 17th March and Simon Murray, Brand Manager at The Red Tree was in attendance.
I travelled to Bologna last week to attend Cosmoprof, the beauty industry’s leading trade show. I was immediately astounded by the huge scale of the exhibition centre, the incredible variety of international exhibitors and the countless number of visitors who had flocked to Bologna from all corners of the globe. With nearly 3,000 exhibitors spread across multiple halls, the vastness of Cosmoprof is testament to the size and strength of the beauty business.
The exhibition centre and surrounding area is about as unglamorous as you can imagine but once you enter the halls, the style stakes go up a notch with creatively designed stands showcasing new and established beauty brands from all over the world. The Swedish, Polish and Turkish Country Pavilions were amongst the most eye catching within the international beauty halls, with innovative product and exciting brands emerging from these markets. Certainly, plenty of small to medium sized businesses to keep an eye on.
A number of clients of The Red Tree were exhibiting and in other halls, we met with cutting edge manufacturers and developers of sustainable packaging solutions. Companies focused on formulations, materials and industrial production were well represented, with inspiration gained and contacts established for current client projects. The Green & Organic Beauty Hall highlighted many interesting brands at the forefront of this fast growing movement.

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A word of advice for future attendees: meticulously plan your visit to ensure that you know exactly which halls and exhibitors you want to see so that you can make the most of your time. Even to the most experienced visitor, the array of options to visit can be overwhelming. The layout of halls does not feel conducive to optimising the walk flow so if clearer guide maps and more sign posts are not on offer next year, visitors would be well advised to set aside a few quiet minutes to study the hall plan. There were relatively few food and drink facilities in the exhibition centre, meaning long and uncomfortable waits for those in need of refreshment. More pit stops for a quick coffee and quick bite to eat would be welcome, as well as more easily accessible break out zones to conduct business discussions away from the hubbub of the halls.
Cosmoprof was an excellent networking opportunity and a means of gaining contacts across the supply chain, which will be of huge benefit to our clients. In addition, the discovery of international companies that share common values with The Red Tree could lead to beneficial collaborations in the future. Bologna is home to some first class restaurants, so away from the exhibition the evenings spent dining with previous, current and future clients were a truly pleasurable culinary and business experience.
The Red Tree is the UK’s leading international beauty brand consultancy and a powerhouse of ideas, insight and inspiration. For an informal discussion on how we might help you, please contact us.
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