SAFILO EMBARKS ON LIVE EVENT BUYING DAYS
Announces 15-City U.S. Regional Buying Days Event Schedule
PARSIPPANY – February 15, 2017 – Safilo USA will embark on a new Safilo Buying Days live selling initiative in 2017 to help its current and prospective customers better develop their business as part of the company’s corporate 2020 strategic plan to further invest in its go-to- market capabilities and in customer care. The company is planning a series of 15 regional events across the U.S. in 2017 to showcase the group’s entire brand portfolio designed to enhance its customer partnerships as well as distribution of Safilo’s total brand portfolio.
The first selling event was held in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hills Hotel (Jan. 31-Feb. 2) which will be followed by Huntington Beach, CA (Feb. 15-16) at the Paséa Hotel & Spa. Next is San Francisco (Feb. 21-23) at the W Hotel followed by Phoenix (March 21-22). Additional cities to host Safilo Buying Days include Dallas (April), Atlanta (April), Chicago (May), Philadelphia/Baltimore/Washington DC (May), Boston (June), San Francisco/San Jose (July), Los Angeles (July), Orange County, CA (August), San Antonio/Austin (September), Houston (October) and Orlando/ Tampa/Jacksonville (October).
Safilo will be previewing its newest international collections at these events where customers may pre-order in advance of seeing salesman samples which is a big advantage for event attendees. April product releases, for example, will be previewed over the next couple months followed by the August 2017 collections. The company will additionally be offering a wide assortment of Asian fit styles in select markets such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City.
The product range shown will encompass all market segments, including, atelier, luxury, fashion bridge, active sport and lifestyle brands with Safilo’s core owned brands taking center stage: Polaroid, Carrera, Smith and Oxydo [part of the company’s new atelier segment]. New releases for Safilo Elasta and Emozioni, relaunching this spring, along with launch collections for Havaianas and Elie Saab [atelier collection] will also be showcased amongst Safilo’s wide range of licensed brands.
As the company recognizes that customers may need to know more about why they should get behind a brand or a particular style or collection, the Safilo Buying Days events will also serve as a chance to educate customers about new products, trends, point of purchase displays, brand marketing plans, trade marketing assets, PR activations, editorial coverage and celebrity seeding activities.
According to Henri Blomqvist, CEO of Safilo North America, “In 2017, we are establishing these Safilo Regional Buying Days events across the U.S. which are aimed at offering unprecedented access to our entire Safilo portfolio. This is something we’ve never done before. All Safilo accounts are welcome, as are ECPs who might not be current accounts but would like a special opportunity to see the full scope of our product creation and capabilities.”
Blomqvist added, “This is a tremendous opportunity for Safilo to take its show on the road for customers unable to make it to our New York or Miami showrooms and to be able to immerse ourselves in the needs of the regional markets and engage one-on- one with our customers in a personalized setting that showcases everything that Safilo has to offer.” He added, “By hosting these local market events, we hope to become the preferred eyecare provider and the trusted partner of choice for ECPs and retailers across the country.”
The Safilo Buying Days will complement the company’s presence at Vision Expo East and its participation in many additional shows and customer group events and meetings throughout the year.
Eyecare professionals who are interested in attending the Safilo Buying Days are encouraged to contact one of their Safilo sales reps for dates and details for their market or call Safilo USA customer service at (800) 631-1188 to be put in touch with a local sales rep, if not a current customer.
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A FORWARD VISION FOR EYEWEAR HERITAGE THE FINALISTS’ PROJECTS
EXHIBITED AT THE SAFILO SHOWROOM 22nd-27th FEBRUARY
Milan, 10 February 2017 – Launched in early 2016, ‘A Forward Vision for Eyewear Heritage’ is the first tutoring and mentoring project in the eyewear world, signed by Safilo and powered by L’Uomo Vogue.
An ambitious and unique project, this contest – the first of its kind in the industry – embodies two of the company’s core values: curiosity for eyewear, to be reinvented and innovated with an eye to the future while bearing in mind tradition and craftsmanship, and a strong desire to pass on to future generations Safilo’s deep know-how and unique tradition in the eyewear world.
Eight finalists selected from students, graduates and designers, have reinvented with originality their eyewear through a creative project that combines heritage and innovation. Three categories and three prizes to be awarded: the Masterpiece Award, for the most spectacular and artistic eyewear product that will be produced as a single piece; the Capsule Collection Award, for the production of a pair of glasses that will be distributed as a limited edition by Safilo; the Product School award, which foresees a three-year apprenticeship program for the winners with Safilo to acquire experience and knowledge in all areas of eyewear.
In occasion of the MIDO eyewear trade fair and in conjunction with the Milan Women’s Fashion Week, the finalists’ projects will be exhibited at Safilo’s showroom: eight original creations with a strong aesthetic component and a perfect balance between past and future.
The exhibition will be open to visitors from 22nd to 27th February, from 9:00 to 18:00 at Safilo’s Showroom (Via Manzoni 38, Milan). On Saturday 25th February there will be a special opening from 18.00 to 20.30 in the presence of Luisa Delgado, CEO of Safilo, Vladimiro Baldin, Safilo’s Chief Product Design & Creation Officer and Marcel Wanders, honorary member of the panel of judges.
About Safilo Group
Safilo Group is the fully integrated Italian eyewear creator and worldwide distributor of quality and trust, leader in the premium sector for sunglasses, optical frames and sports eyewear. Design inspired and brand driven, Safilo translates extraordinary design into excellent products created thanks to superior craftsmanship expertise dating back to 1878. With an extensive wholly owned global distribution network in 39 countries – in North and Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific and China – Safilo is committed to quality distribution of its products all around the world. Safilo’s portfolio encompasses Carrera, Polaroid, Smith, Safilo, Oxydo, Dior, Dior Homme, Fendi, Banana Republic, Bobbi Brown, BOSS, BOSS Orange, Céline, Elie Saab, Fossil, Givenchy, havaianas, Jack Spade, Jimmy Choo, Juicy Couture, kate spade new york, Liz Claiborne, Marc Jacobs, Max Mara, Max&Co., Pierre Cardin, Saks Fifth Avenue, Swatch, and Tommy Hilfiger. Listed on the Italian Stock Exchange (ISIN code IT0004604762, Bloomberg SFL.IM, Reuters SFLG.MI), in 2015 Safilo recorded net revenues for Euro 1,279 million.
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CARRERA CONFIRMS JARED LETO AS THE FACE OF 2017 CARRERA CAMPAIGN
PADUA, Feb. 6, 2017 – Carrera, the worldwide lifestyle and sports eyewear Brand, is pleased to confirm the Academy Award Winning actor and recording artist Jared Leto as the star of the 2017 Carrera Eyewear campaign.
The campaign is the first step of a collaboration that will further expand with the launch of the Inspired by Jared Leto collection, that will hit the stores in September 2017.
After a year-long successful partnership for “The Maverick” project, the new campaign continues the relationship with Jared Leto, one of the world’s most unconventional talents, nominated by Business of Fashion as one of The People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry.
Jared Leto fully embodies the bold, authentic and innovative spirit of Carrera, that since 1956 is synonymous with outstanding design translated into qualitative products, for people with a winning attitude.
“Carrera has always been a bit different and it always had a strong identity.” says Jared Leto. “It has a classic look and has always survived the test of time. And you can only do that when you have a product that works and a design that is forward thinking”.
Terry Richardson, the internationally renowned iconic photographer, lensed the ads, creatively collaborating with Leto in picturing confident and audacious portraits that perfectly highlight the new eyewear collection.
“We are truly passionate about the 2017 Carrera campaign” says Matteo Cuelli, Global Brand Director of Carrera. “Jared Leto and Terry Richardson are absolute legends who stand out from the crowd. They perfectly embody the winning attitude and authenticity of the Brand and we are proud to have them on board“.
The international advertising campaign will debut worldwide starting February 2017. Simultaneously, the new Carrera eyewear collection will hit the stores.
As the perfect blend between retro aesthetics and contemporary feeling, the new sunglasses and optical frames are the result of unparalleled manufacturing skills, the use of sophisticated materials and the research on best quality lenses.
ABOUT CARRERA
Carrera is a worldwide, lifestyle and sports eyewear brand, dedicated to the unconventional and independent minds. Fearless enough to go their own way. Brave enough to make it happen. Since the inception of the brand in 1956 its founder, Wilhelm Anger, decided to name his sport goggles company after the longest and most dangerous race in the world, the Carrera Panamericana. Carrera have always believed that passion is the fuel that drives people and that passion has been deeply rooted in the brand.