The 49th edition of Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna, the leading international observatory for beauty trends, will take place in Bologna from 18th-21st March 2016 alongside Cosmopack (17th-20th March 2016) and promises to be full of exciting new initiatives. Organised by BolognaFiere SpA in partnership with Cosmetica Italia, the event will have the backing of ICE — Agenzia per la Promozione all’Estero e l’Internazionalizzazione delle Imprese Italiane (Italian Trade Promotion Agency) and the Ministero per lo Sviluppo Economico (Ministry of Economic Development), a prestigious endorsement for the global cosmetics industry’s landmark trade fair format.

“Every year this major beauty event returns better than ever,” says Duccio Campagnoli, President of BolognaFiere. “Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna goes from strength to strength and is becoming increasingly global. With the ground laid by a packed schedule of road shows introducing this world-leading format to the key international markets, each year Cosmoprof welcomes exhibitors from new countries, professional operators, researchers from the most experienced trend forecasting agencies and top buyers: a community which accompanies Cosmoprof not only to Bologna but also to the Las Vegas and Hong Kong editions. Cosmoprof also initiates prestigious partnerships with various institutions, this year saw its inclusion by the Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico (Ministry of Economic Development) in the programme supporting internationally renowned trade fairs, and with 73% of the companies taking part in the upcoming edition coming from abroad, 25 National Collectives bringing together the best of their countries’ businesses, and visitors from 150 nations attending, this growing internationalisation is one of Cosmoprof’s real strengths. There are also plenty of opportunities for up-to-the-minute professional development, with first-hand advice from highly specialised experts and a wide information network with over 1,200 accredited publications from over the world. We’ve already started preparing for our big anniversary next year, when Cosmoprof turns 50, with a special edition packed with exciting business opportunities.”

“With the evolution of digital markets, new product trends, the emergence of new consumer clusters and the influence of foreign markets, Italian entrepreneurs are paying close attention to signals from the market,” says Fabio Rossello, President of Cosmetica Italia. “This ability to capture change makes Made in Italy cosmetics a true example of excellence which posted a global turnover of more than 9,700 million euros in 2015. The vital significance of exports (equivalent to 3,700 million euros, an increase of 10.5% compared with 2014), underlines the importance of the bond linking Cosmetic Italia and Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna for 49 years. Cosmoprof’s ability to expand and integrate contacts with operators in the cosmetics sector makes it the most influential beauty trade fair platform in the world. During the Bologna event, Cosmetica Italia will be running an integrated project of events, meetings and conferences to assist our businesses, taking account of the various channels covered by the association: contract manufacturing, perfumery, pharmacy, herbal remedies, hairstyling and beauty.”

Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2016 promises to be a big success, with more than 2,500 firms, including 73% from abroad, taking part. 25 National Collectives will be involved in the event, with South Africa, Australia, India, Morocco and Indonesia among the newcomers and Bulgaria and Romania returning. Visitor numbers also look set to exceed expectations, with a 19% increase in online pre-sales.
Internationalisation is a vital ingredient of Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2016, which is seen by cosmetics firms as the perfect meeting place for accessing both established markets within the sector and emerging players. The International Buyer Programme, an established tool within the Cosmoprof Worldwide network, will this year once again help set up B2B meetings between exhibiting companies and manufacturing businesses in new countries.

INITIATIVES FOR THE 2016 EDITION
New features for the 2016 edition include Cosmoprof Wellness, an area dedicated to wellness and trends in the spa sector, a growing segment within the beauty world. In partnership with Wellness Design magazine there will be a spa area, Fire&Ice, for companies to exhibit their most innovative products and on-trend treatments. Cosmoprof Wellness will also host the Spa Symposium conference space, where top experts will be speaking. Business networking will be facilitated through the Spa Matching Programme, which will put specialised buyers within the spa world in contact with professionals from wellness centres and the hotel sector.

For the first time at Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna there will be an exhibition area, inside the Natural Cosmetics pavilion, dedicated to domestic and international manufacturers and distributors of halal-certified products (which are “lawful” for Muslim consumers). This is part of the Halal Beauty Care & Spa project, developed in partnership with and under the supervision of the Italian halal certification body WHAD (World Halal Development).

There are also plenty of initiatives for the hair sector. One of the most eagerly awaited events is the seventh edition of On Hair, the exclusive and unique fashion format with cutting-edge looks and trends taking centre stage. International hair designers will dazzle the audience in a top-class programme of attractions.

Brand-new for 2016 is the 1st Cosmoprof Barber Show, organised in partnership with the Camera Italiana dell’Acconciatura (Italian Chamber of Hairdressing). An expert jury will select and bring to the Hair Ring stage on 21st March the four young barbers creating the best hipster-style looks for men.
The spotlight will be on nails at IoSposa Bridal Hair & Nail Art Inspiration. After hairstyling, nail art is one of the most important parts of any bride’s look. In partnership with Estetica Network, Filippo Sepe and Alessandra Marchesi, renowned experts from the sector, will be presenting the latest trends among the most recommended products and fashionable decorative techniques.

An area for live demonstrations will be set up inside the International Buyer Lounge in Pavilion 19 for the first edition of Make-Up On Stage. On Friday 18th and Saturday 19th March, make-up artists Fabienne Rea and Monica Zanelli will be holding daytime make-up sessions using products made by Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2016 exhibitors.

WORKSHOPS, CONVENTIONS AND EVENTS
Cosmoprof has become a landmark occasion for professionals in the sector because of its selection of specialised conventions, workshops and events.

One event not to be missed is ELLE magazine’s selection of products recently launched by Italian exhibitors within the product categories on display at Cosmoprof. It will consist of around 10/15 products selected from a shortlist of 40/50. This will give visibility to unmissable new products and reward exhibitors who devote their energy to research and innovation. Recognition of ideas and projects with a central focus on the theme of trends.
The first “Retail & Beauty by Largo Consumo” workshop, dedicated to the beauty world’s distribution channels, will include input from salespeople working in the mass retail, drugstore, selective perfumery, department store, perfumery chain, direct sales and distance sales channels. Professional operators attending Cosmoprof will be able to explore the features of all the sector’s distribution channels through this initiative by Largo Consumo magazine.

NEW FOR COSMOPACK 2016
The 2016 edition of Cosmopack, the event for the entire cosmetics supply chain, from raw materials to formulas and from machinery to packaging, promises to be full of top-quality initiatives and content.
The event will take place alongside Nuce — Health World Expo, the international fair for the nutraceutical, cosmeceutical, functional foods & beverages and health ingredients industry, which is being held in Bologna on 17th and 18th March 2016 at the Fiera’s Palazzo dei Congressi.

This is therefore a perfect opportunity to see the entire cosmeceutical and nutraceutical supply chain, an example of the internationally renowned excellence of the Made in Italy brand, come together in Bologna.

The leitmotif of Cosmopack 2016 is the focus on innovation and research, crucial factors in the development of businesses and their evolution in key markets, where conditions can be challenging and speed of adaptation and quality of products and services offered are fundamental for economic success.
New technologies and the most innovative materials are in the spotlight at The Cosmopack Factory, an annual on-site installation showing the stages involved in manufacturing a major cosmetic product. The Cream Factory will be created for the 2016 edition, displaying the main phases involved in producing a perfecting and illuminating serum, the Cosmopack Optimoist Perfectionist Serum, with a lightweight and almost imperceptible texture.

The serum will be produced in partnership with six leading international companies exhibiting at Cosmopack: Cosmoproject, Axomatic, Industrial Box, Certiquality, Gruppo Scandolara and Pusterla 1880.

The Cream Factory will comply with ISO 22716 for “good manufacturing practices”. The CO2 emissions involved in manufacturing the Cream Factory’s product are currently being calculated.

Following the success of previous editions, The Cosmopack Wall Award — The Avant-Garde Edition will be a real “innovation corner” for the beauty supply chain world. The top firms in the sector, both domestic and international, will present their most innovative projects, raw materials and formulas. A highly qualified jury of experts from the sector, together with Luca De Biase from Il Sole 24 Ore, will reward the most innovative products with awards designed and produced for the occasion by students from the prestigious Istituto Marangoni (School of Fashion, Art & Design).

Attendance figures at the 2015 edition of Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna reached record levels. 248,000 visitors came to the event (a 20% increase compared to 2014), including 79,000 from abroad (a 30% increase compared to 2014), reflecting its leading international status. With 2,493 exhibitors, including 70% from abroad, the fair offers an unparalleled range of business opportunities to companies and operators within the sector.

For more information, please visit www.cosmoprof.it