The September edition of Bold Optical Fair, the optical event for the Netherlands (and neighboring regions such as Flanders and North Rhine Westphalia, among others), turned out to be the hottest show of the year. Not only because of the exceptionally warm weather, but much more because of the 411 brands that presented their latest designs, products and services.
The industrial backdrop of an old (and massive) train factory, created the perfect contrast between design, fashion and architecture. This historical stage welcomed approximately 2750 eyecare professionals, mostly from The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, but even from countries outside of Europe, like the USA. With all optical suppliers under one roof, the range was diverse and inspirational, with a multitude of eyewear brands from all over the world, various lens and machinery companies, in-store solutions and software suppliers, all showing their latest novelties.
"I love going to these shows in different countries," said David Friedfeld, Owner of Clearvision Optical (USA), "because it gives you a flavor of what’s going on as far as the people, culture, and business environment."
The unexpected hot weather, which is unusual for september in The Netherlands, created considerable challenges for the organizers, who had to arrange additional ventilation and cold air supply for both exhibitors and visitors. Due to the considerably larger last-minute influx of visitors (1000 more than expected), their shuttle buses had difficulty keeping up with the peaks in demand, which led to sometimes considerable waiting times.
"We would like to thank our visitors super who, despite the very warm weather, have taken the trouble to visit us en masse," remarked the organisation of Bold Optical Fair. "It was an overwhelming success and in two days we received more than 2750 visitors. We and our participants feel very honored that you have visited Bold XXL."
The next edition of Bold will take place 28-29 January 2024 in the Werkspoor Cathedral in Utrecht, and is already promising to be "The Coolest place to be in optical!" So make sure not to miss out on this inspirational event.
