2012 Cosmoprof Asia Closed with Double-digit Growth in Number of Visitors

HONG KONG, Nov. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cosmoprof Asia, the largest and most definitive beauty trade event in the Asia Pacific region has closed with record numbers.

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The show, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 14 to 16 November, is a confirmation of the strength and identity of the Cosmoprof brand and its ability to attract the who's who of the global beauty industry.

The event, celebrating its 17th year, posted impressive numbers:

• 74,000 sqm of exhibition area (+9% over last year )
• 1,964 exhibitors (an increase of 10% compared to 2011) from 44 countries and regions
• 531 first-time exhibitors
• 19% increase in participation from Europe (with France ranking first in terms of exhibitor number)
• 23 national and group pavilions from Australia, Belgium, mainland China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Pakistan, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UK and USA, joined by the inaugural Canadian and Brazilian groups.
• 55,386 visitors (a growth of 14% over 2011) over the three show days with significant presence of buyers from countries such as Australia, China, Japan,  Korea, Russia and US.
• More than 250 members of the media and journalists covered the event.

Exhibitors reported excellent results and high satisfaction. Their expectation of meeting new prospective customers was widely met thanks to the participation of buyers of very high standing from across the world including procurers representing Chanel, Coty, Estee Lauder, Johnson & Johnson, LVMH, P&G, Unilever as well as Li & Fung, Mannings, SaSa, Sephora and Watsons.

"Amika is the leader in hair care and hair appliances and Cosmoprof Asia is vital to help us expand our professional distribution in Asia. We are looking to expand our business as a heavy player in Asia's professional beauty market and have received a lot of interest in our brand and met several good distributors at the show," said Heather Coughlin, National Education Manager, Amika (USA).

"Cosmoprof Asia is the meeting point with the major international actors of the industry. An important rendezvous for us on a fast growing platform," said spokesperson of Albea (France).

"This is the most important beauty event in Asia, the show in which international brands should participate. This is the place for finding high quality business opportunities as well as enhancing brand awareness. Congratulations to the Cosmoprof team," commented Tommaso Corradini, General Manager, Bioline S.r.l. (Italy).

"For 15 years we have been the leader in the Asian market but we are maintaining high investments in order to keep the leadership in this market. Being at Cosmoprof Asia is just one of these important strategic investments," said Nelson Philippe, Owner, LPG Systems (France).

For the 6th consecutive year, Cosmoprof Asia organised the International Buyer Programme to facilitate direct contact between exhibitors and international buyers. Prominent buyers from Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and Russia were invited to meet one-on-one with exhibitors of their choice. During the 3-day event, more than 140 one-on-one business meetings took place at the International Buyers Lounge with unanimous endorsement from all participants for the benefits of this formula.

Cosmoprof Asia Special Events

All seminars and concurrently-held events were fully attended.

Cosmoprof Asia collaborated with the Asia Hair Masters Association (AHMA) to host a series of activities including the AHMA Hairstyling Awards Final to give talented young stylists a shot at the international stage. The notable hair maestro Mark Leeson and Schwarzkopf Professional celebrated the hair event through hair shows and seminars.

Seminars on China and Japan offered the audience a better understanding of the evolution in the two leading Asian cosmetic markets.

Preview on 2013/2014 fashion and beauty trends as well as sessions on sustainable packaging, and on natural and organic cosmetic products, also attracted large audience.

The 5th Cosmoprof Asia Spa Conference brought together a high-caliber panel of speakers and professionals from the Spa industry.

"Cosmoprof Asia this year was an outstanding success," declared Duccio Campagnoli, President of BolognaFiere and SoGeCos Spa. We are particularly proud of having been able to produce under the Cosmoprof brand yet another successful event for international cosmetics industry.

"It's very encouraging to see yet another record-breaking edition of Cosmoprof Asia. Participants originating from 121 countries and regions testify to the truly international profile of the show and the increasing importance of the Asia region to the global beauty trade." said Michael Duck, Executive Vice President of UBM Asia Ltd and Director of Cosmoprof Asia Ltd.

The 18th edition of Cosmoprof Asia will be held from 13 to 15 November 2013 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Notes to the editors:

Cosmoprof Asia is organised by Cosmoprof Asia Ltd, a joint venture company between UBM Asia Ltd and BolognaFiere Group.

About UBM Asia Ltd

(http://www.ubmasia.com)
Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia operates in 19 market sectors with headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia, including UBM China in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Beijing. We have over 240 products including trade fairs, conferences, trade publications, B2B/B2C portals and virtual event services. As Asia's leading exhibition organiser and the biggest commercial organiser in China, India and Malaysia, we stage the leading events of their kind across the region. Our 200 events, 24 publications and 16 vertical portals serve over 1,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world with high value face-to-face business-matching events, quality and instant market news and industry trends, and round-the-clock online trading networks and sourcing platforms. We have over 1,100 staff in 21 major cities across Asia, stretching from Japan to Turkey.

About BolognaFiere Group

(http://www.bolognafiere.it)
BolognaFiere Group, the world's leading trade show organizer in the cosmetics, fashion, architecture and building, art and culture sectors, features in its portoflio more than 80 exhibitions, both domestic and international events. SoGeCos S.p.A., as organizer of Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna (established 1967), the most important beauty meeting point in the world that will take place in Bologna next March 8-11, 2013 (Cosmopack: March 7 - 10, 2013), has the privilege to work with the beauty industry in the five continents and to monitor new emerging markets where there is a demand for cosmetics products. The international platform offered by Cosmoprof, with its events in Hong Kong (established 1996) and Las Vegas (established 2002), provides a truly global marketplace for the beauty industry where brands can find success.