Upcoming Trade Shows in France for Eyewear

France’s eyewear industry has built a reliable reputation for craftsmanship, quality and unmatched design. As a big player in the global eyewear market, the French eyewear industry has consistently demonstrated its ability to innovate and adapt to changing consumer trends. From 2014 to 2021, the total revenue of the French eyewear market was approximately $ 7 billion. Despite a generally downward trend in revenue during 2015, 2020, and 2022 (largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine) France remains a significant market for eyewear. Notably, spectacle lenses dominate the market, earning significantly more than contact lenses, sunglasses, and frames combined. The total volume of eyewear sales in France is dominated by lenses, which are purchased at nearly eight times the rate of contact lenses. However, aside from the anomalies in 2020 and 2022, the purchasing quantities across all four major categories (lenses, contact lenses, sunglasses, and frames) have remained relatively stable. While offline sales still account for the majority of eyewear purchases, online sales have been rapidly gaining ground. The most significant surge in online sales occurred in 2020, with a 3% increase, spurred by the pandemic-induced shift towards e-commerce. Among the many high-quality eyewear brands to call France their birthplace, Polette has done the most to revolutionize the domestic market by establishing a direct connection between Chinese factories, eyewear brands, and consumers. Their model has significantly altered the industry’s price structure. Polette’s competitive pricing quickly attracted a substantial customer base. By 2011, the brand’s turnover reached 2 million euros, with over 4,000 packages shipped daily. By 2019, Polette’s turnover had soared to 65 million euros, cementing its position as France's number one online eyewear brand.