Published
Jul 21, 2013
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Première Vision buys Eurovent fashion fairs

Published
Jul 21, 2013

Zoom by Fatex 2013

The two major French organizers of fashion trade shows have signed a deal that constitutes a major transfer of business. Première Vision SA, organizer of the eponymous show, has announced the acquisition of Eurovet’s fashion trade fairs — Fatex, Zoom by Fatex, Made in France by Fatex, Tissu Premier and Collections.

The deal adds eight sessions and five events to Première Vision SA’s roster of professional exhibitions. Before the sale, its shows included Première Vision for textiles, Expofil for yarns and fibers, Indigo for textile design, Modamont for accessories and parts and Denim by PV for jeans. Its fold has now been expanded to include Made in France for French high-end fashion manufacturing, Fatex for sub-and co-contracting, and Zoom by Fatex for manufacturing from the Euromed region. The acquisition also comprises the two fast fashion fairs in Lille, France — Tissu Premier for textiles and findings and Collections for manufacturers focused on distribution.

The purchase of these five events was handled through the subsidiary PV Manufacturing SAS, in a transaction still pending approval. The deal will increase the number of Première Vision SA’s sessions from 24 to 32, taking place in six countries.

The organizer especially touted the new phase in its consolidation of the Première Vision Pluriel shows, a bi-annual six-show trade fair at which Première Vision itself owns Première Vision, Indigo and Expofil. At the end of 2011, it acquired Modamont and is now also the owner of Zoom by Fatex. Only Le Cuir à Paris will remain independent at the Paris-Nord Villepinte convention center, where Première Vision Pluriel takes place.

For now, the former Eurovet shows will continue to be managed by their current teams, now a part of Première Vision Manufacturing. And still under the leadership of Hervé Huchet, head of Eurovet’s fashion division, who will work as a consultant.

One year for orientation

Première Vision is giving itself at least a year to study its new acquisitions. The upcoming sessions will be held as usual. “For some shows, there might not be any changes to make,” explained Philippe Pasquet, CEO of Première Vision SA, to FashionMag. “One of the advantages of this operation is that it brings us into a profession that we did not have, namely clothing manufacturing and high-end manufacturing. It is a move toward the industry's downstream sector and an additional service to offer fashion professionals through our international operations.” Although Première Vision is not currently divulging any forthcoming changes, it does say that if its objective were to operate "the same as before," taking over a business would be pointless.

Initially, the primary objective of the buyer was to acquire Zoom by Fatex, part of the company’s open efforts for many years of consolidating all Première Vision Pluriel events, even if it meant having to take Eurovet’s entire fashion cluster with it. “From the point of view of the seller, it was logical,” said Philippe Pasquet.

“For us, some shows were more strategic than others, but we are not uncomfortable with this overall operation.” The bundled purchase included Made in France, another trade fair for high-end manufacturing, which Première Vision intends to use to fill out its shows in the area of product development.

Made in France 2013 - PixelFormula


Both events in Lille, France were not on the buyer’s wish list, admitted Philippe Pasquet. "This is not the market positioning of PV,” said the company's CEO. “Lille has had its ups and downs, but was able to reposition courageously and intelligently under the guidance of Hervé Huchet."

For its Paris operations, Première Vision will also have to carry Fatex, "the product that is the farthest from our positioning,” said the CEO, an event that tends toward price and competitiveness, “not really in the spirit of PV. However, we do not dislike it,” he said. “This is a product through which we will get closer to manufacturing sources that could be interesting in the context of our international events.”

Eurovet's strategic refocusing

For Eurovet, a subsidiary of Comexposium, the deal is a sign that it is reorienting its business on lingerie/beachwear and sport. The sale of its fashion cluster will allow the company to invest in these two areas, especially in view of its international development in “other strategic areas.” Thus, the organizer is tightening up its products around 20 annual events in fashion.

Its lingerie/ beachwear sector includes the Salon de la Lingerie, its summer session Mode City for beachwear, the new Riviera show in Nice and the CURVExpo shows in New York and Las Vegas. Eurovet also owns Interfilière, an event for the industry’s upstream sector that is held in Paris, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The company’s sports division runs Sports Purchase, ASAP Annecy Showroom, Avant-Première, Ski Test Tour, Snow Avant-Première and Traces.

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