Faced with a leap forward, the temptation to take a step back!

I simply feel privileged to have been—and to still be—an integral part of the history of suppliers in the beauty industry. It was in 1988 that I had the opportunity to take part in the Luxe Pack adventure. Then, in 2010, I had the chance once again to participate in the MakeUp In adventure. So, what conclusions can we draw from all this? Broadly speaking, it’s clear that the center of gravity for this industry is constantly shifting from West to East. This isn’t exactly the revelation of the century. The number of Asian exhibitors has steadily grown at European trade shows, while the number of European and American exhibitors has, at best, stagnated and, at worst, declined at Asian trade shows. I remember a time when, as an organizer, priority was given to European manufacturers without any particular effort. The pressure from Asia hadn’t yet reached today’s levels. The balance of power has obviously shifted considerably. It must be said that European industry hasn’t been helped by the policies that have been implemented. The weight of constraints of all kinds has continually hindered the sector’s very real momentum. And, remarkably, the manufacturers themselves have come to admit that these constraints actually enable them to make progress. Nothing is certain! They simply have no choice! What can be done? Certainly, we must unleash their potential. Are we heading in that direction? At the same time, those famous “emerging” countries—which “are no longer emerging”—have embraced environmental conservation even faster than anyone could have imagined… It’s easier when you’ve done everything to turn them into the world’s factory. The student has surpassed the teacher. It’s as simple as that, isn’t it! But, for heaven’s sake, why didn’t we think of it before? Out of convenience, laziness, or a lack of vision and foresight? There are those who saw it coming and predicted it!