Decade edition of 100% Optical hailed a record-breaking success
Marking the 10th anniversary of the UK’s largest optical show, 100% Optical made a welcome return to London’s ExCeL this week, with record-breaking registrations and 11,725 attendees – a 10% year-on-year increase on its previous record attendance.
The three-day celebration of all things optics featured exciting exhibitor launches; a jam-packed educational programme with more than 100 hours of free CPD content; catwalk shows including Safilo’s Carolina Herrera takeover; the highly-anticipated Love Eyewear Awards ceremony which honoured l.a.Eyeworks with a Lifetime Achievement Award; the 100% Optical & Royal College of Arts annual student eyewear competition; as well as dedicated areas for contact lenses, independent designers and ophthalmology, which made its debut as a co-located show. A special anniversary scavenger hunt saw visitors explore every area of the show as they tracked down clues in a bid to win an array of fantastic prizes.
Marlon Cera-Marle, Director, commented after the show: “Every year we look for new and exciting ways to enhance 100% Optical – both to keep our loyal attendees coming back, as well as to attract new audiences – and this year was no exception.
“The positive feedback and the fact that 80% of space for 2025 is already pre-booked is testament to the team’s hard work and dedication as well as the trust our exhibitors, partners, sponsors and visitors put in us to deliver the UK’s only large-scale optical event. It’s an honour to witness how everyone comes together to champion this fantastic industry.
“There was such a great atmosphere all weekend, which is reflected in our record-breaking numbers, and everyone truly made it a show to remember. We couldn’t be happier with the results and attendance as we look ahead to the next 10 years.”
