Swiss Eyewear Group joins Travel Retail Consortium to support its commitment to industry

The British based Travel Retail Consortium is delighted to announce the addition of Swiss Eyewear Group (International) AG to its membership. Swiss Eyewear Group - a new global player in the eyewear field with strong ambitions for travel retail – will be represented by Director of Travel Retail Rebecca Harwood-Lincoln – who has previously held the position of TRC Vice Chairman.

Rebecca Harwood-Lincoln

Says Rebecca: “Swiss Eyewear Group is very pleased to become a member of the Travel Retail Consortium. Having been involved with TRC previously, I know that membership provides excellent networking opportunities within the industry, both in terms of regular meetings between the different representative suppliers and the annual social events for buyers/retailers. There are a lot of eyewear/sunglasses companies out there, so to be chosen as the exclusive representative of the category is very satisfying.”

Adds TRC Chairman Peter Ayling: “We’re extremely happy to welcome Swiss Eyewear Group and Rebecca to the Travel Retail Consortium. Rebecca was a very active member of the group in the past and it’s great that she is back onboard again. Swiss Eyewear Group is clearly set to become a significant player in the sunglasses category within travel retail and its addition to TRC gives us a very strong industry representation.”

Notes to editors: The Travel Retail Consortium was originally conceived in the late 1960s and formalised in 1971 to further the interests and development of the Travel Retail industry within the UK through the member companies.

Its objectives are to raise standards of business within the Travel Retail industry; promote members products and services; discuss industry issues; and provide social and networking opportunities for key travel retail customers at annual events. The TRC is also active in raising funds for charity.

Meetings are held bi-monthly at members or customer company locations covering industry issues, new operators/services, business opportunities etc . Confidential matters such as margins and terms are NOT discussed.

A fun customer event is held annually and has included Easter Egg making at Wood Norton, a Treasure Hunt in Bath, It’s a Knockout, School Sports Day, Newbury Race Day and wine tasting in Jersey. This is followed by a black tie evening event. Consortium custom is that bacon rolls and coffee served for those still around at 1a.m.

All TRC enquiries should be made via the website (www.travelretailconsortium.co.uk) or info@travelretailconsortium.co.uk.

Current TRC Members: Accolade Wines; Aurora; Coty Prestige Travel Retail and Export; Guinness; Heineken; Imperial Tobacco International; JA Associates (JCI Jewellery, Morgan & Oates); Mars; Remy Cointreau; Sekonda; Champagne Taittinger; Swiss Eyewear Group; Twining

About Swiss Eyewear Group:  The Swiss Eyewear Group founders and management team were previously part of the Polaroid Eyewear management team. After the acquisition of Polaroid Eyewear by Safilo this experienced set of individuals, with in excess of 150 years of experience in the sunglasses sector, decided to start their own business and take on the challenge of creating a completely new eyewear company with innovative ways of operating in a global marketplace.

Led by CEO Jerry Dreifuss, the uniqueness of Swiss Eyewear Group is perhaps best-illustrated by its ownership structure, with shareholders from the entire eyewear industry value chain, starting with manufacturing all the way through to retailing. This extraordinary set-up, combined with the management team’s extensive eyewear industry know-how and experience, ensures that the company has an exceptional wealth of industry-relevant skills and knowledge.

February 2015