PARIS – Shoppe Object Paris held its inaugural edition at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Jan. 17-19, within Who’s Next – one of Europe’s leading international trade events. The show brought together fashion, accessories, lingerie, jewelry and design communities around a shared vision of creative retail.
Shoppe Object’s first international expansion, the event marked a strategic milestone for the show. Show organizers said the intent was to introduce its “curatorial DNA” to the European market and invest in its Paris presence long-term. With more than 80 carefully selected brands, this first Paris edition “deliberately embraced a human-scale format, designed to encourage discovery, dialogue, and meaningful business connections.”
“The quality and scale of this first Shoppe Object Paris event has reminded me so much of our very first New York show in 2018,” said Jesse James, founder and president of Shoppe Object Series, and SVP of creative, experience & innovation for Andmore, “bringing retailers and creators together in a thoughtful space to collaborate on shared storytelling.”
Sharing the Shoppe Object spirit
Exhibitors and buyers commented that the atmosphere felt open, collaborative and energizing, which show organizers say was due to consistent scenography, strong production values, and a welcoming team.
“Taking part in Shoppe Object Paris marks an exciting new chapter for us,” shared Dries Stuer, CMO of Serax. “Having already been active in Shoppe Object New York, we strongly believe in the power of this platform to connect fashion and lifestyle. Paris allows us to strengthen that link while discovering new audiences — something we truly value.”
Expanding international reach
From its first edition, Shoppe Object Paris attracted a strong international audience, reflecting the overall momentum of the Who’s Next ecosystem, which recorded a 5 percent increase in total visitors. For Shoppe Object Paris, the launch immediately delivered on its promise of international reach, with 68 percent international visitors and 32 percent French, representing 57 countries, driven in particular by strong American attendance.
Brands highlighted both the diversity and the quality of buyer profiles encountered. Exhibitors familiar with the Shoppe Object universe reported discovering new European buyers, while Paris-based and international brands alike benefited from exposure to a broader, cross-sector retail audience.
“The strong presence of leading international buyers confirms the role of this platform on the global stage. It was the shared positive energy — the pleasure of discovering a curated selection and doing business together — that truly made this launch a success,” said Frédéric Maus, CEO of WSN.
For established international brands, Paris played a key role in expanding connections – this extended to independent brands striving to break into new markets. “We were thrilled to make our European debut at Shoppe Object Paris,” said Gabriel Cohen, co-founder of Fredericks & Mae. “The mix of major stores and small boutiques, buyers from all over the globe, and great neighboring brands made the show feel like a perfect launching pad for us.
A “Show within a show” for cross-nerchandising
“Rather than organizing the space around traditional categories, we proposed a fluid, intuitive layout encouraging cross-merchandising and unexpected associations: books alongside fragrances, tableware next to fashion accessories, objects dialoguing with design and lifestyle,” explained Matthieu Pinet, managing director of design for WSN.
Shoppe Object Paris’ aura of discoverability was palpable and welcomed by buyers and exhibitors alike. “You can feel how much work went into creating such a coherent brand selection,” noted Maxime Brenon, co-founder and CEO of Papier Tigre. “It’s very inspiring to navigate this universe, and we’re already looking forward to what’s next.”
This first edition brought together 14 product categories, laying the groundwork for curated growth as a strategic model for wholesale and future expansion into additional sectors such as beauty, pet, and wellness. By concentrating diverse categories in one carefully edited space, Shoppe Object Paris positions itself as a practical, high-value destination for retailers, enabling them to source across multiple universes without fragmentation or overload.
Looking ahead: Expansions and new formats
Building on the success of this launch, Shoppe Object Paris is set to expand its scale in future January and September editions, while preserving the high standards of brand selection and visitor quality that define the show.
Renata Bokalo, Shoppe Object show director, announced a new addition for the brand: “On the coattails of this successful launch, our partners at WSN have decided to introduce a special edition of Shoppe Object Paris in the Tuileries Gardens during Paris Fashion Week this coming March alongside Matter and Shape and Premiere Classe.” This curated showcase of approximately 12 hand-selected brands will highlight the most representative expressions of the Shoppe Object spirit.
Shoppe Object’s next show is Shoppe Object New York, running Feb. 1-3, at the Starrett-Lehigh Building; the summer New York edition will run Aug. 2-4.
