The organizers of the first Sport-Achat fair in Nantes, which was held a few days after the same fair in Lyon to target buyers from the western half of France, are likely to adjust the timing of the second edition. Although the response was satisfactory, it turned out that quite a few potential visitors stayed away on the Sunday. The inaugural Sport-Achat in Nantes included a Sunday to coincide with a paddle event. Meanwhile, the number of visitors dropped by 12 percent at Sport-Achat in Lyon, which was held over two days from Sept. 12. The decline came after several years of rising attendance, including growth of 6 percent for the same edition in 2015. The event brought together representatives of 287 brands. The organizers said that the business climate remained favorable and that many had an efficient fair. Sport-Achat was also the setting for a round-table discussion about the prospects of the sports industry in France and abroad, organized by French trade associations. For the first time it offered personalized coaching in visual merchandising, and for the second time some space had been reserved for new companies. Sport-Achat in Lyon was held in conjunction with Bikexpo, the fair for bicycle brands and retailers, where another round table was held around the prospects of electric bicycles.

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