BISOU: the 50th edition of a human-scale event at the heart of the Mediterranean arc
This year, the international BISOU trade show celebrated its 50th edition in an atmosphere filled with emotion and professionalism. Fifty editions, a rare longevity in the world of professional trade shows, and an enduring success. Because BISOU is not just another show. It is a meeting point. A promise. A concrete tool for brands and independent shops seeking immediate opportunities. Far from giant events, BISOU has cultivated from the very beginning a human-centered, targeted, and highly effective approach. True to the image of its managing director Sophie David, who has continued the family legacy alone since the passing of her brother Marc, the family business was founded in 1990 by her parents Anne-Marie and Jean-René David.
Based in Marseille at the Parc Chanot, BISOU has become the leading Euro-Mediterranean trade show for professionals in gifts, decoration, souvenirs, beachwear, accessories, fragrances, and gourmet gifts. Every year, more than 150 exhibitors from France and across the Mediterranean arc unveil their new collections to a highly qualified audience: buyers, shop owners, hoteliers, and concept-store managers, many of them long-time loyal participants. For its 50th edition, held last January, BISOU brought together more than 1,500 represented sales outlets and showcased hundreds of products, including several exclusive launches. With its 13,000 m² of exhibition space, the show remains a model of relevance and agility: it goes straight to the point.
The DNA of success: efficiency, conviviality and regional roots
The secret to this longevity? A simple but powerful formula: immediate orders, a well-calibrated offer, and a warm atmosphere. BISOU is not a trend show where people just come to « see. » Here, people order, negotiate, and sign. It is one of the last French trade shows to proudly embrace the “ordering fair” model, highly appreciated by retailers. “Commerce is a story of men and women, not just numbers”, says Sophie David in a candid and generous interview. She recalls that BISOU, in its early days, was just a small gathering of 15 exhibitors presenting their products on simple trestle tables. That was in the 1970s. Since then, the event has grown, established itself in Marseille, opened up internationally, yet never lost its soul.
A trade show rooted in a family story
When the David family took over BISOU in 1990, they instilled a vision based on proximity with exhibitors and visitors. Jean-René David, former technical director of the show, developed it alongside his wife Anne-Marie, who became an emblematic figure of the event. Today, Sophie David carries on the adventure alone, with passion and lucidity. She embodies a unique family know-how, combining rigorous management with a warm sense of hospitality. “Our strength has never been to grow for the sake of growing, but to focus on the essential: our clients’ business”, she explains. This legacy is confirmed by the loyalty of historical exhibitors who have never missed an edition.
An assumed move upmarket, a future with confidence
Under Sophie David’s leadership, the show has moved upmarket, both in terms of its offer and exhibitor experience. Stands are more professional, and support is stronger. The show’s team plays an active role in coaching exhibitors, turning each participation into a commercial success. The results of this edition confirm the relevance of this direction: new accounts opened, orders placed on site, and an enriched visitor base, including targeted international buyers. BISOU now stands more than ever as a fast and reliable commercial conquest platform.
A model of balance and loyalty
Sophie David’s ambition is clear: to maintain the right balance between visitors, exhibitors, and organizers, so that everyone benefits. Not too big to lose the show’s soul, not too small to remain competitive. A delicate alchemy that few trade shows have managed to preserve.
Source: Home Fashion News Magazine – September 2025 (HFN58)
