While the first edition was still very much influenced by new beginnings, a pioneering spirit and a sense of curiosity, the second edition of Gallery SHOES, which was newly launched in August 2017, has confirmed that the shoe industry has well and truly arrived in Düsseldorf and at the Areal Böhler.
“The European footwear industry has shown its acceptance of this new platform and the role that it will play in its future. Gallery SHOES has a solid reputation based on professionalism and expertise,” sums up Ulrike Kähler, Managing Director of IGEDO Company and Project Director of Gallery SHOES. “The response has been excellent. In combination with its short distances, transparency and manageable size, the tradeshow’s curated concept, modern vibes, expertise and concentration of labels within the individual zones have all been met with approval. Retailers appreciate and are taking advantage of the presence of more than 500 brands and over 350 exhibitors from 17 countries at Gallery SHOES to place and also finalise their seasonal orders.”
This is also being reflected in the numbers: around 9,800 professional visitors, slightly more than at the first event, confirmed their approval of the platform by attending and contributing to the many orders being placed.
At the second edition of Gallery SHOES, the individual zones have gained further depth: PREMIUM, CONTEMPORARY and URBAN have proven their strong profile, not only with a slight increase in the number of exhibiting brands due to the creation of additional floor space, but also due to continuity on the part of the exhibitors. And the same applies to COMFORT.
The KIDS’ zone can even be described as a small, but perfectly formed trade fair within Gallery SHOES. Not only the quality of the exhibitors, but also the relocation to the light-filled, bigger ›Edelstahlhalle‹ have benefitted this segment once again and significantly strengthened its sustainable presence as an integral part of the platform. “Our priorities now are building on our expertise and slow, steady and powerful growth. We aim to keep developing the individual segments in order to ensure the event’s longevity,” continues Ulrike Kähler.
The fact that the platform is being very well received was also confirmed by the high numbers of visitors attending the informative side events, which included TW Order-Info by TextilWirtschaft magazine, the press conference of the HDS/L German Federal Association of the Footwear and Leather Goods Industry (Bundesverband der Schuh- und Lederwarenindustrie e.V.) and various fashion forecasts. And also the attendance of VIPs organised by the exhibitors themselves, such as the visit of popular RTL presenter Frauke Ludowig to the collection presentation by Marc Cain, or the presence of Germany’s Next Topmodel judge Thomas Hayo, who was launching his first shoe project at Gallery SHOES with Hamburg label Crickit.
The same goes for the presentation of the HDS/L Junior Award 2018: under the motto ‘Fashion meets Comfort’, the German Federal Association of the Footwear and Leather Goods Industry awarded two young designers on the Monday of Gallery SHOES: with his design of boots combining hiking and sneaker elements, winner Adam Frk demonstrated the utmost creativity and technical expertise. And Stefanie Hanser received the special prize for her intentionally “imperfect” design that stood out with its exceptional comfort.
The additional space and registration desks in the ›Alte Schmiedehallen‹ and ›Edelstahlhalle‹ halls along with the cosy catering zones, some of which were newly created for the winter season, all proved very popular. For this, an additional hall bay was even opened next to the ›Kaltstahlhalle‹. And like the catering offers in the other zones, this not only attracted high numbers of visitors due to its varied offer, but also served as the perfect backdrop for a very well attended exhibitor evening. At the third edition of Gallery SHOES in September 2018, this hall bay will serve as an additional exhibition space.
“We didn’t hear any complaints about the rainy weather during the entire fair. The concerns we had at the first event that the catering offer might suffer because the outdoor areas of the Areal Böhler weren’t being used in winter were, in hindsight, unfounded,” concludes Ulrike Kähler.
Exhibitor feedback
PREMIUM
CHIE MIHARA – Rosanna Santos, Sales Agent (Netherlands), and Noelia Sánchez, Export
Gallery SHOES is a lovely, charming trade fair with a significantly high number of visitors. It is of a manageable size and offers a productive working environment. We were also able to find new customers here. For us, Gallery SHOES is, without a doubt, an ordering event.
CONTEMPORARY & URBAN
ART & NEOSENS – Jorge Hernández, Commercial Director
We met our targets! We attracted a much higher number of international visitors to our booth than last time. As well as the usual visitors from the Benelux countries, this time we also welcomed retailers from countries like the Czech Republic, Greece and Britain, who all placed orders with us. The dates of the trade fair are perfect for us, so we really hope they won’t be changed.
KMB SHOES – Ana Villaescusa Jaén, Sales Agent (Germany)
The tradeshow was fantastic. We saw a very high number of visitors at our booth. The segmentation and date of Gallery SHOES are perfect.
KIDS’ ZONE
KAVAT Deutschland GmbH – Christian Adams, Country Manager D-A-CH
Originally, we had not planned on being present at Gallery SHOES, but have changed our mind at short notice as the timing fits perfectly to the start of our German GmbH and the launch of our Düsseldorf office. Definitely the right decision! We are very pleased with the traffic and with the variety of customers. Our models that are certified with the EU ecolabel are especially popular among the buyers. In general, the new autumn/winter collection 2018 receives great feedback – high quality and good craftsmanship are what matters.
AGENTUR TONINO CAPURRO with labels incl. COLORS OF CALIFORNIA, TOMMY HILFIGER and JARETT – Tonino Capurro, owner
The KIDS’ zone in the ‘Edelstahlhalle’ is a lovely light and bright location. We came to Gallery SHOES to present our new collections. The event offers good service and a great atmosphere. Unfortunately, the date is a bit late, but we will be back in the summer anyway. We will definitely recommend you. Thank you very much!
CLIC! – Doris Sánchez Calderón, Sales Manager (Germany)
Gallery SHOES went very well for us and we were able to acquire new customers. As we are very strongly represented on the German market, exhibiting at a trade fair in Germany is very important for us. We are extremely happy with the event and will be definitely be attending again in the summer.
Date of next edition of Gallery SHOES 2018:
Gallery SHOES 2-4 September 2018
Press release
Gallery Shoes
Düsseldorf, March 2018