THE 89TH EDITION OF THE EVENT WILL RUN FROM 13TH TO 16TH JANUARY 2018 IN RIVA DEL GARDA
Between accelerations and braking, between growths and setbacks, the footwear sector is going through a phase of intense change: as far as production is concerned, the power relations between the main world centres are changing, while on the distribution front, shops are turning into places where we make purchases and a space in which we experience the brand and the product.
The date with Expo Riva Schuh is therefore becoming an opportunity to draw a picture of the global footwear panorama and to analyse future perspectives and developments: the opening talk on Saturday 13th January, at 11:00 to be held in the meeting room at the Riva del Garda Exhibition Centre, will deal with precisely these matters.
“In an increasingly technological and digital context – explains the Chairman of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, Roberto Pellegrini – the “offline” occasions, such as Expo Riva Schuh have, paradoxically, reinforced their role, because they offer the chance for the entire production and distribution chain to meet and compare their ideas. Our event has always continued to display positive results, despite the many changes and uncertainties in the international market place: this goes to show how the fair has managed to adapt its strategies to meet the new demands of the sector, yet without ever losing sight of its true identity.
The new trends in the world’s footwear production, together with system developments that are increasingly flexible and automated in the west, and ideas that are ever more geared towards the local markets in Asia, result in important news for the exhibitors at the fair. At this edition, groups from Bulgaria and the Czech Republic will join the companies from China, India and Brazil along with the offerings from Italian and European brands. And, for the first time, Paraguay will also be represented.
Altogether, the exhibition halls in Riva del Garda will host the Autumn/Winter 2018/2019 collections from 1,455 exhibitors, of whom 1,177 are foreign, coming from 37 countries.
“The market needs to come to terms with an increasingly knowledgeable and demanding consumer – says Giovanni Laezza, Managing Director of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi – who does not only use his or her smartphone to make purchases, but also to compare prices and seek out information about the product. For our fair, this phenomenon means that on the one hand, the needs of the buyer have changed, and, on the other, that even the professionals who are distant targets from those traditionally present at our fair, such as retailers, producers of private labels and representatives from the major e-commerce channels, have started to visit Expo Riva Schuh. Our challenge for the future will be that of offering convincing answers to these new demands.”
Amongst the visitors to the 89th edition, a delegation will be present consisting of 26 buyers from 11 countries (Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Hungary, Croatia and the Ukraine) organised with the support of the ICE Agency.
Altogether, Expo Riva Schuh is getting ready to welcome around 13,000 sector operators from over 100 nations.
“Expo Riva Schuh is approaching a very important landmark, that of the 90th edition - comments Carla Costa, Manager of the Fairs Department of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi. For this reason, we can do no other than look towards the future. We will, as a matter of fact, be presenting a brand new project, that will come together at the June 2018 edition and that will aim to offer an increasingly targeted and diversified offering to the buyers who come from all over the world to visit our event.”
Business, networking, social networks and a new project on the horizon: these are the ingredients of the 89th edition of Expo Riva Schuh, the global platform for volume footwear.
Press release
EXPO RIVA SCHUH
Riva del Garda, 13 January 2018