Q&A Q&A Nigel Hamilton, Director , Bishops Footwear


Which footwear trade shows do you attend and how many times a year? Moda , GDS, and Micam – all three twice a year.


How do you rate them? Which show do you like best most and why? I enjoy visiting GDS the most because it a comfortable size to visit and offers enough brands to make the trip of three days worthwhile. Micam is the key show, but buying is much more intensive there because of the size of it and there are some brands who only show there so they have to be seen, but the show visit is not such an enjoyable experience. I take different members of my team to different trade fairs and buy different things at different shows. GDS is particularly useful for German suppliers. Although some do show at Moda, you see a wider range at GDS and it is good for relationship building.


What's special about GDS? Advantages/benefits of the GDS Show and its location? Please give us your views? I have been attending GDS for the last 10 years at least and three of us attend. It is a really pleasant fair to visit and worth the investment of time and budget to take time out to attend. We visit predominantly brands in High Street and Studio but also visit Pop Up too and the earlier dates mean it is a good introduction to the season and means as a retailer you can achieve earlier delivery dates.


Tell us about the brands that you buy at GDS? GDS is good for Northern European brands and comfort and premium sector. Actually also buy UK brands in Germany.


Any suggestions for other retailers who might like to visit GDS? One of complaints in the trade is that everyone sells the same ranges and going to a show like GDS means that you have the opportunity to stock something that is different to your competitors and enables you to differentiate yourself on the high street.


Any suggestions as to how GDS might improve the experience for buyers at the show? GDS is a lovely show to visit so no improvements are necessary.


Charles Clinkard


• Charles Clinkard, managing director of The Clinkard Group, has attended every GDS show for the last 25 years and visits a number of other trade fairs. “GDS has been the best fair for our core brands but the February 2015 show was a lot quieter. The Gabor’s sales teams from the domestic and Benelux markets were still busy however and it remains an important show for them”.


• The Clinkard Group has three buyers who are responsible for men’s, women’s and children’s ranges but due to the timing of the fair only the ladies buyer will be attending the next GDS show in July 2015.


Diane Knight, Buyer John Lewis


, Women’s Shoes and Boots,


• I attend Garda, GDS and Micam all twice a year • Garda is best for own brand development, GDS is best for the big German brands and Micam is best for fashion


• GDS - love the fact it is well organised and close to the airport so quick and easy to get round.


• I visit GDS largely for Gabor as it is a big brand for me and I see the biggest range of shoes there


• GDS could do with more small food and drink outlets as they get very busy at lunchtimes


Helen Hook, Footwear Specialist


Which footwear trade shows do you attend and how many times a year? I attend Garda, GDS, Bubble, Pure, and Moda, twice a year.


How do you rate them? Which show do you like best most and why? Each has elements that are great, and not so great; Garda as the first show of the season is always special, and the location is stunning. Drawback is layout... GDS has shrunk somewhat which at least means it is possible to do it justice in a day; the shoe based art type installations filling the spaces in were quite impressive at the last one. Bubble is inspiring due to the individuality of the exhibitors- even if all you come away with is a random display idea. Pure used to be about finding something a bit different and not just the mainstream; as the footwear area gets bigger it does lose some of that. Moda is a good overview of the UK market and shouldn't be missed.


What's special about GDS? Advantages/benefits of the GDS Show and its location? Please give us your views? The location is incredibly easy; a very short taxi ride from the airport. Personally I used it as a meeting place for factories who were exhibiting rather than looking for anything new.


Tell us about the brands that you buy at GDS? It is used by Portuguese and Spanish brands that I work with as their European show of choice with their full range available; Garda can be a bit early. Due to the compact nature of the show it was easy to go between stands and not miss anything, unlike Garda which is so huge it's difficult to do it justice.


Any suggestions for other retailers who might like to visit GDS? Having worked as a retailer and now with retailers on the wholesale side then I think it is really important for retailers to have an overview of what is going on in terms of trends; also to use the shows as a place to catch up and see how others are doing, discover something new for your business to give you a point of difference, and just to get out of the shop and see the bigger picture. Having said that, when I had the shop it was difficult to justify the cost involved, and also a little daunting to go on my own.


Any suggestions as to how GDS might improve the experience for buyers at the show? I think there was supposed to be a shuttle bus from the airport that we couldn't find? Also perhaps a guided experience for first time visitors to be met at the airport and escorted? (GDS has a regular shuttle bus to and from the airport to the show ground which runs throughout the show. Shuttle transport is free when a ticket to the exhibition is shown.)


(GDS has a regular shuttle bus to and from the airport to the show ground which runs throughout the show. Shuttle transport is free when a ticket to the exhibition is shown.)


All activities related to GDS and GLOBAL SHOES can be found online at:


www.gds-online.com / www.tag-it-show.com


JUNE/JULY 2015 • FOOTWEAR TODAY


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