NEWS
John Saunders CEO of the British Footwear Association says - Retailers need to support your footwear exhibitions:
Who was it said use it or lose it - Not sure - nor me? But when it comes to footwear trade shows UK retailers could be very close to losing a vital resource through what appears to be a lack of interest.
I am fortunate that I have a chance to visit some of the leading trade shows in the world. They all give retailers a chance to see many of the best brands, producers and sourcing companies under one roof in a convenient location over a 3 to 4 day period. However, too many of the exhibitions are missing the one vital ingredient for success – RETAILERS!
In the UK, retailers are lucky enough to still have a number of well timed,
quality footwear exhibitions to visit each season. These exhibitions are very well supported by UK and International brands, distributors and agents. The companies build often beautifully branded, well merchandised stands each season at no small cost to their operating cost and margins. They staff them with professional and enthusiastic managers and directors ready to present their collections and eager to discuss such matters as prices, potential margins, advertising and how they can develop a meaningful and long-term relationship with committed retail partners
So it is a surprise and disappointment to me how few footwear retailers
regularly use this free resource to plan their business each season. Yes I know business is challenging to say the least, yes Brexit has brought
price increases and if we don’t get a deal from our “friends” in the EU we could be heading back to duties on imported European footwear.
The UK footwear market, even without Brexit, is getting more competitive
by the season, with increased overheads, the seemingly unstoppable rise of homogenous national multiples, the growth of footwear sold via clothing stores and supermarkets not to mention the inexorable march of online operators. It certainly does not get any easier for the specialist footwear retailers. So is there not a greater need than ever for buyers to take every opportunity to see what is going on, to research new brands, to fight to differentiate themselves in the market, to strike good deals and build strong relationships with the brands that are keen to support the footwear sector.
Britain’s Footwear exhibitions need quality retailers to attend in numbers
to survive, to support those companies that are already supporting them by spending their time and money exhibiting at great events such as MODA, Pure, Scoop and Jacket Required.
10 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 No-one is going to force anyone to buy, the footwear industry is not a
heavy selling sector, it thrives on long-term business relationship not one off sales, and who knows, the next great brand or product may be waiting to be discovered that can make a business more interesting to consumers and more profitable?
As someone said use it or lose it – the future of footwear exhibitions is in your hands retailers!
British Footwear Association - International tradeshows. Natasha Eaton – BFA Events and Marketing Co-ordinator says: There are exciting export opportunities out there that are not to be missed - with international retailers increasingly interested in UK footwear. BFA is able to help exporter’s access government TAP grant support, subject to eligibility,
Expo Riva held in Riva Del Garda in the Italian Lake District - remains one
of Europe’s leading footwear events with 1400 exhibitors made up of international manufacturers, sourcing companies, importers and brands. Around 13,000 international buyers visit the show each edition of the exhibition to take advantage of the shows position as the first show of the season and a chance to see key trends for the upcoming season. It's a place to discover new, supplier factories and brands. It is it no wonder Expo Riva Schuh is still seen as one of the main European footwear events by an increasing number of UK shoe companies and a place to do business.
The Next Dates for Expo Riva are: 13-16 January 2018; 16-19 June 2018 Undisputedly now the biggest European pure-play shoe show - the MICAM in Milan attracts an increasingly international audience to the two editions held each year with over 47,000 buyers from Europe and around the globe including Japan, USA, Australia, South Korea and Russia visiting the September 17 events.
The most recent edition of MICAM in September also had a new layout
and feel to it, with our British exhibitors reporting new business and an encouraging renewal of interest from buyers in new brands that we have not seen for a number of seasons. This has led to a surge in interest in showing the next MICAM.
www.footweartoday.co.uk > 12
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