More than 9,800 visitors enlivened the spaces of the former factory in the Areal Böhler, for the fourth edition of Gallery Shoes, which featured the collections of footwear for Winter 2019/20. The event is by now an essential meeting place for operators in the German area, who here are able to find a professional and efficient organization and an attentive selection of brands (around 550, of which 65% are international), divided in a clear and rational way between the Premium, Contemporary, Comfort, Urban and Kids areas.
Unfortunately stormy weather conditions affecting the northern region of Reno-Westfalia and most of Germany the afternoon of the first day of the event created a series of difficulties concerning transportation to the fair, with the need to adapt security measures at the fair. Nevertheless, already on Sunday morning, there was a good turnout in the pavilions and the positive trend continued above all throughout the day of Monday.
Ulrike Kähler, Managing Director of Igedo Company and Project Director of Gallery Shoes, spoke of ‘healthy and encouraging” results, while Brigitte Wischnewski, President of the Federal Association of German Shoe Retailers, underlined how the Exhibition has by now become an obligatory event for shoe retailers in gathering information on new trends and market trends, placing orders, and booking re-orders, while also maintaining their networks and public relations. All the big and important German and Northern European buyers were present at the fair, just like the exhibitors were represented by leading brands of footwear next to experimental and emerging designers. By now, it is clear that the event has brought a breath of fresh air to the international trade fair panorama, thanks to its striking and modern location, open-space stands, the expansion of the Premium zone and the Fashion Lifestyle Corner, with the Marc Cain brand as its protagonist. There were also the Trend Zones, featuring a recap of the season’s trends, and the fashion talks.
It was precisely the layout of the proposals on show in a more extensive fashion setting, along with the latest fashion trends, that have led Carl-August Seibel, President of the German Association of the Footwear and Leather Goods Industry, to believe that this will be the key to providing the show with greater added value.
In the future, and starting from the next edition on 1 September 2018, the aim will be that of involving a greater number of international buyers through marketing strategies increasingly aimed at various European countries, and also in collaboration with important exhibitors. At the same time, Gallery Shoes is extending its very own portfolio in a dynamic way, looking above all to premium brands, which are increasingly scouted in collaboration with its sister-fair Gallery, to the extent that the number of footwear brands and distribution agencies specialized in accessories and participating in this latter event are on the rise.
Gallery Shoes: an established and fundamental rendezvous
IndustryFairs March 21, 2019This past 12 March, Gallery Shoes ended with the participation of 9,800 professional visitors and 550 brands on show, for the fourth edition of the event dedicated to footwear, which is organised by the Igedo Company in Dusseldorf. The next edition will be held from 1 to 3 September 2019, with the unveiling of the summer 2020 collections.