Expo Riva Schuh has successfully transformed crisis into opportunity, by making an innovative digital platform available to the volume footwear and bags sector, which allows for dynamic business exchanges, negotiations, and networking even during this delicate moment. The numbers speak loud and clear: the 222 companies present inserted over 9 thousand products in the catalogue, which was viewed by 1,800 registered buyers, resulting in over a thousand digital interactions, in confirmation of the lively exchanges between exhibitors and buyers.

Contributing to the success of the platform was Expo Riva Show-The Shoe Connection, a virtual stage where 34 speakers alternated, belonging to leading businesses in the international footwear scene. Representatives from two leading Italian universities took part – the Bocconi University and the ‘Sacro Cuore’ Catholic University – as well as trade associations such as Assocalzaturifici, Assoprov and Assomac, and market-leading companies including Bata, OVS and Steve Madden, which contributed to the rich calendar of events, live talks, and round tables dedicated to the most relevant themes of the moment for the market of footwear and accessories.

The total views arrived at a record level of 21 thousand in the first four days of the event alone, and there’s more. The Home Edition of Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags will continue to offer support for the community with an active, concrete dialogue that will continue over the coming months, until the next physical edition, planned from 13 to 15 June 2021 at the Riva del Garda Exhibition Centre, with a packed programme which, with live talks and presentations, will once again involve all the protagonists of the exhibition and sector. The next dates in the calendar are planned for the 28th of January and 11^th of February with an insight on the “Future Shopper” divided into two appointments. This will be followed on the 4^th and 11^th of February with the two-part meeting dedicated to “Digital transformation, fashion design”, while on 25^th March there will be “The post-Covid globalisation process”, and “Sourcing” will be proposed on the 8^th of April. The events will accompany the innovative Showroom, the channel dedicated to the presentation of the new collections and discussions regarding the next fashion trends, which will be active on the 18th and 19^th of February.