GianPaola Pedretti, Exhibition Manager of Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags: we are confident it will return to its peak levels by next year

“We are confident it will return to its peak levels by next year”, advanced GianPaola. For that reason, two more halls will be opened “to increase the exhibition area to the maximum capacity of the fairgrounds, plus 5 other locations in the city center in view of the many requests from exhibitors”. As far as registrations are concerned, “the forecast is to exceed January’s numbers, thanks to the presence of buyers from over 100 countries”. In the last edition, Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags welcomed 8 600 attendees from more than 100 countries, with a 5% growth in visitors from outside the European Union.

Strengthening International Ties

These figures are the result of a strategy focused on attracting “even more international customers and buyer delegations” initiated in June 2022, namely the incoming Buyer Programme. “We strongly believe that matching supply and demand during the show and implementing the fair’s relations with other countries through the work of our delegates abroad is vital for ERS”, stated the Exhibition Manager of the fair, while underlining the support of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) to promote the event as well as support “both the sales and the incoming of the buyers”.

Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags Around the World is another initiative that enables the encounter through a series of company visits and one-to-one meetings between Riva and foreign institutions, as well as “the production and distribution chain of the sector all over the world”. “This year, we have already been to Pakistan, India, Turkey, Spain, UK, and USA, and we already have a number of other trips planned for the upcoming months”, shared GianPaola.

Proof of the strategic work developed by the organization of Riva is the strong institutional presence already confirmed for June's edition, with representatives from Footwear Associations from Uruguay, Argentina, Spain, and Pakistan, to name a few.

Main Novelties

In addition to the opening of Halls A1 and A3, the next edition of Riva will feature an increased presence of leather goods and fashion accessories spread across three different areas. And at the Innovation Village Retail (located in Hall A2/B2), a series of events dedicated to innovation will be offered to the fair’s participants.

But there is more. Taking into account the challenges and opportunities ahead for the footwear industry, the trade fair will host the Summit “Demand meets supply: challenges and opportunities on consumer trends and supply chain in the post-pandemic world. Footwear industry leaders, from both the demand and supply sides, discuss the future of footwear sourcing”, organized with CIFA (Confederation of International Footwear Association).

Europe’s Role

Sourcing is indeed one of the topics of the moment. “In these years of pandemic and post-pandemic we have noticed a change in the dynamics of sourcing, a tendency to buy differentiated and regionalized to reduce risks”, points out GianPaola Pedretti, who believes this is an opportunity for the European industry to rely on quality producers close ‘home’.

“In addition, European attention is focusing on transparency towards the consumer and sustainability, thus responding to an increasingly widespread need at all levels, and more and more producers are investing in knowledge, technologies and resources that will bring more innovation and quality products”, she concludes.

Dedicated to spring/summer 2024, Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags returns from the 17^th to the 20^th of June 2023.