In this unprecedented moment in history Riva del Garda Fierecongressi has announced they will shift the 94^th edition of Expo Riva Schuh and the 5^th edition of Gardabags to January 2021, with the event taking place from Saturday 16th to Tuesday 19th, in the Riva del Garda Exhibition Centre.

After promoting the dialogue with exhibitors, visitors and both international and local stakeholders, and engaging in direct discussions and online surveys with Representative Institutions and International Agencies, Riva del Garda Fierecongressi had decided to bring the events forward to December 2020. The aim was to safeguard the relevant markets relating to the two events and give companies a positive impulse, by means of an early re-activation of the supply chain. However, the evolution of the COVID-19 situation has forced a new turn.  “The changing international situation has forced multi-national companies to put a stop to business travel until December 31^st this year, and has caused significant limitations to the issue of visas. This has forced our company to opt to return to the traditional position within the international trade fair calendar with the desire to continue to ensure that exhibitors can meet with their long-standing interlocutors, especially the Europeans, more than 80% of the total, as well as new clients, thanks to the potential offered by the digital world. It is a choice which will also enable visitors to have a complete preview of the new fashion trends, to plan their orders well in advance and make a timely analysis of the changes in the footwear market”, commented the Chairman of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, Roberto Pellegrini.

Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags will be accompanied by a series of “phygital” elements, aimed at reducing the distance and finding alternative solutions for the close-knit network of relationships and exchange that generally make up part of every trade fair and which facilitate discussion and dialogue within the sector.  A brand new idea will be the “Hybrid Stands”, special, personalised, exhibition spaces which can be shared or rented individually by the companies at the exhibition. The stands will be manned by multi-lingual staff, suitably qualified and appropriately trained, whose role will be to take care of the sample collections (pick-up, display and shipping at the end of the event) and who will also manage the rapport and negotiations by video conference between the client and the exhibitor.  

Amongst the latest additions will be "Prime", the new Buyer Programme which, by means of a series of online and offline opportunities, will guarantee various advantages to all those enrolled, such as access to a matching platform, digital routes, events, previews and exclusive services. “The start of the long-awaited extension works to the Riva del Garda Exhibition Centre, which, as from January 2021 will offer new solutions for the position of car parks, are proof of the optimism with which the company and the trade fair are moving forwards in this strange moment in history, heading towards the future,” added the Chairman, Roberto Pellegrini.

The 94^th edition of Expo Riva Schuh and the 5^th edition of Gardabags are scheduled for January 16^th to 19^th 2021.