1.3_Spec.Garda Resoconto - Editoriale di Foto Shoe Srl

Excellent confirmation for Expo Riva Schuh
70 successful events
Expo Riva Schuh, the biggest international exhibition
for mass-produced footwear, closed
having seen the arrival of 10,250 accredited
buyers (+0.5%), 6,252 of them from overseas,
representing 61% of total entries. These figures
are basically unchanged when compared to
those of June 2007.
Expo Riva Schuh is an uncommon fair, but highly
successful because over the years it has managed
to interpret the changes taking place internationally
and transformed itself into a “glocal”
reality, able to attract the entire world to
Riva del Garda while at the same time going
around the world presenting its own specialities.
This, in synthesis, is the key to the success of
Expo Riva Schuh, as also stressed by the
Undersecretary to the Ministry of Economic
Development, Adolfo Urso, during his speech
delivered at the inauguration of Riva del
Garda’s 70th Fair on 14 June.
“We are naturally very satisfied with the enduring
success of our exhibition,” commented the
Chairman of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi,
Roberto Pellegrini, “and are particularly pleased
with the comments made by the
Undersecretary, Adolfo Urso, because they
fully express the double identity of Expo Riva
Schuh: attachment to the territory that we
have turned into one of our strong points
thanks to its tourist attractions and hospitality
and the strong international flavour.”
This international opening has a high strategic
value: as emphasised during the round table on
the subject of “Collective marketing in fair
exhibitions: Italians at Expo Riva Schuh”, held
during the exhibition. For Italian manufacturers
of mass-produced footwear, Expo Riva
Schuh plays an increasingly fundamental role
because it allows for comparisons with the
world market and because, with its perfect
timing, it slots into the international calendar.
Figures regarding exhibitors also reveal the
international value: indeed there were 1,106
exhibitors, 730 of them from 33 foreign countries,
presenting their new collections for
spring/summer 2009 in an area of 31,554 square
metres.
“We are well aware that the uncommon nature
of Expo Riva Schuh is our strong point,” added
the Director of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi,
Giovanni Laezza, “and will continue to invest in
characteristics that, together with the timing
on the sector’s fair calendar that allows for
viewing collections well in advance of other
exhibitions, make us attractive, especially to
buyers from Middle Europe, those mainly interested
in Expo Riva Schuh.”
“Our fair is greatly orientated towards business,”
continued Giovanni Laezza, “with a high
number of loyal exhibitors and two waiting
lists, one for habitual exhibitors who want
more room and the other for new companies
requesting participation. In order to meet these
needs we are planning to expand the exhibition
to gain more space but will be selective when it
comes to new entries so as not to alter the
nature of the exhibition. We are also planning
to hold discussions which will allow for an indepth
study on topics of interest to the entire
sector.”
“We have reached a decisive stage,” concluded
Brigitta Bancher, in charge of the exhibition,
“and must now reflect on how to make Expo Riva
Schuh more enjoyable to visitors. Certainly
for us the presence of leading companies in the
various types of product is strategic since they
influence the big purchasing groups, chain stores
and buyers for large scale retail, our habitual
visitors, and that for each category represent
a central nucleus around which analogous
realities are shown in a better light. However,
the present organisation of Expo Riva Schuh
proved once again to have found a winning formula,
although we must try to find new solutions
in order to remain competitive.”
Many events were held to celebrate the 70th
Expo Riva Schuh exhibition, highlighting its
growth and success, however, the icing on the
cake was the Town Council of Riva del Garda’s
bestowal of honorary citizenship upon Friedrich
Karl Eichholz, the inventor of Expo Riva Schuh.
The next Expo Riva Schuh exhibition will be held
from 17 to 20 January 2009.
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