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With 85% of spaces sold, BFSHOW opens visitor registration

The fourth edition of BFSHOW, the largest footwear trade show in Latin America, has already sold more than 85% of its exhibition spaces. The announcement comes from NürnbergMesse Brasil, the organizer of the event promoted by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados). Showcasing the Spring/Summer collections of the national industry, the event will take place at Distrito Anhembi, in São Paulo- Brazil, from May 19 to 21. Visitor registration is now open at www.bfshow.com.br. www.bfshow.com.br

Expected to feature more than 350 leading Brazilian footwear brands from all production hubs and market segments, BFSHOW is set to welcome over 10,000 visitors from across Brazil and five continents over its three-day run. Letícia Sperb Masselli, Abicalçados' Relationship and Business Manager, emphasizes that the event kicks off the most important sales season for the Brazilian industry: Spring/Summer. “Brazil, being a tropical country, is internationally recognized for its summer footwear production, which accounts for more than 70% of the sector’s sales—around 630 million pairs out of the nearly 900 million produced annually,” says Letícia. She also highlights that the projected 2% growth in footwear production for 2025 is closely linked to BFSHOW’s performance. 

Growth

Rico Azeredo, Head of New Business at NürnbergMesse Brasil, underscores BFSHOW’s rapid growth, as the event, now in its fourth edition, has already become the largest business trade show for the sector in Latin America. “The Brazilian footwear industry leads production in the Western world for a reason. In just over a year and a half, BFSHOW has become one of the flagship events in our portfolio and continues to expand,” says Azeredo, noting that the trade show will occupy approximately 32,000 square meters at Distrito Anhembi. According to him, the decision to establish the event permanently in São Paulo has contributed significantly to its success. 

For more information, visit www.bfshow.com.br. www.bfshow.com.br.

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Domestic Demand Growth Drives Footwear Production Increase

The rising domestic demand for footwear fueled the industry’s production growth in 2024. Data compiled by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados), based on IBGE indexes, show that production grew by 3.5% compared to 2023. In total, 896.8 million pairs were produced, with 97.4 million destined for export.


Abicalçados’ executive president, Haroldo Ferreira, explains that production growth could have been even higher if not for the surge in imported footwear, particularly from Asia. Last year, imports increased by 26% compared to 2023, with about 90% of these imports coming from Asian countries, mainly Vietnam, China, and Indonesia. “Today, over 85% of our production is absorbed by the domestic market, which remained strong throughout 2024, with apparent consumption growing by 7.7%. However, a significant share of this positive domestic performance was captured by imports,” says Ferreira.

Close to Pre-Pandemic Levels
The 896.8 million pairs produced in 2024 nearly matched the volume recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, when production reached 898.8 million pairs—just 0.2% higher than last year. Looking ahead to 2025, despite ongoing challenges, particularly in the international market, the sector is expected to recover losses caused by the global pandemic crisis. “2025 will be a challenging year, but we remain optimistic. In May, with BFSHOW—the largest footwear trade show in Latin America, held in São Paulo—we will have a clearer gauge of market trends,” Ferreira projects.

BFSHOW
BFSHOW is set to host more than 350 Brazilian footwear brands, welcoming retailers and importers from around the world. Taking place from May 19 to 21 at Distrito Anhembi in São Paulo, the event will showcase Summer collections, which account for over 70% of the domestic footwear industry's sales. More information is available at www.bfshow.com.br. www.bfshow.com.br.

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BFSHOW Footwear Trade Show to Be 30% Bigger in May

The leading footwear trade show in Latin America, BFSHOW, will be 30% bigger in its fourth edition. Taking place from May 19 to 21 at the Distrito Anhembi in São Paulo, the event will cover a total area of 31,900 square meters, up from 22,500 square meters in May 2024. Organized by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados) and NürnbergMesse Brasil, the upcoming edition has already sold over 80% of its available spaces.

Abicalçados’ Executive President, Haroldo Ferreira, points out that despite an uncertain scenario, especially in international markets, expectations for the trade show remain strong. “The Summer collections to be showcased at BFSHOW account for more than 70% of the Brazilian footwear industry’s annual sales. Both exhibitors and buyers recognize that this is the ideal moment to stock up for a year in which we anticipate a 2% increase in production, driven primarily by the domestic market,” says Ferreira.

Latin America’s Leading Trade Show
João Paulo Picolo, CEO of NürnbergMesse Brasil, highlights the event’s growth, as it solidifies its position as the region’s most important business platform for the footwear industry in both scale and exhibitor quality. “BFSHOW brings together all the leading Brazilian footwear brands, attracting a significant number of buyers from across the country and five continents,” says Picolo. The upcoming edition is expected to feature more than 350 Brazilian footwear brands, representing all industry segments and production hubs.

A Democratic Space
BFSHOW is an exclusive platform for showcasing Brazilian footwear manufacturers, whether or not they are Abicalçados members. Exhibit spaces are still available—companies can apply by filling out the form at the link https://bfshow.com.br/expositor/.

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BFSHOW consolidates its position as the biggest footwear trade show in Latin America

With the conclusion of its third edition, BFSHOW—organized by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados) and NürnbergMesse Brasil—has established itself as the leading trade show dedicated to the footwear sector in Latin America. The event stood out for its strong industry representation, international reach, and impressive results. It was held at Distrito Anhembi, in São Paulo/Brazil, from November 11 to 13.

In November, the trade show brought together 330 brands and 238 exhibitors, covering 11,611 square meters of exhibition space within a total area of 25,000 square meters. Buyers from 51 countries—including Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay, Israel, Kuwait, Libya, Mozambique, Botswana, Portugal, Switzerland, and Slovenia—were in attendance, contributing to a total of 10,495 visitors over three days, 1,130 of whom were international. These numbers reflect BFSHOW’s growing reach and prestige. “BFSHOW reinforced the Brazilian footwear sector’s projections for more than 3% growth in 2024 and an additional 2% in 2025. It was a showcase of Brazilian footwear to the world and will continue to serve as a key indicator of an industry that is so relevant to Brazil,” says Letícia Sperb Masselli, Abicalçados’ Business and Relationship Manager.

Another highlight of the event was the Buyer Program, a partnership between Abicalçados, the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), and NürnbergMesse Brasil, which brought in 638 buyers—478 from Brazil and 160 from international markets. “These figures speak volumes about the market’s potential. The trade show is still young, now in its third edition, with two of them already held in São Paulo. Moving the event to São Paulo was a strategic decision to further boost business opportunities and facilitate access for exhibitors and visitors alike,” adds Rico Azeredo, Head of New Business at NürnbergMesse Brasil. Beyond its strong numbers, BFSHOW has gained recognition for presenting the latest developments in the Brazilian footwear industry, reinforcing its role as a key hub for business, innovation, and strategic connections across the Latin American market.
Além dos números significativos, a BFSHOW tem se destacado por trazer o que há de mais atual na indústria calçadista brasileira, consolidando seu papel como referência para negócios, inovações e conexões estratégicas no setor latino-americano.

The next edition of the event will take place from May 19 to 21, 2025, at Distrito Anhembi. For more information, visit bfshow.com.br.

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BFSHOW registers record visitation and many deals

The 3rd edition of BFSHOW, footwear fair that brought together more than 330 brands between November 11 and 13, in the Anhembi District, in São Paulo/SP, registered record visitation and business. According to the organization, over the three days more than 10.4 thousand buyers passed through the pavilions of the event, which is twice as many as in November 2023. According to the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados), the deals took place in important volumes, which will be tabulated in the coming days.

The CEO of Abicalçados, Haroldo Ferreira, points out that BFSHOW will be decisive for the positive expectations of the sector. For 2024, the forecast for growth in production exceeds 3%, to more than 890 million pairs. By 2025, growth will be around 2%, causing the sector to recover losses from the pandemic and reach more than 900 million pairs produced. “We have here a great showcase of Brazilian footwear for the world. We gathered, in these three days, the main brands of the country and buyers from more than 60 countries”, evaluates the director, stressing that at the fair, significant business took place both in the domestic and international markets. "To attract buyers from abroad, BFSHOW worked together with the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil). With these projects alone, 160 importers and five international journalists were invited to promote our product abroad”, Ferreira lists.

According to the CEO of NürnbergMesse Brasil, João Paulo Picolo, with each edition, BFSHOW demonstrates its growth and, therefore, has consolidated itself so quickly as the main event of the Brazilian footwear sector. “The fair is already an indispensable meeting point for professionals and the partnership of NürnbergMesse Brasil with Abicalçados has been fundamental to this success”, he comments. The CEO also says that the results of the third edition exceeded all expectations. “We are confident that BFSHOW will continue to evolve and strengthen the national footwear market. No wonder it is already among the main events in the company's portfolio. For the next edition, in May 2025, we expect a growth of 20% when compared to the number of exhibitors and visitors”, he evaluates.

"Right place and right time”
For Marcos Huff, director of Killana, from Três Coroas / RS, BFSHOW is a consolidated fair as the main one in the Brazilian calendar. According to him, during the three days, the exhibition received national and international clients focused on business. “BFSHOW is in the right place and at the right time, with logistical facilities and a very clear positioning aimed at the business. It is very similar to the main fairs in Europe”, he evaluates. Huff also points out that the company, in addition to receiving traditional customers, has opened new markets in Latin America, North America and Europe. “We had much better results than the fair held in May. For the May 2025 edition, we are even more optimistic, " he adds. Currently, Killana has a production of about 13 thousand pairs per month, of which it exports 60%.

The fair was also very positive for Crep, children's footwear industry of São José dos Campos / SP. The company's financial director, Carla Crepaldi, says the company opened its first international client at BFSHOW. "Since the second edition, we've been talking to a large wholesaler from Peru, but we had not yet formalized the export. In this edition, we made our first international sale, a market that we will work harder on from now on”, she celebrates. With a production of 600 pairs per day, the company sees BFSHOW as an important sales and relationship platform with the national and international markets and has confirmed their presence for the May 2025 edition.

With a visitation “much higher than last May”, Di Valentini, from São João Batista/SC, was quite satisfied with BFSHOW. According to the director of the company, José Osterno Filho, the fair had customers focused on business. “We have acquired new clients both domestically and internationally – in Algeria, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, England and Guatemala,” he says. Producing 6.5 thousand pairs per day, Di Valentini exports about 12% of its production, mainly to South American markets.

Fidelis Ferreira, from the sales department at Calçados Maria Isabel, from Conceição do Coité/BA, says that he did good business at the event and left some others agreed upon for the post-fair. “I believe that we will have a growth between 20% and 30% in the business carried out here, in relation to the November 2023 fair, contact domestic and international market, from where we had visits from Canada and Argentina”, projects the shoemaker.

International
For the first time at BFSHOW, Arise buyer from Mozambique, Thembumenzi Souto, said that she has been buying premium Brazilian shoes since 2009, when she decided to exchange suppliers from Bulgaria for suppliers from Brazil. “When I met the Brazilian products, I realized that they had a much higher quality and variety. Currently, we work with seven brands from Brazil and BFSHOW is giving us the opportunity to expand our product mix here”, says the importer, stressing that the partnership of her network with the Brazilian footwear industry is very important for the company's growth.

National
Brazilian buyers were also positively surprised by the structure of the pavilions that hosted BFSHOW in the Anhembi District. Nostalgic for a time when large trade fairs took place on the site, before the renovation opened this year, shopkeepers stressed the quality of the renovation and the organization of the event. “I really liked the structure, with easy access and good distribution by segments”, evaluates the shopkeeper Vinícius Liessi dos Santos, from Calçado Franca, from Maringá/PR. According to him, the network closed deals and left many others agreed upon for the coming months.

The next edition of the BFSHOW will also take place in the Anhembi District, in São Paulo/SP, between May 19th and 21st, 2025.

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Boots Dominate New Men’s Collections at BFSHOW

As leading men's footwear brands are showcasing their new collections through Wednesday at BFSHOW, the largest footwear trade show in Brazil, held at the newly opened Distrito Anhembi in São Paulo. Functional footwear is the common trend, with a spotlight on boots — whether they’re utilitarian, sporty, or casual styles suitable for both work and city wear.

One of the exhibiting brands, Democrata, presents its new collection featuring nine boot styles. The “Dusty” line brings an urban aesthetic with distressed leather and a vintage look. Another innovation from the brand is the new addition to the “Pulse” line, now with TPU-capsule soles on casual shoes. This collection's campaign stars Cauã Reymond and Gisele Bündchen.

Macboot, known particularly for its boots, combines comfort and durability in footwear designed for both daily use and outdoor activities. According to Renato Virgilio, Marketing Coordinator, a highlight for BFSHOW is the new Flutua+ technology, now present in nearly all Macboot lines, offering a non-slip sole and EVA midsole that provides maximum cushioning and added lightness. “We’re also adding a touch of sportiness and casual style to our Adventure line, making it a shoe suitable for urban environments too, taking you from the trail to the workplace,” he adds.

Ferracini's latest releases emphasize usability and diverse approaches with a desire for unique acquisitions. Their new lines include shoes and ankle boots that showcase a modern twist, featuring square shapes. The designs are also versatile and include an easywear system — reinforcing the brand’s goal to make footwear easier to slip on, catering to various needs.

Polo Go brings a sporty touch with cleat-style shoes inspired by iconic soccer styles. Known for its urban and casual portfolio with flat sneakers, the brand now adds a sporty element to its range. “These cleat-inspired shoes are highly popular here at BFSHOW, especially among trendsetters. It’s the product that has drawn the most attention from visitors. We’ve also introduced larger sizes, up to 44 and 45, which has been well received given the strong market demand,” says André Costa, CEO of Grupo Ride, which includes Polo Go alongside three other brands: Kids & Baby, Secrets, and Keep GOing.

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Domestic Market Ensures Footwear Sector Growth for 2025

Brazil's domestic market, which absorbs over 85% of national footwear industry sales, is expected to sustain the sector’s production growth through 2024 and 2025. This topic, alongside issues such as unfair competition from Asian footwear and international e-commerce platforms, was addressed during the press conference of the third edition of BFSHOW. The event, which started yesterday (11), will run until tomorrow (13) at the Anhembi District in São Paulo, Brazil.

Emphasizing a 4.8% growth in footwear production from January to September this year, according to IBGE data, the Executive President of the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados), Haroldo Ferreira, noted that the domestic market should support industry growth of over 3% in 2024 and approximately 2% in 2025. “With this, by 2025, we should be able to recover the losses incurred during the pandemic, which caused a major disruption in the sector. This year, we expect to close with a production of over 890 million pairs of shoes, reaching up to 904 million pairs next year. In 2019, production was 898 million pairs.”

Unfair Competition
Ferreira further stressed that the growth in the footwear industry could be even more significant if not for the unfair competition from Asian-made footwear and international e-commerce platforms. “In 2024, we expect exports to decrease by around 20% and imports to grow by over 20%, primarily due to Asian countries. These products enter the Brazilian market at prices below standard market rates, engaging in predatory competition with our industry,” he explained. According to him, Abicalçados is working to expand the current antidumping measures—which today apply to Chinese footwear with a surcharge of $10.22 per pair entering Brazil—to include Vietnam and Indonesia. “Currently, Chinese production is shifting to nearby countries with even lower labor costs, which continue to practice dumping,” he added.

Trade Show
Following this, the CEO of NürnbergMesse Brasil, João Paulo Picolo, highlighted BFSHOW’s growth, driven by increased production and demand in the domestic market. “We have here a trade show that demonstrates the strength of Brazil’s footwear sector. With 238 booths and over 330 brands of shoes spread across a total area of 25,000 square meters,” he shared. Expected to attract over 10,000 buyers from Brazil and 60 other countries, BFSHOW has now become the leading footwear trade show in South America.

International
Mariele Christ, Industry and Services Coordinator at the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), emphasized the international expansion of BFSHOW, which features two projects led by Abicalçados in collaboration with ApexBrasil through the Brazilian Footwear program. “The Brazilian Footwear program, renewed earlier this year, secures more than R$ 32 million in investments to promote Brazilian footwear exports over a two-year period,” she said. This third edition of the trade show includes the Buyer Project, hosting 26 international buyers from 16 countries, and the Image Project, which has invited five journalists from Angola, Chile, Colombia, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates. With the total number of buyers brought in through the joint effort of BFSHOW and both organizations, more than 180 importers from all continents are represented.

Challenges
Also present at the press conference, Pedro Bartelle, CEO of Vulcabras, Brazil’s leading producer of sports footwear, highlighted the issue of counterfeiting by showing a counterfeit “Olympikus” sneaker. “The Brazilian industry faces numerous challenges, from unfair competition to high taxes and labor costs, which are at least 40% higher than those in Asian countries. Counterfeiting is another serious issue in this list,” he stated.

The press conference was also attended by Roberto Argenta, President of Calçados Beira Rio; Vania Castilho Mestriner, Creative Director at World Colors; Paulo Barth, Commercial Director at Grendene; Rodrigo Martins, Commercial Director at Marina Mello; and Marcelo Paludetto, Commercial Manager at Democrata.

INDUSTRY DATA

2024 PRODUCTION (forecast): 882 million to 893 million pairs (growth of 1.9% to 3.2% compared to 2023)

2025 PRODUCTION (forecast): 897 million to 904 million pairs (growth of 1.1% to 1.9%)

DIRECT EMPLOYMENT AS OF SEPTEMBER 2024: 294.8 thousand (+14.6 thousand jobs created this year, though stock remains 2.1% lower than in the same period in 2023)

EXPORTS THROUGH OCTOBER 2024: 81.2 million pairs, -20.7% compared to the same period in 2023

2024 EXPORTS (forecast): 95.6 million to 101.2 million pairs (-19.2% to -14.5% compared to 2023)

IMPORTS THROUGH OCTOBER 2024: 29.8 million pairs, +20.9% compared to the same period in 2023 (three Asian countries—China, Vietnam, and Indonesia—account for approximately 80% of this volume)

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BFSHOW Begins with Optimism and Promising Prospects

The 3rd edition of BFSHOW, a footwear trade show featuring over 330 Brazilian footwear brands, opened on November 11 at Anhembi District in São Paulo, Brazil, reflecting the industry’s optimism and strong growth outlook for 2024 and 2025. 

Haroldo Ferreira, Executive President of the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados), emphasizes that the rising demand, especially in the domestic market, brings renewed energy to the exhibiting footwear companies. “Not only has visitor traffic been excellent, but so have the results. Buyers are here, genuinely seeking to make deals and stock their shelves for the high summer and next winter season,” he comments, noting that growing domestic demand is fueling not just BFSHOW’s expansion but the entire footwear industry. “By year’s end, we expect production to increase by more than 3%, which will add to a projected growth of around 2% for 2025. With this momentum, we’ll surpass pre-pandemic production levels of 2019,” Ferreira highlights. 

João Paulo Picolo, CEO of NürnbergMesse Brasil, notes that from day one, BFSHOW has solidified its position as the premier business platform for the Brazilian footwear industry, bringing together brands from across Brazil and buyers from dozens of countries. “For three days, we’re offering a unique platform for exhibitors to showcase their latest products and strengthen their business networks. The new venue has also proven to be a great choice, providing easy access and a smooth flow of visitors,” he comments. 

Satisfied Exhibitors

Nelson Magagnin, Marketing Manager at Ramarim (Nova Hartz/RS), was impressed by the high visitor turnout on the fair’s first day. “The Ramarim booth was practically full all day long. Tomorrow should be an even better day,” he shares, adding that the brand welcomed buyers from all over Brazil and Latin America.

Representing the children’s footwear segment, Klin’s (Birigui/SP) Marketing Trade representative, Paulo Roberto Souza, described the first day as a success in building “valuable market relationships” and generating business leads. “Moreover, the show is very well-structured with a team ready to host our clients in style. We believe that tomorrow will be even stronger for business,” he highlights. 

BFSHOW

BFSHOW will run through Wednesday, November 13, and is expected to host over 10,000 buyers from 61 countries across its three days. The trade show is organized by Abicalçados in partnership with NürnbergMesse Brasil, a subsidiary of Germany’s NürnbergMesse Group. Learn more at www.bfshow.com.br. www.bfshow.com.br

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Celebrities Make an Appearance on BFSHOW's Opening Day

The opening day of BFSHOW, Brazil’s largest footwear trade show, brought celebrities to unveil four distinct collections developed in partnership with Calçados Beira Rio. The event, running through November 13 at Distrito Anhembi in São Paulo, previews the top footwear and accessory trends set to hit store shelves in the coming months.

The first celebrity to visit was Nathalia Dill, recently part of the TV series Família é Tudo on Globo. She returns as the face of Modare Ultraconforto’s 2025 campaign, embodying the brand’s focus on fashion, well-being, and sustainability. The brand leads eco-friendly initiatives, including no animal-derived products, 98% green energy use, and water-free production processes.   

On her presence at BFSHOW, Dill emphasized the importance of connecting with brand buyers. “It’s essential to meet the people working with the brand in person. Being here showcasing these products adds so much value. Everyone is connecting, all working together, creating a truly authentic energy,” says Nathalia, adding that the collection and campaign “are completely aligned” with her style.

Camila Queiroz and Klebber Toledo were greeted with applause at BFSHOW. The actress celebrates three years of partnership and her fifth campaign with Beira Rio. “Being here today reinforces the campaign’s message: style, quality, accessibility, sustainability. We’re linking our image to a product we genuinely believe in,” says Queiroz.

Klebber Toledo represented BR Sport, infusing his personality into the new collection. The versatile footwear reflects Toledo’s professional commitments, hobbies, travels, and leisure moments. The entire collection is also animal-free. “Our presence at the show carries a message of unity, of family. We’re here because we believe in something greater than just the product; there’s a story,” Toledo adds.

Model Alessandra Ambrósio, also a BFSHOW highlight, starred in her second campaign for Vizzano. Fresh off the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway, Ambrósio returned to Brazil to participate in the event. “It’s important for customers, brand representatives, and fans to see that Vizzano and I are a perfect match. I’m thrilled to be here, representing a brand I truly enjoy working with,” explains the model, bringing her trendsetting, fashion-forward, and glamorous essence to the new collection.

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Eye on the "Health Generation": Footwear Sector Invests in High-Performance Products

Brazilians are increasingly taking up sports, evident in the recent boom in road running, athletic training services, and sports like padel and beach tennis. The “health generation” is trending, with the number of people joining the movement expected to rise. According to data from the Primary Healthcare Observatory by Umane, an association supporting public health promotion, 2023 saw the highest rate of active individuals since 2016, with an 8% increase. Young adults aged 18 to 24 lead this trend, being the most active demographic in the country.

The impact of this rise in sports participation is evident at BFSHOW, Brazil’s premier footwear trade show, held from November 11 to 13 at Distrito Anhembi in São Paulo. Diego Guinzelli, Head of Topper and Rainha, noted that both brands have seen a surge in demand for athletic shoes: “Both brands have experienced strong growth across our ‘Movement’ line for lighter sports and high-performance products. The demand is especially growing for performance-focused items, indicating a consumer shift toward serious sports practice,” he explains. movement, de calçados para esportes mais leves, como a de alta performance. A demanda tem aumentado principalmente entre os produtos mais performáticos, o que indica que o público tem investido mais na prática de esportes”, explica.

Topper is unveiling its latest release at BFSHOW: the Dominator Fuse II, a highly advanced product featuring breathability, cushioning, and heat transfer to help prevent injuries. Other highlights from the event, showcasing key market trends, include the Corre Supra by Olympikus, Mizuno Wave Rider 10 by Mizuno, and Tribase Reps 2 by Under Armour, all from Vulcabras.

Pedro Bartelle, CEO of Vulcabras, remarked on the growth in demand for athletic footwear over the past year: “Sportswear consumption has risen, particularly post-pandemic, with this new road-running trend. We've seen a significant increase in demand for high-performance products,” he notes.

SERVICE
3rd BFSHOW
Date: November 11 to 13, 2024 (Monday to Wednesday)
Venue: Anhembi District (Av. Olavo Fontoura, 1209 – Santana, São Paulo/Brazil)