The 5th edition of BFSHOW, The biggest footwear tradeshow in Latin America, held November 10–12 at Distrito Anhembi, in São Paulo/SP, closed with a record number of international visitors. According to data compiled by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados) and NürnbergMesse Brazil, partners in promoting and organizing the event, more than 10 thousand buyers attended over the three days, 13% of them (1,300) coming from 46 countries.
With around 350 Brazilian brands gathered in a total area of more than 25.5 thousand square meters, BFSHOW has established itself among the leading trade shows for the footwear sector worldwide. According to the Executive President of the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados), Haroldo Ferreira, the trade show reflected the current moment of the Brazilian footwear industry, which is expected to grow up to 1.4% in 2025, surpassing 940 million pairs produced. “BFSHOW indicates that we should see a recovery in the last quarter, with production growth of more than 2%, closing the year on a positive note,” explains the executive.
International attendance at the event exceeded expectations, especially considering the challenging global scenario. “We had a strong presence of importers, mainly from Latin America, as well as from countries in the Middle East, Africa and even Oceania,” celebrates Ferreira, noting that alternative markets have helped soften the challenges faced in exports to the United States, the main international destination for Brazilian footwear.
Buyer Program
Domestic and international attendance at the event was boosted by the BFSHOW Buyer Program, which brought 520 domestic buyers and 165 international buyers from 32 countries. João Paulo Picolo, CEO of NürnbergMesse Brazil, explains that the investment attracted importers selected based on their purchasing potential and market reach, as part of a strategy to diversify destinations. “The feedback has been positive, especially regarding the quality of the buyers in attendance, who did not come only to network; they came ready to place orders and build partnerships,” he emphasizes. feedbacks são positivos, principalmente pela qualidade dos compradores presentes, que não vieram apenas para relacionamento, compareceram para efetivar compras e parcerias”, destaca.
Exhibitors
Ricardo Terêncio, marketing coordinator at Rafarillo, from Franca/SP, says that both the traffic and the quality of buyers exceeded the brand’s expectations. “Because it is a November trade show, we were not expecting such a high level of attendance. We welcomed customers who had not bought from Rafarillo for many years. It was a very positive participation.” According to him, business was done with both the domestic and international markets. “The international market has improved significantly in recent months, and here we were able to confirm this positive momentum,” he adds.
For Marcelo Silva, marketing manager at Kidy, from Birigui/SP, BFSHOW has “raised the bar for Brazilian footwear” by showcasing, in a single venue, the very best of the national industry. “For Kidy specifically, the trade show helps us validate new projects, in addition to closing important deals with domestic and international buyers,” he says. According to him, during this edition the booth received highly qualified traffic, with visitors especially interested in the launch of the Tênis Localize, unveiled during BFSHOW.
Emphasizing the opportunity to strengthen relationships, especially with strategic partners in both the domestic and international markets, Piccadilly, from Igrejinha/RS, welcomed a large flow of clients. “We received a highly qualified audience, especially during the appearance of our brand ambassador, Carolina Dieckmann, on the second day of the event. This outcome reflects consistent work and the strong engagement of the public with our Fall-Winter 26 collection,” points out Cristine Grings Nogueira, the company’s CEO.
Lojistas
Participating in BFSHOW since its first edition, the traditional Ajita Calçados, which has more than 20 stores in Paraná in addition to other businesses, uses the trade show to confirm the trends that will be featured in shop windows in the coming seasons. According to the chain’s Administrative Director, Eduardo Ajita, the current moment of the Brazilian market, with lower retail consumption and stronger competition, especially from e-commerce platforms, makes BFSHOW “essential.” “It is here that we are able to build a well-targeted collection for a consumer who is increasingly selective and demanding. At BFSHOW, we have all the leading brands together, including more exclusive products, which have been our focus in the women’s collection,” he says.
Sapataria Avenida, which operates an exclusive store in Barreiras/BA, placed its entire Winter collection order at BFSHOW. “Before the trade show, we prepare to purchase all the footwear for our Winter collection here, because this is where we find the variety we need for our product mix,” says Jonas Francisco de Azevedo, managing partner of the store. According to him, the organization of the trade show makes the retailer’s experience stand out. “BFSHOW is very well thought out, from the easy access, since it takes place in São Paulo, to the segmentation by product type, which optimizes the time we spend visiting and gives us greater peace of mind to do business,” Azevedo comments.
International presence
With five stores focused on the men’s market, Pablo Vega, Import Manager at Ferratti stores, in Ecuador, attended the event for the fourth time. “Today, if you work in the footwear market, you have to come to BFSHOW. I really enjoyed the trade show, which featured a wide variety of brands and was very well organized. We also took the opportunity to meet new suppliers and close deals,” says Vega, noting that technology, comfort, quality, and delivery times are some of the key differentiators of footwear “made in Brazil.” The international buyer has been working with Brazilian companies for 24 years.
On the calendar
The next edition of BFSHOW is already scheduled. The biggest footwear tradeshow in Latin America will present the Brazilian industry’s Spring/Summer collections from May 18–20, 2026, once again at Distrito Anhembi, in São Paulo/Brazil.
