The 2nd edition of the BFSHOW fair, which takes place between May 21st and 23rd, at the Transamerica Expo Center, in São Paulo/SP, brings great expectations to the national footwear sector. The largest footwear fair in the country, the fair will bring together more than 300 brands that should receive an estimated visitation of more than 10 thousand people, from Brazil and abroad. The event is a realization of the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados) in partnership with NürnbergMesse Brasil,
Good business expectations are driven primarily by three factors. Abicalçados' estimate of domestic market growth between 2.4% and 3.8% throughout 2024, and the fact that it is the only footwear fair on the period immediately after Mother's Day, the main national date for footwear retail, and for launching summer collections, responsible for 70% of the industry's sales in the sector. In the first edition, held in November last year, there were more than R$ 315 million in business with the foreign market alone. This year, the value should be exceeded by the listed factors. "Expectations are quite positive. We are feeling the industry and retail excited for the event and very willing to make the wheel turn again, especially due to the crisis generated by the climate catastrophe in Rio Grande do Sul”, comments the executive president of Abicalçados, Haroldo Ferreira. According to him, the fair, which was born focused on the desires of the sector's market, even heard from companies affected by the floods in Rio Grande do Sul, who chose to participate in the fair even in the midst of difficulties as a way to generate business and preserve jobs. “We have cases of Gaucho companies that canceled the participation and uncanceled it, because they understood the importance of the event at this time”, he concludes.
The CEO of NürnbergMesse Brasil, João Paulo Picolo, highlights the growth of the event, which in its second edition already became the main one for the footwear sector in the country. "It is a reason for pride for NürnbergMesse Brasil to be part of this ambitious project by Abicalçados, which has been uniting the footwear industry in Brazil", he highlights.
Optimistic exhibitors
One of the companies that are confirmed at BFSHOW is Grendene. The commercial director of the footwear company, Paulo Barth, points out that expectations for the fair are quite positive. “We believe that we will have a very significant number of customers visiting the fair, both from the domestic market and from the foreign market”, he predicts. According to him, the show, also due to the fact that it has confirmed large suppliers, should attract the attention of the main players in the market, being a relevant opportunity for the presentation of Summer collections, the most important one for Grendene. “The second semester is historically our most representative semester and we have a very positive expectation for the business we will carry out during BFSHOW”, highlights the director, adding that, in addition to the hot season's collections, the company will offer high-turnover products for prompt delivery.
With confirmed presence at BFSHOW, Petite Jolie is another company that will launch its summer products at the footwear fair held by Abicalçados. “We need to be where the customers are and our expectation is that they will be, largely, at the BFSHOW. In addition, participating in this moment, in which we have the possibility of seeing a new great fair performing in the city of São Paulo is very important for our visibility”, comments the National Commercial Manager of Petite Jolie, Ruy Ferreira. For BFSHOW, the shoemaker will take the entire team of regional representatives to welcome the shopkeepers. “The fair marks the presentation of the brand's Summer I collection, so the client will find all the novelties related to trends and colors of the most joyful season of the year,” says the director.
International presence
From the foreign market, at least 98 international groups from 31 countries are confirmed at BFSHOW, through the Brazilian Footwear Buyer Project, a program to support footwear exports maintained by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados) in partnership with the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), and the Buyer Program, carried out by BFSHOW. Significant volume is expected with buyers from Argentina, Bolivia, Botswana, Chile, Colombia , Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mozambique, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Suriname, Tanzania, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Spain, United States and Uruguay.
During the BFSHOW, in addition to the buyers brought in a joint effort between Abicalçados, ApexBrasil and NürnbergMesse Brasil, the national footwear will be appreciated by thousands of other foreign visitors who will come on their own. According to NürnbergMesse Brasil, there are already more than 60 accredited countries.
Sustainable event
The Brazilian footwear show could not ignore sustainability, a theme in which the national industry of the sector is an international reference. During the fair, initiatives ranging from the correct disposal of production waste and the use of recycled materials such as coconut and bamboo, to productions made 100% with solar energy, will be present. According to NürnbergMesse Brasil, the estimate is to give the environmentally correct destination to tens of tons of waste that will be generated within the pavilions of the Transamerica Expo Center.
Even before becoming a law in the state of São Paulo, NürnbergMesse Brasil was a pioneer in the country in promoting the correct disposal of waste from its trade fairs. A project that begun in 2023, which supports recycling cooperatives and the circular economy. In the seven major exhibitions promoted by the company last year, 107 tons of garbage were allocated for recycling. Through the initiative, everything is recycled within the fair, except organic materials. They are reused from dry waste from stands and restaurants to wood, carpet, paper, signage, among others.
Solidarity with RS
Since the beginning of May, the floods in Rio Grande do Sul have generated a wave of solidarity. With the aim of supporting people affected by the climate catastrophe, BFSHOW will have donation collection points for those affected, not only in May, but also in its November edition, also in São Paulo. In addition, the organization has already been helping the affected companies and making donations of water, mattresses and cleaning kits and is a supporter of the Next Steps RS Movement, carried out by Abicalçados and entities in the footwear production chain. The action will raise financial resources that will be directed to the restructuring of the living conditions of the impacted footwear families.
SERVICE
BFSHOW
Date: May 21-23
Location: Transamerica Expo Center, in São Paulo / SP
Accreditation: www.bfshow.com.br www.bfshow.com.br
Mapa da feira: Baixe aqui
