The largest footwear trade show in Latin America, the 7th edition of BFSHOW kicked off its first day (10) bringing together business opportunities and a wide range of innovations aimed at advancing the retail sector. Featuring approximately 300 brands, the trade show, presented by the Brazilian Footwear Industry and Trade Association (Abicalçados) and organized by NürnbergMesse Brasil (NMB), runs through next Thursday, the 12th, at Distrito Anhembi in São Paulo, Brazil.

Among the event's highlights was a packed schedule featuring new developments and plenty of relevant content, as well as Latin America's first footwear fashion show generated entirely by Artificial Intelligence (AI), which caught the audience's attention.

Letícia Sperb Masselli, Abicalçados' Relationship and Business Manager, highlighted the impressive turnout on the event's first day. “The decision to maintain the business-focused format while also bringing initiatives aimed at retail development into the trade show environment was absolutely right. The market has changed, retailers have understood this and are seeking to adapt. In this context, BFSHOW delivers everything retailers need to sell more and better,” she said, emphasizing in particular the use of Artificial Intelligence tools to support this new phase of the domestic retail sector.

Among the other new features at the trade show, visitors can create instant campaigns generated entirely by AI, free of charge, through Teos, in an experiential space developed in partnership with Brandtruck.

BFSHOW Head Felipe Marchioni echoes this view, emphasizing that, despite all the new features, the trade show has maintained its position as the leading business platform for Brazil's footwear industry. “We're seeing more than just strong attendance — we're seeing deals being closed. Even in this challenging environment, buyers are actively looking to do business, and that momentum is clearly reflected here at BFSHOW,” he said. According to him, some exhibitors even reported meeting their sales targets on the trade show's very first day. 

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Arthur Trindade, Trade Market Coordinator at Bebecê Calçados, says BFSHOW's first day was marked by a packed booth. “We couldn't even step away to see what was happening across the trade show because we were so busy here,” he said enthusiastically. According to him, in addition to being the brand's leading business platform, the event reflects the results of “well-executed strategies.” “On this first day alone, we had many new players negotiating with us, both from the domestic and international markets,” he added.

Trindade also noted that the company's performance at BFSHOW reinforces its growth target for 2026. “We expect to exceed our established target by 25%. Although this is not the norm in a market that remains challenging, our estimate for the year is growth of close to 30%,” he said. Looking ahead to next year, the company, which produces 25,000 pairs of shoes per day, also plans to expand its production capacity. “We haven't finalized the numbers yet, but we will grow. We are investing and expanding our manufacturing facilities to make that happen,” he concluded. 

Another new feature at this edition is the Gallery space, designed for companies with a premium market positioning. One of the participants in the collective booth is Débora Germani, a premium brand focused on exports. The company's Export Manager, Camila Sgorlon, says the Gallery space has enabled more targeted engagement, particularly with importers. “We have been participating in BFSHOW since last November, and this is our best edition yet. The space allowed visitors, especially international buyers, to come with a clear focus on the premium products showcased here,” she said.

At the trade show, the company opened a new market on the very first day: Tanzania. “We are very happy,” she said. In addition, Camila reported making contacts with buyers from Mexico and Puerto Rico. “We already have other visits with importers scheduled for tomorrow,” she added, noting that on the trade show's first day alone, the company secured sales equivalent to 10% of its total export volume throughout 2026.

Currently producing 100 pairs per day, the brand projects 10% growth in 2026 compared with 2025. “And BFSHOW is expected to play a key role in driving that growth,” Camila concluded. 

BFSHOW continues its program tomorrow and Thursday.