With companies of all sizes, niches and Brazilian footwear poles, the 2nd edition of BFSHOW, which takes place between May 21st and 23rd, at the Transamerica Expo Center, in São Paulo/SP, already has more than 270 confirmed brands that account for about 80% of the footwear industry's annual production (over 900 million pairs). The largest national fair in the sector has its accreditation open on the website www.bfshow.com.br, where the list of confirmed brands is also available.

At the same time that it brings confirmed giants, such as Alpargatas, Calçados Beira Rio, Grendene and Vulcabras, the fair will have micro and small companies with great potential for growth in collective spaces. One of those already confirmed is the Estação Moda RS, carried out by the Brazilian Service for Support to Micro and Small Companies in the State (Sebrae/RS). In total, 15 Gaucho footwear brands from different segments and niches are already confirmed. The Regional Manager of Sebrae Sinos, Caí and Paranhana, Marco Copetti, points out that participation generates good expectations. “The presence of these companies in an event the size of BFSHOW, more than generating business, helps in the adoption of development strategies, in terms of trends, prices, products, among other attributes,” he says. According to him, BFSHOW is aligned with the need to renew and strengthen the trade fair segment, which is very relevant to the activity.

The largest producer of men's shoes, the Franca/SP pole has also reserved its collective space. Today with 10 confirmed companies, the footwear from Franca will be at BFSHOW. The president of the Union of Footwear Industries of Franca (Sindifranca), João Carlos Brigagão, points out that the exhibition is the “realization of an old dream of the sector”. “The largest domestic industry outside Asia needed to have its own trade fair, focused on exactly what matters most: good domestic and international business,” he says. According to him, the move of the exhibition to São Paulo, “the heart of Latin America”, brings great expectations for the exhibiting companies. "Our expectations are high and we have no doubt that they will be exceeded,” concludes Brigagão.

Industry advocacy
In addition to the differential of being a fair totally focused on business, with transparency and focus on the well-being of exhibitors and shopkeepers, BFSHOW is a tool in defense of the activity, since the resources generated by the Ffair will be reinvested in sector development actions through its class association. "Abicalçados acts in defense of the sector and this was the case in the first edition, in Porto Alegre/RS, when we received great feedback. Naturally, the consolidation of this event as the main sector fair is unquestionable and expectations are even higher for the next edition, in São Paulo”, comments the president of the Union of the Jaú Footwear Industry (Sindicalçados Jaú), Luis Felipe Rodomonte de Souza. For the director, within a challenging context that Brazilian footwear is going through, participation in BFSHOW becomes even more important for companies to find new channels of relationship with the market. Currently, eight companies are confirmed in the Jaú collective.

Nova Serrana stepping up
The second edition of BFSHOW will have a space dedicated to Nova Serrana Fair and Fashion, which already has 37 brands of the footwear pole of Nova Serrana confirmed in more than 700sqm. Promoted by the Intermunicipal Union of Footwear Industries of Nova Serrana (Sindinova), the space provides a showcase for the quality and diversity of products manufactured in the region. “With its expertise recognized in the national and international scene, companies in Nova Serrana have the opportunity to exhibit their collections and boost business,” said Ronaldo Lacerda, president of Sindinova. According to him, the fact that the fair is held by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados) in partnership with NürnbergMesse Brasil, guarantees the greater scope of the poles represented in the event, which does not occur in regionalized fairs. “The fair's move to São Paulo will certainly generate a lot of business, because BFSHOW will be strengthened by its proximity to the largest consumer market for footwear in Brazil, which is in the Southeast region,” projects the director, stressing that BFSHOW is the legitimate “win-win” process, since it will be fundamental for exhibitors and will also facilitate the purchase by Brazilian retailers and importers.

Second edition
After a successful first edition, in Porto Alegre / RS, BFSHOW moves to São Paulo due to a market need. The fair was created by the market and with full guidance to its wishes. Thus, the Abicalçados Fair Committee decided to move the event to São Paulo due to the greater logistical ease for the presence of national and international buyers.

According to Abicalçados, expectations are quite positive, taking into account that the BFSHOW in May will present Spring-Summer collections, which represent more than 70% of sales in the national footwear industry.

About Abicalçados
Abicalçados is the entity that represents the national industry, the fifth largest producer of footwear in the world, the largest in the West. Founded in 1983, Abicalçados, is headquartered in Novo Hamburgo / RS, has in its membership companies of all sizes and that account for more than 65% of the total pairs of shoes produced in the country. The entity represents an industry that directly employs more than 300 thousand people. Its mission is to represent, defend, develop and promote the Brazilian footwear industry, with respect, excellence and results.

About the operator
NürnbergMesse Brasil is a subsidiary of the NürnbergMesse Group, one of the 15 largest international event organizing companies in the world. The group's portfolio has more than 120 international fairs and congresses (14 of them in Brazil) and more than 40 pavilions. Annually, around 30,000 exhibitors and more than 1.5 million visitors attend the events organized by NürnbergMesse, which is present, through its subsidiaries, in China, the United States, Brazil, Greece, Italy and India. The group also has a network of about 50 representatives, operating in more than 116 countries.