BFSHOW, the fair that democratizes the trade event industry for the local footwear industry, announces that representatives from more than 70 percent of Brazil’s footwear clusters, from all segments and sizes in industry, have confirmed participation. Hosted by the Brazilian Footwear Industry Association in partnership with NürnbergMesse Brasil, the first edition of the Brazilian Footwear Show - BFSHOW – will take place in November 21-23 at the Event Center of the Federation of Industries of the Rio Grande do Sul State (Fiergs).

BFSHOW has segmented its floor plan by product type to improve the visitor experience and has confirmed the participation of children footwear manufacturers accounting for more than 80 percent of Brazil’s total production. Male footwear manufacturers are represented by 73 percent and female footwear manufacturers, 43 percent. “We are living a historic moment for Brazilian footwear industry when the industry’s association is hosting its own fair. For this reason, it is no surprise that the fair brings together representatives from almost all clusters, sizes and segments of an industry that last year produced almost 850 million items and is considered the Western Hemisphere’s largest. BFSHOW changes an important paradigm and by focusing on nosiness and transparency, has become the most democratic fair in Brazil”, says Haroldo Ferreira, chairman, Brazilian Footwear Industry Association.

Focus on business 

The BFSHOW’s first edition will invite local buyers appointed through a Buying Program by the fair participants themselves and will feature projects promoting trade and enhancing brands for exportation. “Our Association, with Market Intelligence know-how and our sales team, is selecting local and foreign buyers according to interest levels of participating companies that are receiving forms for their nominations”, explains Mr. Ferreira. According to him, since its inception BFSHOW has considered market wishes from retail to manufacturing, all pursuing an event that is effectively business oriented. “It is only fair that we develop this fair together with the industry by listening to market wishes”, he says.

International markets

Calçados Bottero, a manufacturer of women footwear from the city of Parobé, state of Rio Grande do Sul, is one of the companies participating in the fair. The company produces more than 3 million pairs of footwear every year, of which 34 percent are exported, and the company has a positive outlook for 2023. “For us, 2022 was a year of recovery and growth with a 45 percent increase in revenue. We expect a 12 percent growth for this year”, says the company CEO, Paulo Victor Kauer. According to Mr. Kauer, although growth this year may come from the domestic market, there is expectation for an increase in exports. “We believe in Abicalçados efforts to bring more clients from other countries to BFSHOW, which should improve our sales overseas”, he says.

New horizons for the industry

Straight from Brazil’s Men Footwear Capital, Franca, in the state of São Paulo, PG4 Galleria manufactures men footwear with high added value for a client’s brand – the so-called private label. Producing 800 pairs daily, most of the company’s clients are overseas. “We currently export more than 60 percent of our footwear to 19 countries, and our main clients are based in the US, Colombia, Chile, Panama, Bolivia, and Guatemala”, says the company CEO Giuliano Gera. The company achieved a 54 percent growth last year but sees the beginning of 2023 as difficult. According to Mr. Gera, the outlook for the coming years will be largely determined by the BFSHOW, which opens a new horizon for the industry. “BFSHOW brings several Brazilian clusters together and is a remarkably disrupting event as it focuses on business and hopefully brings back the essence of a business fair, which is to connect companies and retail”, he adds.

The Sugar Shoes Group from Picada Café, state of Rio Grande do Sul, produces more than 36,000 pairs daily for their own brands and the likes of Coca-Cola, Aramis, and Hurley, among others, will join BFSHOW first edition. José Paulo Boelter, CEO, points out that 2022 was the year when the industry recovered, with a slight increase in revenue. For 2023, Mr. Boelter says the outlook is cloudy since sales did not take off in the first two months. “We want to keep production levels. BFSHOW will open a space to support the industry at this moment. We have high hopes as Brazil’s footwear industry deserves a fair of its own focused on business”, says Mr. Boelter, also pointing out the logistical benefits for retailers from other states and importers, as the fair will take place near Porto Alegre Airport in Rio Grande do Sul.

About the organizers

NürnbergMesse Brasil is a subsidiary of the NürnbergMesse Group, one of the 15 largest fair organizers in the world. The group’s portfolio includes more than 120 international fairs and congresses (14 of them in Brazil) and more than 40 pavilions. Every year, more than 30,000 expositors and more than 1,5 million visitors meet in events hosted by NürnbergMesse, which also has subsidiaries in China, United States, Brazil, Greece, Italy, and India, The group also established a network with sone 50 representatives operating in more than 116 countries.

About Abicalçados

Abicalçados represents the Brazilian footwear industry, fifth largest in the world and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. Founded in 1983, Abicalçados is based in Novo Hamburgo, state of Rio Grande do Sul, and its members are companies of all sizes accounting for more than 65 percent of the footwear produced in the country. The entity represents an industry that employs more than 300,000 people. Its mission is to represent, defend, develop, and promote Brazil’s footwear industry with respect, excellency, and results.