Assocalzaturifici continues its international promotional initiatives following the successful conclusion of Moda Made in Italy, Germany's biggest event for Italian footwear, in Munich March 13 through 15. The next event is in Russia: Obuv’ Mir Koži International Exhibition for Shoes and Leather Products is scheduled for March 22 through 25 2016 at Expocentre in Moscow.
127 Italian footwear makers will exhibit their wares in 3200 square metres of display space at Obuv’ Mir Koži.
The event is the most important medium to high-end footwear show in the CIS area, and it reflects the vivacity and fervour of a market that never ceases to appreciate the quality of Italian footwear. Despite the fact that footwear sales dropped by about a third in 2015, whether measured in terms of quantity or by value, with a 32% drop in Russia alone, Assocalzaturifici continues to watch over and invest in a market of great interest for Italian footwear makers.
In collaboration with ITA Agenzia, in fact, the association is flanking the event with important promotional initiatives.
The programme is designed to welcome 45 selected buyers from all over the Russian Federation, the first step in a plan that will continue with an important project for mapping and profiling the apparel and footwear segment of the retail market. The project is intended to provide Italian companies with an additional practical tool for understanding the needs of a changing market.
“Obuv’ Mir Koži is a prestigious international showcase guaranteeing excellent visibility for Italian footwear companies,” notes Assocalzaturifici chair Annarita Pilotti. “We're certain that the CIS area will continue to be a key destination for footwear exports. We are equally aware that it is important for Italian enterprise as a whole to continue to invest even more in communication, because the Russian market is undergoing deep, radical changes.
Assocalzaturifici can provide businesses with all the assistance they need to consolidate their business in this strategic area. We not only make strategic, targeted investments but provide our member companies with concrete assistance in the form of vouchers which may be activated upon participating in the exhibition. We are asking the Italian government, the Ministry of Economic Development and the Italian trade agency ITA to work together and continue to fund promotion of Italian-made goods in an area of such great importance for our manufacturing districts”.
The Moscow event was preceded by meetings with the press and with key local buyers February 24 and 25 in Krasnodar and Ekaterinburg – once again in partnership with ITA Moscow – to present the event and collect information useful for evaluating the rapid transformation of the Russian distribution system.
Through these initiatives and participation in trade fairs, Assocalzaturifici is backing up its strategy of consolidating the market throughout the Russian Federation.
“Russia and the CIS nations continue to be a key market for our sector, and it would be wrong not to continue our promotional efforts in this area,” says Arturo Venanzi, Advisor and Coordinator of the Russia and CIS Group in Assocalzaturifici. “We will continue to do so, investing in seeking out motivated new buyers who recognise the excellence of Italian footwear. Obuv’ Mir Koži confirms its status as the key event for dealers in the industry, a business opportunity allowing them to meet the most important dealers on a market that is still suffering, but continues to demonstrate a preference for Italian-made footwear. We have begun a process of qualifying the image of the event, and we will be investing in creating value for Italian products at the exhibition”.
After Obuv’ Mir Koži, Assocalzaturifici will continue its initiatives in the CIS area with two more events promoted and organised in partnership with ITA: Shoes From Italy Almaty, April 6 through 8 in the economic capital of Kazakhstan, and Shoes from Italy Kiev, April 13 through 13 in Ukraine.
Dom Priemov, a prestigious event in Almaty, is the only event for Italian fashion accessories and footwear in central Asia, with the participation of 28 Italian footwear companies and an expected 200 buyers from all over the region. The incoming programme organised by ITA Almaty will focus on selected clients from all parts of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
After two years of great instability in Ukraine caused by political tension with its Russian neighbour, Assocalzaturifici goes back to exploring a market that is attempting to take off again. Shoes from Italy at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kiev is a b2b workshop open to footwear and leather goods companies, which will meet 80 to 100 local buyers from all over central and western Ukraine.
Press release
ASSOCALZATURIFICI ITALIANI
Milan, March 21 2016