INTERNATIONAL NEWS
GDS 2006 convinced industry
with innovative concepts
DÜSSELDORF, Germany — At the recent staging of the 102nd GDS – The Premiere Shoe Event, 33,000 visitors (4.5 percent increase) from 82 countries gathered information and placed orders for the Spring/Summer 2007 season.
A total of 1,398 exhibitors (8 percent increase) presented over half a million shoe styles ranging from exclusive and elegant to young, trendy and experimental. Of particular interest was the premium segment “white cubes” – Messe Düsseldorf’s new and successful concept for exhibitors. GDS 2006 took place at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany.
“With a 30 percent increase in exhibitor participation, GDS now has an all-new look in the premium segment. The new concept was very well accepted by the buyers,“ said Werner Matthias Dornscheidt, president and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf. “Once again, GDS presented the entire spectrum of the international shoe market and impressively emphasized its central position as the platform for information and orders in Europe.“
 At 58 percent, the proportion of foreign buyers attending GDS also rose again slightly compared to the previous event. “GDS has managed to “turn around” the trend,” said Kirstin Deutelmoser, GDS project director. The fact that decision-makers accounted for the largest number of visitors (70 percent) meant that qualified planning and orders negotiations were possible. “After a number of difficult events we have now convinced visitors and exhibitors with a new concept. And we intend to develop this concept further. The 102nd GDS has shown it is able to regain its former strength,“ said Kirstin Deutelmoser.
Contributing considerably to the success of GDS was the new premium area “white cubes” which met expectations: a total of 90 internationally renowned labels and progressive high-fashion brands presented their new collections in an elegant and purist setting. “In response to numerous requests from the sector, Messe Düsseldorf intends to further extend its premium range. The “white cubes” premiere impressively showed that it is possible to present fashion in the halls of an exhibition center in an appealing, emotional and professional manner,” remarked Kirstin Deutelmoser.
Exhibitors gave the 102nd GDS high ratings.
“GDS was extremely positive. [The] ‘white cubes’ has potential and should be developed further,” said Norbert Klauser from the fashion agency Modeagentur Klauser.
Maximilian Müller, Managing Director at LLOYD, was also “very satisfied with the way GDS went.” The company was able to attract numerous new customers, especially from Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.
Visitors were equally pleased with the 102nd GDS. Peter Herkenrath, Managing Director at Schuhhaus Herkenrath GmbH, summarized the developments: “The mood is better now than it has been for a long time. GDS has now put into practice what buyers have been demanding for years: a special concept for the top segment, short distances at the fairgrounds and the ability to work undisturbed. Trade fair management paid attention to many details in order to create the right mood and trigger a desire to buy.”
With the Fashion Shows, TrendVision, Order Information, Trend Lectures, the Sales Assistants’ Day and a Men’s Special focusing on innovative sales strategies for men’s shoes, the 102nd GDS was also able to convince exhibitors and visitors in terms of its supporting program. “Visitors at GDS know that the trade fair with its high-quality supporting program offers them not only trends for the coming season but also important information helping them to make secure ordering decisions,” said Kirstin Deutelmoser.
Exhibitors and visitors were especially pleased with the category segmentation of GDS, which included areas such as Topstyle/Exclusivity/‘white cubes’, International Selection, Kids’ World, Wellness & Comfort, Lifestyle & Sports and Young Fashion as well as the “Design Attack“ segment presenting top fashion from young designers with the title “Mambo Italiano”. “‘Design Attack’ was always crowded. Even buyers from established fashion houses picked up ideas here for the forthcoming fashion season,” Deutelmoser said.
About 30 percent of the GDS visitors from 41 countries were also interested in GLS – International Event for Leather Goods & More, which was held concurrently with GDS. A total of 160 exhibitors and brands from 25 nations (including numerous renowned brands featuring shoes, bags and leather goods) displayed their products at GLS. The GLS exhibitors were especially satisfied with the strong international attendance and high percentage of decision-makers from the retail industry. Over 50 percent of the GLS attendees came from outside of Germany and more than 80 percent were from the middle and top management.
“The new concept at GLS is good and it’s going in the right direction. We benefit from the synergy effects of both trade fairs,” said Jordi Llavina, Managing Director of Puntotres from Spain. “For us, GLS is the right platform for serving the northern European market. For example, we had customers from Germany, the Benelux, Denmark, France and Switzerland. And this is also the only place we get to meet key English customers. We will definitely be back.”
“We are on the right track and GLS is increasingly proving itself as a platform for leather goods,” added Matthias.
The next concurrent staging of GDS and GLS will be held from March 9 – 11, 2007 in Düsseldorf, Germany. For further information on visiting or exhibiting at GDS or GLS 2007, visit http://www.mdna.com.
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