GDS and GLS 2007
Exhibitor and Visitor Statements on GDS and GLS
Exhibitors’ Statements
Aerosoles
Erik Illig, General Manager, Portugal (Hall 12)
We posted very good attendance at GDS, receiving visitors especially from Germany and Scandinavia – despite exhibiting this time as Aerosoles direct without representation by agents. The exhibition days from Friday to Sunday are ideal. .
Audley
Rainer Fokkens, General Manager, Spain (Hall 9)
We are very satisfied with the quality clientele in the “white cubes” area. We found new customers and took orders. We were particularly delighted to meet new buyers from Eastern Europe. To us GDS is equally important as an information platform.
Berkemann
Britta Beumers, Communications Manager, Germany (Hall 12)
The trade fair went very well for us. While German customers dominated the first day of the fair, on the other days our stand was visited by noticeably more international visitors. This season our bag collection lured many interested visitors onto our stand. These products have allowed us to successfully pursue our strategy of addressing new target groups. In our view GDS is being increasingly used as an information-gathering and communication platform.
Birkenstock
Bernd Hillen, Brand Manager, Germany (Hall 9)
GDS is of paramount importance for us and we love to come to Düsseldorf. All major buyers are here but there are still too few smaller retailers around. For this reason, more emphasis should be placed on the Sunday. Since our German in-house trade fair takes place before GDS, to us GDS/GLS mark the grand closing to the season. It is here that we take our last orders.
Converse
Willy Umland, Managing Partner, Germany (Hall 13)
Our stand was again very well “frequented” over the entire duration of the trade fair. By as early as Friday all key accounts, without exception, came to our stand. We primarily received customers from Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Latvia and Estonia at our stand. To us GDS is an order platform cum information exchange. We will definitely be back.
Crocs
Dick Wijsman, Managing Director, the Netherlands (Hall 13)
The number of people visiting our stand was enormous and the order volume was also more than satisfactory. For us GDS went very well across the board and results once again exceeded our expectations.
Dr. Martens
Andreas Bobon, General Manager, Bondi Marketing GmbH, Germany (Hall 13)
Our trade fair participation has been very successful and the quality of visitors is outstanding. We were pleased to welcome all top buyers from Germany at our stand and hope the upward trend will continue at the next GDS.
Goffreddo Fantini
Jürgen Schmidt, Representative, Germany (Hall 9)
The “white cubes” area has convinced us. Visitor attendance at our stand exceeded expectations. We were able to establish important new contacts. GDS is also of crucial significance for us as an information platform. We favour GDS and hope the “white cubes” concept will be continued at the next GDS, too.
Hugo Boss
Yvonne Piu, Distribution Manager, Shoes & Accessories Germany, Germany (Hall 9)
We were especially impressed with the good organisation of the “white cubes” area. From Friday to Sunday our stand was visited by many, high-quality visitors. We were able to meet all top buyers at our stand even including some first-time customers from South Africa and Kazakhstan. We couldn’t fault the fair on international flair. We have already decided to opt for a stand in the “white cubes” segment next time.
H.I.S/ Bruno Banani
Ingo Carbon, Sales Manager, Germany (Hall 13)
First and foremost we met buyers from Germany, Switzerland and Austria. We know GDS as a venue where order books are filled, contacts are made and where trends are scouted. Many top-notch buyers visited our stand and showed an interest in our brands. For us GDS continues to be the most important trade fair and this is why we invest in our presence at the fair.
IX Shoes
Carlos Suarez, General Manager, Spain (Hall 10)
GDS is important for the German market as on order and information forum. On Saturday we registered a higher attendance than on Friday. Customers especially from Germany, Hungary, Belgium and the Netherlands and Russia found their way to our stand. We are very satisfied.
Primabase
Giampietro Melchiorri, Owner, Italy (Hall 9)
We consider “white cubes” at GDS an “order-generating” information event. It is here that we establish those important initial contacts and we are definitely more up-beat than last season. With “white cubes” GDS is on the right track – this is a forward-looking concept.
Replay
Tino Soulis, Sales Manager, Germany (Hall 13)
GDS/GLS is the sector’s foremost fair we exhibit at. The quality of visitors is right and the order situation very positive. The fair continues to be an order fair as before.
s.Oliver shoes
Dr. Thomas Nassua, General Manager, shoe.com, Germany (Hall 14)
We are very pleased with the outcome of the fair. On the first two days we registered very high attendance and were able to meet our key accounts. For us GDS is important for showcasing our brand and its concept and for introducing our second line.
Thierry Rabotin
Karlheinz Schlecht, Representative, Italy (Hall 9)
We are happy with how the fair went. International attendance is good. We even received some Japanese customers at our stand. For us GDS is a very good place to work and continues to be a pivotal orders fair. Here we are given the opportunity to put our stand concept into practice exactly they way we conceived it. Düsseldorf is the right location for the footwear sector. I couldn’t imagine not exhibiting at GDS.
Vialis, Frische Fische Hamburg Agency,
Sonja Röhricht, Agency Owner, Germany (Hall 9)
Friday marked the beginning of a very good exhibition with five new customers enlisted the very first day. Many important stores have found their way back to GDS – a fact of key importance to Düsseldorf as a trade fair destination. We had leads from an international range of visitors coming from Russia, Scandinavia as well as from the neighbouring countries Austria, Switzerland and the Benelux countries. We feel very much at home in the neighbourhood of the progressive collections displayed at “white cubes” and wish to see the strict selection of exhibitors continuing in the future. To me our participation was a resounding success and I ended the fair with a beaming smile.
Buyers’ Statements
Bodo Marke, Owner of Schuh-Marke, Hauenstein, Germany
We have been coming to GDS for 35 years now and wouldn’t miss it for the world. We run 17 specialised stores and most of our suppliers’ reps come to our stores. This is why we primarily use GDS to gather information and supplement the orders already on our books. I very much like the new segmentation of the halls and the unambiguous signposting. I hope this positive trend is set to go on.
Irina Zaytseva, Store Manager of Fashion Shops, St. Petersburg, Russia
Visiting GDS for the first time we are intrigued with, and surprised by, the clear and very international array of ranges, the coherent and well arranged segments as well as the good service at the fair. There is a very pleasant exhibition “infrastructure” for trade visitors which we have now been able to get to know and use for the first time. We have found new lines and providers for our chain store and will definitely use GDS as a permanent order option.
Stefanie Hiller, Owner, Bekleidungskultur, Prüm, Germany
The new hall layout of GDS, Hall 9 with its premium ranges and the “white cubes” area are particularly to my liking. The halls are coherently segmented to ease orientation.
Marijon Schipper, Owner, Schipper Schoenmode, Oud-Beijerland, Netherlands
I come to GDS because it provides me with a comprehensive overview of the international ranges. I mainly use the trade fair for placing pre-season orders. Manufacturers also exhibit many styles at GDS I can’t order at our Orders Centre in the Netherlands.
Juan José Rubio Amarilla, Central Shoe Purchasing Department, El Corte Inglés, Madrid, Spain
By launching the premium area “white cubes” GDS trade fair management has charted the right course. The ranges are second to none, Hall 9 boasts a very coherent layout. And the working atmosphere is extremely pleasant.
Hanns-Martin Diermann, Buyer, Schuh-Neumann, Hanover, Germany
The industry as a whole is now clearly in a more positive mood than in the previous year. Hall layout and the international ranges on show at GDS are good. I find Hall 9 with its “white cubes” prime area a special asset.
Koichiro Hayashi, Group Leader, Import Division, Hayashigo Co. Ltd, Osaka, Japan
We like coming to GDS because we find the whole universe of global ranges here.
Yvette Berzel, General Manager, Mortimer B, Eppelheim, Germany
Although we have not noticed any major fluctuations in the luxury segment, it strikes me that the prevailing mood in the industry has noticeably improved. I use GDS first and foremost to gather comprehensive commercial information and to place pre-season orders. My main interest is Hall 9 and the premium segment “white cubes”. This concept should definitely be continued.
2008 Spring Dates set
The next GDS/GLS and ‘global shoes & accessories’ will be held in Düsseldorf from 14 to 16 September 2007. Following talks held with Micam the 2008 spring edition will now run from 14 to 16 March 2008.
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