GDS/GLS Growth in the Premium Segment

1,342 Exhibitors showcase Shoe and Bag Collections for Autumn/Winter 2007/08

From 9 to 11 March GDS/GLS – International Event for Shoes, Leather Goods & More’  and ‘global shoes & accessories’ will be opening their doors again in Düsseldorf as the sectoral meeting place and information platform for the entire international shoe business. 1,342 exhibitors from 40 nations will be showcasing their latest shoe and bag collections here for Autumn/Winter 2007/08 and their immediate ranges for the current Spring/Summer 2007 season. This means the events in total have matched last year’s levels.

It is particularly in the premium segment that GDS/GLS has been able to generate growth. After a 30% increase last season, the number of exhibitors in this exclusive segment has risen once again by 31%. More and more brands are rediscovering the trade fair location of Düsseldorf as a central information and orders platform in the heart of Europe. A growing number of exclusive exhibitors from key producing nations such as Italy, Spain or France are recognising the importance of GDS/GLS for their own business success.   

“GDS/GLS and ‘global shoes & accessories’ are continuing their upward trend,” said Werner Matthias Dornscheidt, CEO at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, summing up the development at the opening press conference. “By developing new concepts like ‘white cubes’ or ‘prime square’ we shall further tailor the fairs to the needs of the market and strengthen their importance for the shoe sector long term.”

Unique in Europe, GDS/GLS and ‘global shoes’ shore up buyers’ ordering decisions thanks to a comprehensive supporting programme. Featuring specialist events, trend lectures and shows, the two fairs prime up the shoe sector perfectly for the next season. The clear segmentation of the events divides up the range into progressive, classically elegant and young fashion right through to volume suppliers, thereby offering all buyers a suitable and comprehensive range. By introducing new segments GDS/GLS have further optimised the range structure thereby helping visitors to find their way around the exhibition centre more easily.

Exclusivity
More and more exclusive shoe brands are opting to use GDS/GLS as the platform to present their latest shoe styles to the public. Celebrating a world premiere is the label of hotel heiress and it-girl Paris Hilton. Her shoe brand of the same name will be presented to a trade audience for the first time in the ‘b..cube’ segment. Presented outside the special segments with individual presentations are brands like Aldo Brue, Attilio Giusti, Beverly Feldmann, Chie Mihara, Franceschetti, Lottusse, Magrit, trippen and Pura Lopez.

‘white cubes’ and ‘agent’s only’ – High Quality, Progressive and Still Expanding
After its sparkling premiere in September of last year the GDS/GLS premium section in Hall 9 has now grown further. The ‘white cubes – contemporary design’ area features international designer labels and progressive high fashion brands in exclusive surroundings with definitive state-of-the-art shoes and bags. Over 130 internationally renowned, high-class brands like newcomers Robert Clergerie, C. Doux, Goffredo Fantini, Hamlet, Hugo Boss, Jan Jansen, Moma, Uroads, Salord plus other top labels like Charles Jourdan, Etro, Harlot, Kallisté, Michel Perry, Primabase, Stuart Weitzman and Vialis make ‘white cubes’ a special world of experience for international buyers.

In the special ‘agents only’ area Düsseldorf trading agencies will be presenting the latest fashions from in brands like 7 for all mankind, Amaterasu, Argila, Buttero, Costume National, DKNY, Paco Gil and Just Cavalli, La Suite.

In a second special section called ‘b..cube’ (Hall 10) the fashion agency Klauser will be putting high quality collections on a high pedestal in a spacious hall where visitors can freely wander: included amongst the brands here are Paris Hilton, La Martina Shoes, Claudio Orciani, Silvia Bertolaja, Alberto Fasciani, Clone and many more.

Prime Square – Classic Elegance of the Highest Quality
No less high quality is to be found in the immediate vicinity in the ‘prime square – value & tradition’ segment. Exhibitors of high quality brands will be showcasing their classically elegant and discerning shoe fashions here in a uniform and stylish environment. Contemporary stand architecture and comprehensive service all under one roof make this exclusive segment particularly attractive for exhibitors. A lounge rounds off the area very harmoniously. This is the perfect, relaxed setting for you to hold in-depth ordering negotiations over sushi and a glass of prosecco. Exhibited in the ‘prime square’ segment are brands like Baldinini, Dino Bigioni, Dinkelacker, El Dantés, Pertini, Zindacal or newcomers like Dansi, Gordon Bros. and Graffiti.

International Selection with ‘concept 10’ – Shoe Design from throughout the World
The International Selection in Halls 10 and 11 once again awaits us with an international array of select quality brands. The fashion collections of brands like Nero Giardini, Virna Shoes, Vanni Fratelli and Mariefrance have found a new home here in the stylish surroundings of the new area ‘concept 10’. In their individual presentations Café Noir, Cerutti, Donna Carolina, Enzo Caramaschi, Gianmarco Venturi, Lenci, Manas, Maripe, Olip and Valleverde will be bringing the latest shoe trends to Düsseldorf from Italy. And the Iberian peninsular is also featured with labels like Ana Bonilla, ix, Kentucky’s Western Quest, Lodi, Unisa, Penelope and Pons Quintana – providing impressive proof of the special style of Spanish shoe fashions. German and Austrian quality brands enjoying a great international reputation like Belmondo, Gabor, Högl, Kennel und Schmenger, Manz, Fortuna, Lloyd, Paul Green, Wendel, Marco Tozzi and Wortmann also stand for modern and stylish elegance as do Marc Shoes, Peter Kaiser and Sioux. And from the Sugar Loaf come leading shoe and bag brands like Azaleia, Finobel, Treslu and Up 2 You from Brazil to the Rhine.

Kids – Kidwalk welcomes Prominent Newcomer Camper
Hall 10 is where the youngest amongst us make their great entrance. Here children’s shoes are given the perfect staging. On their stands brands like Chupa Chups, Däumling, Gulliver, Naturino, Kenzo, Living Kitzbühel, Pepino, Pinocchio, Primigi, Richter and Ricosta show how kids can make it fashionably through the next Winter. In an authentic setting the ‘kidwalk’ concept area also offers children’s shoe manufacturers a new, high-performance presentation platform. Buyers who place brand universes, wear comfort and a perfect fit for children’s shoes on an equal ‘footing’ are really catered to in this section. Featured at the premiere are numerous names from the mid and high-end segments likes Camper, Garvalin, Brigitte Ravel, Jochie, Alexander Hatt, Kitz-Pichler and Lucky Lion. A total of more than 120 children’s shoe exhibitors will be showcased at the exhibition centre.

Ricosta, the market leader in the children’s shoe segment, will be holding a Song Contest at the ‘kidwalk Central Market’ on the Sunday at the fair at 10.00 am, 12.00 noon and 2.00 pm. Visitors will have the chance to assess the singing talents of the 7 truly ‘Young Stars’ taking part in this event. Every little songster will give their best while singing one song. The show will close on a song sung by all. 

Wellness & Comfort – Well-Being and Health
‘Health’ shoes will also be very much in fashion in the coming season. GDS/GLS will hone in on this development by featuring a Wellness Oasis for the feet in Hall 12: established brand manufacturers like Aerosoles, Ara, Birkenstock, Christian Dietz, Greenfield, Josef Seibel, Scholl, Mephisto, Rieker, Romika, Waldi Finn Comfort and Think! will be showcasing leisure shoes, slippers, health and orthopaedic shoes of the next generation.

Shop & Deco – Staging of Product Tableaux
Nowadays the right staging and presentation of goods play a more important role than ever. Customers only buy products presented to them at the shops in an innovative, appealing and emotional manner. The Shop & Deco segment at GDS/GLS can provide you with valuable tips here. Located in Hall 12 this section also provides ideas on how the retail trade can increase its sales with add-ons. Exhibitors here include shop fitters, suppliers of store decoration as well as shoe care product manufacturers like Airmici, Bama and Bergal.

Lifestyle & Sports – Back to Nature
Camel Active, Dockers, Meindl, Tecnica and Teva are just some of the brands for whom getting back to nature is of special importance at GDS/GLS. Also awaiting visitors in Hall 14 are young lifestyle street and sportswear brands. Established names like Betty Barclay, Lacoste, Marc O’Polo, Mexx, More & More, Tom Tailor and S.Oliver Shoes will be here just as the two Spanish labels Snipe and El Naturalista or newcomers Hub Footwear, Flip Flop and Timezone. A large proportion of exhibitors in the Lifestyle & Sports segment will be also presenting bags and other accessories alongside their shoe collections.

Young Fashion / Design Attack – Hip Young Fashion with Alpine Flair
Things will be as original as ever in Hall 13 in the Young Fashion segment: far from the mainstream here we will find trendy cult brands like Buffalo London, Converse, Crocs, Fly London, H.I.S., Kangaroos, Kappa, Kowalski, Mustang, Replay, Skechers and Wrangler in their own special setting.

The 6th edition of Design Attack blends the idyll of the Alpine landscape and mountain lodges in cool black and white cowhide design with the refreshing ingredients of a trendy cocktail staging this unusual crossover in Hall 13 at GDS/GLS under the motto ‘Kuhba Libre’.

111 creative young designers and already more well-known labels will be showcasing trendy and original tendencies from street fashion here. Alongside the shoes and bags urban wear, lingerie, jewellery plus other accessories and lifestyle products will be centre stage here. Alternative materials, new colours and finishes determine the styles for these young, unconventional collections. A cosy, rustic Alpine-lodge style restaurant will invite visitors to raise their glasses over Bavarian titbits and speciality beers. Labels featured in the Design Attack segment include: Airwalk, AppePazza, Beast, Ben-Simon, Bicolli, erst Ich.de, Fogg, Grinders Grandstand, Gundi Blind, Heartwear, Jacatao, Jiboia, Karin van Noort, Komodo, Keds, Lola Cruz, Losgelöst, Monta, Naketano, null:zwo:elf, Seasurfer, Red Wing, Rocket Dog, Sperry Top-Sider, Seasurfer, Uad Medani, verfilzt & zugenäht, Wolpertinger, Yuta Pasch and Zippo Bags.

GLS – Range Extension a Key Item on the Agenda
This time GLS has been focused more consciously towards GDS and brought into line with GDS segments: handbags, gloves, belts and small leather goods are of great interest to most shoe retailers and shoe departments. The issue of ‘range extension’ therefore plays a central role at GLS. Furthermore, visitors to GDS/GLS are given the best trend information. Leather goods retailers benefit from the wholistic approach of fashion presentations at GDS/GLS. The already pre-filtered range especially concentrates on German and European brands who are presented focally in Hall 11 as well as in Halls 9, 13 and 14. Amongst those exhibiting at GLS are Abro, Contempo, Gretchen, Kapworks, Leontine Hagoort, NDC, Owa Moden, Rene Lezard, Sequenza, Vogt of Florence and Helen Welsh.

global shoes & accessories – The Professional Platform for Volume Suppliers
With its premiere in Halls 15 to 17 ‘global shoes & accessories’ offers volume suppliers and OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) a unique opportunity for their own communication and order platform held in parallel to GDS/GLS. With its launch of ‘global shoes’ Messe Düsseldorf is now siphoning off the ‘International Basic’ segment from GDS/GLS and offering its exhibitors a new, independent forum for qualified B-2-B business. Volume suppliers from 27 countries will present the entire spectrum of ladies and men’s shoes along with sport and wellness shoes through to bags and leather accessories. The new event will be backed up by symposiums on topics like logistics, the legal framework, production, quality management and country-specific information.  

SHOWS & EVENTS
At GDS/GLS and ‘global shoes & accessories’ information has traditionally always been a top priority. This is the only way buyers can be sure to get the assured confidence they need for next round of orders. A comprehensive supporting programme featuring trend events, special and shows makes an important contribution here – in a nutshell: there’s always something going on over the three days of the fair.

Catwalk Shows – Perfect Staging for an Overview of the Trends
With a view to the entire outfit numerous shows will put the shoe fashions of tomorrow into just the right light. An absolutes highlight here is the Upper Style Show featuring international fashion protagonists like Audley, Emma Lou, Etro, Paco Gil, Paul & Joe, Puma by neil barrett and Sebastian – held daily in Hall 14.

For the first time now, exhibitors from the lifestyle hall like Camel Active, Lacoste, Mexx, s.Oliver and Timezone will have the opportunity to showcase their entire outfits as part of the Life Style Show. This means shoes can be shown in the context of their brand image.

The hip streetwear at ‘Design Attack’ will be the focus of our attention in the ‘Kuhba Libre Show’ in Hall 14. Other international brands will also be presenting their latest collections in ‘Fashion Show’ and the ‘Fashion, Kids & Wellness Show’.

Information Events guarantee Order Confidence
The ‘TrendVision’ event in Hall 10 demonstrates the latest trends for Autumn/Winter 2007/08 with its colours and styles – plus the sophisticated transfer between art and fashion so we can experience all this with all our senses. This trend staging puts shoes together with clothing, lifestyle and art into one wholistic, aesthetic context.

On Day 1 of the fair the ‘Orderinfo Event by TextilWirtschaft’ will inform visitors on tendencies, themes and initial ordering trends for clothing plus the shoes and bags to go with this. In her talk fashion expert Gudrun Allstädt will give the audience an ideal start to the trade fair weekend (CCD.Ost, Room R).

Shoe expert Dr. Claudia Schulz will be providing a daily overview of the Autumn/Winter 2007/08 shoe and bag fashions as part of the ‘schuhkurier Trendinfo’ event  (Hall 11, Stand E36, Red Lounge).

GDS/GLS will shine the spotlight on a current issue in the sector in one very special ‘Young Fashion Talk’ entitled “Trends, Concepts, Potential – What Impulses can Young Fashion give the Shoe Retail Trade?” First-Blue editor-in-chief Dirk Stegemann will be discussing scenarios with prominent representatives from the sector – like Willy Umland (Converse) and Wolfgang Friedrichs (Replay) – on how Young Fashion brands can inject additional momentum into shoe retail (Hall 13, D59, First Blue Lounge).

The Italian shoe association ANCI will be inviting visitors to attend a trend analysis of the 2007/08 Autumn/Winter season on Friday at 2.00 pm. President of the ANCI, Rossano Soldini, and association director Leonardo Soana will be informing the audience on shoes “Made in Italy” in their talk ‘I Love Italian Shoes’ (Hall 9, Stand B45). 

On the Sunday morning the 17th “Sales Assistants’ Day’ will provide insight into the issues of “Fashion over the Years” and “Emotional Selling” offering comprehensive further training and motivation for sales assistants in the shoe retail trade including many interesting aspects and key commercial principles for sales and trend training sessions (CCD.Ost).
‘global shoes’ will be holding two symposiums on current issues: in the first the experts Tapan Nandi and Naresh Bhasin will give a talk on “India – A Good Partner for the International Shoe Trade” (Sunday, 11 March 2007, 1.30 pm, Hall 17). Dipl.-Ing. Caroline Brinkmann and Dr. Gerhard Nickolaus from PFI Pirmasens will then talk about “Qualitative and Legal Requirements in German Shoe Retail” at 2.15 pm   

The Exhibitors’ Evening will also be held under the ‘Kuhba Libre’ theme at Düsseldorf’s exhibition centre on the Saturday night: Alpine feeling is guaranteed when several hundred exhibitors will party deep into the night.

GDS/GLS and ‘global shoes & accessories’ are open on all three days of the fair from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm. Admission tickets can be purchased in advance at reduced prices on the Internet or at normal rates at the fair itself. Admission tickets are also valid for free travel on public transport within the networks of the VRR and VRS transport authorities (incl. 2nd class travel on German railways).