São Paulo – The high dollar should lead to a higher number of importation deals being made at Couromoda, the international footwear, leather artefacts and fashion accessories exhibition due from January 11th to 14th, 2015 at São Paulo’s Expo Center Norte. So believes the show’s foreign markets manager Katherine Shibata, who is expecting Arab executives among visitors.
Last year, Couromoda received 152 importers from Arab countries, of whom 73 were Saudi, 17 were Emirati, 17 were Libyan, 12 were Lebanese, nine were Sudanese, seven were Egyptian, five were Algerian, five were Tunisian, four were Kuwaiti and three were Moroccan. According to Shibata, the number of Arab visitors in 2015 should remain stable, but the volume of deals made with them is set to increase.
The bulk of Arab visitors is expected to be Saudi once again. In 2014, they attended in greater numbers than in the preceding edition. “In 2014, the majority of Arab visitors were Saudi – over 70 professionals,” the manager told ANBA. The last Couromoda edition was attended by 2,000 international buyers from 66 countries. In 2015, more importers are expected to attend and more deals are expected to be closed.
This should come in the wake of international promotional actions held by Couromoda in 65 countries, advertisement to a buyers’ mailing list and at other exhibitions, the launch of a program focusing on bringing 100 importers from across Latin America, major buyers of Brazilian footwear, and clients referred by exhibitors and by Couromoda’s consul for Latin America, José Batista Marchall.
Couromoda is the event where the Brazilian retail places the lion’s share of its autumn-winter shoe purchase orders. The fair also hosts the launch of new products and creations by the Brazilian – and even foreign – industry for the season. Last year, 1,500 brands were featured. Products launched range from shoes to accessories such as belts, purses, wallets and the like. The show is held by the eponymous group.
There are 8,100 footwear manufacturing plants in Brazil, with a combined output of roughly 900 million pairs a year. By the end of November this year, the country had exported 114 million pairs of shoes, grossing US$ 948 million in the process.
Information
Couromoda
January 11th to 14th, 2015
Expo Center Norte – Rua José Bernardo Pinto, 333 – São Paulo – São Paulo
Sunday to Tuesday from 10am to 8pm; Wednesday from 10am to 5pm
Additional information: http://www.couromoda.com/en/fair
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
