São Paulo – The 50th International Shoe and Accessories Fashion Fair (Francal) will run from July 16 to 19 at São Paulo’s Expo Center Norte and the industry outlook is good. Demand is expected to pick up in the second half as Spring-Summer collection sales begin, after a first half of external market instability, a trucker strike and slumping domestic consumption.
The expo will feature 450 exhibitors and over 1,000 importers from 50 countries are expected. About 100 importers have been invited, 11 of which are Arab – four are Saudi, three are Emirati, one is Kuwaiti, two are Libyan and two are Qatari. Other walk-in Arab importers and visitors will be accounted for once the event is over.
This year, Francal will feature contents for industrialists and retailers, providing visitors with a comprehensive experience including forums, lectures and fashion shows. “We have brought a huge range of contents on fashion, e-trade, retail trends and visual merchandising concepts to inspire our visitors,” a press release quoted Francal president Abdala Jamil Abdala as saying. He expects good deal-making, especially on the international front.
Abicalçados CEO Heitor Klein said that “early on in the year, we were expecting a stronger rebound in domestic demand, which accounts for 85% of total sales; unfortunately, external market instability, the political crisis and its strong impact on the economy prevented that from coming true.”
Klein also said that if recovery is to take place this year, it will come with sales of the Spring-Summer collections, which will be introduced at Francal.” He also said those sales make up 70% of total Brazilian footwear sales.
Francal is the leading footwear and fashion industry event in Brazil, with the industry converging from Brazil and abroad to see thousands of new collections. Find out more, register and see the full program at www.francal.com.br.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
