A fair number of people made it to the China Leather and All China Shoe-Tech, organised by Donnor Exhibitions, which ran September 24–26, at the Wenzhou International Convention and Exhibition Centre. This is a well established event. Wenzhou and the outlying areas, best known for its man-made footwear products has also a thriving leather industry.

The event itself followed what may be a pattern emerging generally at other exhibitions in this field: very busy on the opening day: quiet for the remaining days.

Hard to say why this should be. One possibility, at least contributing to the effect, is that the top management turn up on Day 1, but then leave it to lower level personnel to attend for the remaining period.

By and large overseas representation, as either exhibitors or buyers, seemed to be down on previous years. However, this observation would not include those from India and the sub-continent, more of whom were potential buyers rather than sellers.

If one described this event in Wenzhou as broadly 'neutral' it would pretty much say it all. The leather and shoe-making industry still stands – in products of their own making. It's in keeping with other, similar events, in other places.

These are difficult times but the future looks better.

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