GDS to continue amid “great insecurity” in footwear
26/09/2016
Nevertheless, after a meeting with the event’s advisory board, organiser Messe Düsseldorf has said GDS will run in 2017, the first edition taking place in Düsseldorf from February 7-9, when 700 footwear brands are expected to take part.
The major change Messe Düsseldorf announced after the meeting is that the summer (or autumn) edition of GDS will revert to September dates next year after an experiment with a move to July that began in 2014.
Commenting on this decision, Messe Düsseldorf’s chief executive, Matthias Dornscheidt, said: “Three years ago we agreed with trade and industry to pitch GDS as a communications and information platform at earlier dates. Many things have happened in the meantime and the shoe market is highly dynamic. Everyone you talk to confirms that the market is governed by great insecurity. The sector wishes to have a strong international GDS [but] in view of market changes the sector also feels that it is important to have GDS moved closer to the season. Furthermore, the trade show will be held from Sunday to Tuesday in order to also accommodate smaller-sized retailers.”
Messe Düsseldorf will publish further information in December concerning the summer edition of GDS.
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