Highlights to Explore Business Opportunities Gained Support from Market Players

The 8^th Dongguan China Shoes . China Shoetec (Autumn 2008) was successfully held from October 30 – November 1, 2008 at GD Modern International Exhibition Center, Houjie, Dongguan, PR China.  Although with the challenges of worldwide economic downturn and the new show dates, the show was smoothly run under the support of industry players.  With the aim to assist exhibitors in developing domestic and emerging overseas markets, and in realizing breakthrough on design, trend & technology, the exhibition has explored new business opportunities for exhibitors via various means, and the expectations were met.

Exhibiting area of this edition reached 22,000sqm, 498 exhibitors from various countries & regions have joined the exhibition, including Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan Province, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Spain, Malaysia, Brazil, etc.  Three specialized zones, namely “Shoe Zone”, “Accessories, Leather & Material Zone” and “Machinery Zone, have been set up to facilitate buyers’ visit.  Around 60% were shoe products exhibitors, 15% were material & accessories suppliers, while 25% were shoes machinery exhibitors.  The exhibition has also gained enormous support from industry associations for organizing pavilions, including CCCLA pavilion, Hong Kong Footwear Association pavilion, Dongguan Leather & Footwear Association pavilion, Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry pavilion, Dongguan Shoe-making Machinery Association pavilion, and Putian Footwear Association pavilion who made their debut at Dongguan China Shoes.

The 3-day show attracted 18,453 visitors from 75 countries & regions, including Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan Province, United States, Japan, Brazil, Australia, Singapore, Korea, Italy, Spain, Russia, etc.  Among them, 23% were from overseas, including buyer delegations from Russia, Vietnam, Thailand, etc.  Visitors were satisfied with the show.  Mr. O. Trozzolo, a shoe buyer from Canada, said, “It’s my 4^th time to the show, and this is a really good show.  I can find the right suppliers here easily.  Staff are nice and helpful and their service is really good.”  Mr. S. Homishin, a Russian trader, expressed that the exhibition was very well organized, and he found many suitable suppliers at the show.  He has reached initial deals with exhibitors at the fairgrounds.  He said he was highly satisfied with the show and would recommend the exhibition to other Russian buyers.

Tailor-made Services to Facilitate Communication between Buyers and Exhibitors

With experience of past events and to meet the needs of customers, The 8^th Dongguan China Shoes . China Shoetec launched new services to facilitate the effective communication between buyers and exhibitors.  To identify different target markets of exhibitors, organizers have tailor-made a signage at each booth to indicate “China Market” & “International Market” according to the information provided by exhibitors, to make it convenient for buyers to find the matching suppliers.  The new service is highly appreciated by both exhibitors and buyers.  Based on estimates, 80% exhibitors expressed their intention to develop domestic market besides focusing on export sales.  Organizers have also arranged “Buyers Dinner” on the first show day, providing a casual communication platform to buyers and exhibitors.

To meet the accelerating demand of industry players on developing domestic markets, and to cater the needs of exhibitors & market changes, organizers have spent great effort on developing domestic market on top of overseas buyers’ invitation.  Retailers, department stores, chain stores, premier mail order houses & online shops in China have been invited to visit and source at the exhibition, to explore the sales & marketing channel of domestic market.  Exhibitors and visitors also welcomed the one-stop sourcing arrangement for shoes, materials and machinery under one-roof.

Highlights for the Exhibition – Fabulous Concurrent Activities

Numerous concurrent activities have been organized at The 8^th Dongguan China Shoes . China Shoetec.  Experts from Italy, Russia, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and China, etc, have been invited as the guest speakers for onsite seminars with topics covering brand development, emerging markets, products transformation and industry upgrading.  All the seminars were full house and were highly appreciated by audience.  Concurrently held with The 8^th Dongguan China Shoes, World Footwear Industry Development Forum gathered representatives of worldwide footwear industry to discuss and explore on “Development, Transition, Upgrading – Footwear Industry Breakthrough and Win-win Path”.

The newly launched “Brand & Design Galaxy” displayed more than 70 styles of Italian brand shoes, Hong Kong shoes designers’ manuscripts, and market information of footwear industry of SE Asian countries, to let visitors get in touch with the latest designs & updated market elements, and to capture new business opportunities for developing domestic market.

Putian Pavilion Made Its Debut at Dongguan China Shoes

As one of the important shoe producing and exporting bases in China, and renowned for its production of famous brands of sport shoes, Putian City of Fujian Province made its debut at Dongguan China Shoes by organizing a pavilion to exhibit, lead by Deputy Mayor of Putian City, Mr. Li Fei Ting.  At “The Founding Ceremony for Co-Establishment of China Export Base of Footwear”, held by China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Light Industrial Products and Arts-Crafts (CCCLA) and Government of Putian City, Mr. Li Fei Ting said, “Putian, as the 2^nd cities in China and 1^st in Fujian Province to have this honorable endorsement, will continue to build and promote the brand of Putian, to facilitate the transformation and upgrading of footwear industry in Putian.”

According to “21^st Century Economic News”, the market share of China’s shoes is 69.9% in Russian, 70.2% in Japan, and 72.5% in United States.  Average import price of China shoes to Italy is only EURO3.01 per pair, which is much lower than that of Vietnam at EURO8.72 and that of Brazil at EURO11.73.  Besides, with the long history of development, shoe industry in China has well developed its complete production chain, quality control system and professional human resources, which provides edges to China’s shoes industry.  However, China’s shoe industry is also urged to upgrade from pure OEM to value-added on design & technology.  Facing the ever-changing market environment, Dongguan China Shoes . China Shoetec will continue to act as the latest industry interacting platform, to match with the market changes and to explore business opportunities for both exhibitors and buyers.

Dongguan China Shoes · China Shoetec is jointly organized by China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Light Industrial Products and Arts-Crafts (CCCLA), Messe Düsseldorf China Ltd., Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd. and Guangdong Modern Convention and Exhibition Management Co., Ltd.  It is the only professional shoes exhibition in Dongguan as well as the UFI-approved event that offers the best one-stop sourcing platform for middle-to-high end footwear, materials and machineries in Asia.

The 9^th Dongguan China Shoes . China Shoetec (Spring 2009) will be staged from May 5 – 7, 2009 at GD Modern International Exhibition Center, Houjie, Dongguan, PR China.  Look forward to meeting you at The 9^th Dongguan China Shoes . China Shoetec!

World Footwear Industry Development Forum
 

International buyers glad to find the interested products
 

Fashion show displays fine collections and leads the trend
 

Stunning booth design with quality products to attract buyers

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Importers say China, facing inflationary pressures due to labor shortages and higher costs for petroleum and other raw materials, will continue to be the dominant producer of footwear for many years.