BIRKENSTOCK used the launch of Gallery Shoes – an international platform for the footwear industry – to unveil its Spring/Summer 2018 collection. As one of more than 500 established European footwear brands from 16 countries, the traditional company invited specialist retailers to place orders at Düsseldorf’s Areal Böhler from August 27 to August 29. In the “Alte Schmiedhallen” building, BIRKENSTOCK showcased its new collection – which includes sandals, closed-toe shoes, sneakers and bags – in an area measuring 150 square meters. In particular, the new belt collection, which is the latest addition to the legwear and accessories range, caught the eye of the retailers.
In terms of topics, the conversations at the stand focused primarily on the way the collection is being improved by offering more fashionable and seasonable items, as well as the positive sales figures overall. What’s more, all the retailers praised the improved delivery quality and the increased product availability, both of which set the company apart as a partner that shoe retailers can rely upon. The stand design’s clear focus on product presentation underscored the character of Gallery Shoes as a working fair in a smaller but more personal setting.
Given the high number of visitors, the fair can be classed as a success from a manufacturer’s point of view. The majority of the industry insiders traveled to Düsseldorf from elsewhere in the German-speaking world, with eastern European retailers accounting for many of the guests from further afield. Overall, visitor numbers exceeded expectations, meaning that Gallery Shoes has the potential to become an important annual event in the diary of the footwear industry.
