ANCI pushes into Russia
08/04/2008
The Italian National Footwear Industries Association (ANCI) has said that Russia is again going to be “the real opportunity for Italian-produced shoes” in 2008.
“It’s more relevant to look at the visitors to the Italian footwear stands than to analyse the official statistics, which, for a country like Russia, indicate only a general trend while systematically underestimating the size of the market” said ANCI president, Vito Artioli, in a press statement.
Estimates for retail sales of leather footwear in Russia range from e9.5 billion to e16.9 billion.
Mr Artioli commented that , in spite of “the air of crisis and the consequent prudence” that was evident in other markets, Russian buyers remained very active. This was clear at the most recent edition of the Micam event in Milan.
He said this enthusiasm for Italian leather shoes was the main reason why ANCI would have a strong presence at the Obuv Mir Kozhi trade fair, now in its 28th edition, which will take place in Moscow from April 22 to 25.
Of the 350 exhibitors at the event 270 will be Italian. Italian footwear brands will occupy 80% of the entire exhibition display area.
In the build-up to the event, Mr Artioli commented: “The percentage of Italian exhibitors at Obuv Mir Kozhi mirrors the current market situation. Italian exports in 2006 represented 13% of imports of leather or partly leather footwear in Russia, but this has gone up to 18% in the latest data available for the first half of 2007. Italy is in second place after China and ahead of Germany and Vietnam, but it is the only country manufacturing high and medium quality footwear.”
He said that research had shown that Italian-manufactured shoes with a retail price of more than e80 have a strong consumer appeal in Russia. Sample analysis reveals, for example, that over 50% of Moscow consumers prefer to purchase imported shoes—Chinese in the lower ranges and Italian in the high and medium-high ranges.
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