Modacalzado comes in for criticism
26/11/2008
The Spanish National Footwear Federation (FICE) has spoken out in defence of the Modacalzado leathergoods and footwear exhibition in Madrid, which it owns, although the running of the event is in the hands of a specialist partner, Ifema.
The latest edition of the twice-yearly show (September 2008) has come in for criticism because the number of exhibitors was down by 27% to 427 (with the number of Spanish exhibitors showing a fall of 11%), while the number of visitors fell by 8%.
Some senior figures in the Spanish footwear industry have been reported in local media as questioning the benefits of Modacalzado, and even the event's ability to continue. When the executive committe of FICE met on November 21, this subject is said to have been the focus of much of the discussion.
Later, FICE's president, Rafael Calvo, said the criticism was unfair. He added: "Yes, the latest edition was affected by the economic crisis, just as businesses have been. But if there are footwear company owners that are in difficulty, or footwear retailers that have had to close, it doesn't mean they can put the blame on Modacalzado."
He insisted that the exhibition is still an important part of the footwear industry in Spain and a critical part of the sector's commercial strategy. Mr Calvo paid tribute to the unity Modacalzado had brought to Spain's footwear industry, saying that it was unique in that it represented all types of footwear produced in Spain, as opposed to dividing categories up among different events as in previous years.
He said FICE would continue to give Modacalzado its absolute support and he added that Ifema had shown a supportive attitude too, freezing its fees for 2009 and working closely with the federation to improve the event. Mr Calvo said: "If there are footwear companies that decide not to exhibit, it should be because they genuinely can't at this time, and not for some absurd reason. We don't want people to be left on the platform the next time the train comes past."
There will be what he calls a "logical, reasonable and well thought out" restructuring of the event at the next edition, March 17-19. The organisers have brought the dates forward to try to attract a higher number of international visitors. Modacalzado will take place only two days after the end of GDS, and the hope is that footwear buyers will go straight from Dusseldorf to Madrid, instead of going home. Rafael Calvo said he was in no doubt that Modacalzado, in future, would come to be of greater importance to the international footwear sector.
FICE has also said it will play a more prominent role in future editions of the show, offering more new ideas to make the event more attractive. It will, for example, try to arrange further special exhibitions in conjunction with some of Spain's top footwear designers, along the lines of the successful Carmen's Shoes exhibition that ran in 2006 and 2007.
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