Micam: beyond the rosiest expectations
“A very positive Micam, beyond our rosiest expectations” stated ANCI president Vito Artioli – “the exhibition once again confirmed its huge strategic importance as a genuine business appointment that can drive the entire footwear sector out of the dark tunnel of recession”.
March 6 through 9, a total of 38,812 sector operators, a 5.97% increase compared to March 2010 - 19,224 of whom were from Italy (+8.68%) and 19,588 from abroad (+3.44%) – visited the Micam ShoEvent, the most important international exhibition of footwear in the mid-high range organized by ANCI, the Associazione Nazionale Calzaturifici Italiani. In the pavilions at Fiera Milano Rho, over 1600 exhibitors presented their fall/winter 2011/2012 collections. With a record number of visitors from abroad and the maintenance of good results for operators from Italy, the exhibition closed with a more than positive outcome.
Also exhibitors were very satisfied with the event as they were able to make important commercial contacts and meet new buyers from Italy and abroad. But it was the foreign market that gave the best results: made-in-Italy was very successful among international buyers who have begun buying again after the global economic crisis. Specifically, in order of numbers, the buyers were from Russian-speaking countries and linked to the oil economy; from Spain, France, Germany, United Kingdom; China, which is coming significantly close to Japan, and the Asia Pacific area; from Turkey and the USA, with a strong qualitative presence also of large US chains and groups.
“As with exports, attendance at the March edition of the Micam ShoEvent returned to pre-recession levels,” ANCI president Vito Artioli continued. “For the second consecutive time the results of this exhibition are positive and have rewarded the perseverance of all the exhibitors who continued to invest in product research and innovation and presented a united front at the fair. The combination of other exhibitions in the system, bags, furs and eyewear, also strengthened our strategic position as a large international appointment for the market.”
Excellent results not only for the exhibition, which attracted high-profile political and institutional celebrities, but also for the fringe events that coincided with the exhibition: outside the exhibition district, Micam Point at the Spazio Borgonuovo 1 in the center of the Milan fashion quarter and “La fabbrica in città” at Piazzale Cadorna recorded excellent attendance, while cultural and training initiatives like “I love Italian Shoes” and “Che scarpa meravigliosa!” within the exhibition itself were very popular. Also presented were new services for companies in confirmation of the association’s constant attention to them.
“The edition’s success enjoyed by many companies” – the president of ANCI continued – “confirms that for operators throughout the world the Micam ShoEvent continues to be a real reference point for our sector. This success also represents evidence of a long awaited recovery”.
