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Press Footwear Today - September 2002 "A Touch of Class" There's certainly no shortage of shows on offer, both national and international, for those within the footwear industry, but it seems that there's plenty of room for a young contender with a more specific target in mind. The Kensington Shoe Event may only be in its second year, but the 45 years of industry experience shared by the organizers, Renato de Angelis and Martin Ward, has ensured that this show is growing without teething problems and is going from strength to strength.
The Kensington Shoe Event is, as the advertising says, 'a showcase for the finest designers and manufacturers in Europe. The idea for this event, which is held in the heart of the Royal Borough of Kensington, was born out of a desire to exhibit medium to high grade products in a setting of their own, away from the much larger showcase of the London Shoe Show held at the Novotel. In March 2001, five exhibitors chose to move from the London Shoe Show to a more exclusive setting of their own at the Kensington Close Hotel. As Renato de Angelis explained, " We didn't make the move as a deliberate break away from the London Show, where we were exhibiting previously, but we did feel that we needed a more focussed event to showcase our products. As the London Shoe Show expanded and consequently was opened up to a much broader customer base, it was inevitable that a small number of exhibitors were being swamped and their visitors were losing out. In three floors of exhibitors it can be difficult to locate the brands that you came for, and it doesn't seem fair to expect people to work harder when there is an alternative."
From 29th September - 1st October 2002, The Kensington Shoe Event will be holding its fourth show, and Martin Ward outlined the strengths that benefit both exhibitors and visitors. " I think it's important that people understand that this event is organised by Renato and myself, coming from the point of view of agents rather than event organizers in terms of our experience. We are trying to offer the best setting for the business we are in, and we want to maintain a suitable ambience where visitors feel they can view the products at a comfortable pace, and establish a relationship with the exhibitors which will benefit both."
In terms of the setting, the Kensington Posthouse Hotel (now Kensington Close Hotel) has also proved cost effective in terms of the way in which the brands are displayed. The exhibits are mostly in meeting rooms, meaning that there is greater privacy for customers and no pressure on them to visit brands that they may not wish to view. It also allows to offer real quality of service to visitors. The facilities for refreshments and coffee are available to everyone. Exhibitors can also choose to have late appointments where necessary as there is not set 'lock-up' time in the hotel."
Since The Kensington Shoe Event first began, its exhibitors have increased from 5 to 15*, and there are now over 40* quality factories represented. This is a clear sign that the show has been highly successful, but the organisers plan to stay true to their original intentions in terms of controlling the expansion of the event. Renato says "We have had great demand for exhibition space and there is a waiting list at present, but it will be impossible to maintain our current quality of service if we grow too big. It is important to us to maintain the variety of price and style without compromising the quality of the products. We are very happy with our situation at the moment and we have every intention of keeping the event both manageable and attractive to the customer." The future? We will see how things develop. * Organisers note: at March '07 the no. of exhibitors has increased to 25 and the brands on show to approx. 65 Inquiries to: Renato de Angelis, Tel/Fax 0207 937 7618; renatodeangelis@aol.com Martin Ward, Tel/Fax 01242 250908
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