Expo Riva Schuh: B2B Opportunities for Spanish Footwear

The Italian fair reinforces its commitment to internationalization in a complex tariff context

Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags, the two most important footwear and leather goods fairs in Southern Europe, have announced their 105th edition, to be held from June 13 to 16 in Riva del Garda (Italy). At a time when trade barriers, tariffs, and fragmentation of international markets hinder global trade, the event's organization emphasizes that international openness remains the sector's growth engine. The fair will bring together more than a thousand exhibitors from 44 countries and expects to attract buyers from over a hundred markets, reaffirming itself as a business and knowledge platform for the footwear and leather goods industry.

One of the most revealing facts is the geographical diversity of exhibitors: 62.6% come from outside Europe, while 37.4% are from EU countries. China leads representation with 34.5% of participants, followed by India, Turkey, and Brazil. This composition shows that the fair is not only a European showcase but a truly global meeting point, where Asian and Latin American supply chains connect directly with European buyers.

What this news means for a local footwear store

For a footwear retailer in Spain, the holding of Expo Riva Schuh is not a distant or unrelated event. It represents an indirect and direct opportunity. Indirectly, because manufacturers and wholesalers who attend the fair often return with new collections, product trends, and commercial conditions that they then pass on to their distributors and retail customers. If your wholesale supplier participates in Riva del Garda, you can expect that the novelties you see in their catalog reflect the latest in global design – from sustainable sneakers to formal footwear with fit innovations – which will allow you to differentiate your physical or online store.

Directly, the fair is where the business relationships that determine which products reach your display window are forged. Attending as a visitor, although not easy for all retailers, can be a strategic investment: it allows you to compare prices, qualities, and trends from multiple exhibitors in a single trip. Furthermore, the presence of buyers from more than 100 countries means that the brands exhibiting there are accustomed to working with international B2B channels, which facilitates negotiations and orders for those willing to import directly.

What it means for a footwear wholesaler

For a Spanish wholesaler, Expo Riva Schuh is undoubtedly an unmissable date on the calendar. The fair offers an exceptional concentration of global supply: more than 1,000 exhibitors ranging from high-volume Asian manufacturers to mid-high-end European brands. In a context where US tariffs and trade tensions have made certain routes more expensive, the Italian event consolidates as a commercial bridge between East and West, especially relevant for wholesalers supplying the European and Spanish market.

The organization emphasizes that the fair offers "commercial stability and new connection opportunities" in an increasingly complex global environment, a message that resonates especially with the wholesaler seeking to diversify their supplier portfolio.

For the wholesaler, participating as an exhibitor or visitor allows them to anticipate product trends, negotiate prices at source, and establish direct relationships with factories without intermediaries. The high presence of non-European exhibitors (62.6%) indicates that price and volume competition will be intense, but also that there are opportunities to find new niches, such as vegan footwear, ethical production, or customizable models. At a time when sustainability and supply chain transparency have become differentiators, the fair is a laboratory for detecting which suppliers meet those demands.

Context of the Spanish footwear market

The Spanish footwear market is at a crossroads. On one hand, domestic production maintains a reputation for quality footwear, especially in the Mediterranean arc (Elche, Almansa, Arnedo). On the other, dependence on imports from Asia remains high, and global trade instability (tariff wars, geopolitical tensions) directly affects logistics costs and inventory planning. In this scenario, Expo Riva Schuh's commitment to international openness is a sign that the sector is betting on market diversification and maintaining alternative supply channels.

For Spanish companies in the sector, the Italian fair is geographically more accessible than Asian fairs like Canton Fair, and offers a middle ground between European business culture and the production capacity of countries such as China, India, or Turkey. Furthermore, the fact that 34.5% of exhibitors are Chinese indicates that Asian manufacturers are actively seeking European buyers willing to take on volumes and payment terms that adapt to the new tariff reality. This can be an advantage for Spanish wholesalers wanting to reduce dependence on a single supplier country.

Conclusion: internationalization as a competitive advantage

Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags are not only a product showcase, but a thermometer of the health of global footwear trade. At a time when some actors opt for protectionism, the fair demonstrates that openness still generates value. For Spanish players – stores, wholesalers, importers – being informed about what happens in Riva del Garda is key to anticipating changes in supply, prices, and consumer trends. The recommendation is clear: if you are in the footwear business in Spain, do not ignore what happens at this Italian event. Attend, research, connect. The internationalization of your business starts with knowing where and how the market moves.

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