The GDS launches 'Shoes Contacts'

By

Bruno Joly

Published
Sep 25, 2012

This fall the Düsseldorf GDS shoe trade show will launch the Shoes-Contacts web portal. Developed in collaboration with M2b, the website's mission is to connect brands, distributors and agents as well as give them access to a database of footwear retailers. "Every day on the show floor we hear: 'Do you by chance know someone who ...Didn't you know that ...,' said Kirstin Deutelmoser, in charge of GDS at Messe Düsseldorf. 

M2b, initially a consulting company, has since specialized in such networking sites over the past six years. It already operates 3 contact portals in German and English that link up manufacturers, agents and distributors in the sportswear, lighting and furniture industries. "The web portal for footwear will be operational in mid-November. The objective is to create contacts but also offer access to a database of retailers," said Michael Plank, CEO of M2b. 



Initially Shoes-Contacts will go after the German, Swiss, Belgian, Austrian, Dutch and Polish markets, which also happen to be the target companies of the bricks-and-mortar GDS trade show in Düsseldorf. But the goal is to expand quickly through all of Europe.