Cleto Sagripanti was re-elected for another two years of the chairmanship of the CEC, the European Confederation of Footwear Industry. The meeting took place in Venice. For the first time, one part of the event was open to the public and, for the occasion, the debate centred around the digital revolution. “In the US, online sales have determined what is called “Apocalypse retail”. It will soon arrive also in Europe. We Italians see it often as a threat and instead the online sale should be considered as an opportunity because it allows you to reach as many customers with less investment than the past, “Sagripanti explains. Eric Chan, CEO of the Secoo Group, a Chinese platform specialising in the sale of luxury goods and services, spoke in the debate. Chan explained that China’s online shoe sales in 2016 grew 22% on an annual basis, and like 80% of total footwear consumers have made at least one online purchase. “If offline is dead, the future will not just be online. Rather, you will use more channels with an ever greater use of the smartphone, “Chan continued. For the first time, Hungary took part in the CEC Assembly. The United Kingdom, on the other hand, once made up for Brexit, will move from a member to observer, the same current status as Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine.
CEC Assembly: Sagripanti confirmed to the presidency. The future of the shoe? The omnichannel
