CPM facing tough economic situation in Russia

By

Bruno Joly

Published
Feb 23, 2015

CPM is preparing itself for a complicated season. The Russian market’s leading trade show, organized by Igedo, is dealing with the collapse of the ruble, the economic situation and international politics. Despite that, from February 24-27, it will officially bring together some 1,100 collections in Moscow, as compared to more than 1,600 one year earlier. Organizers tacitly admit that the Russian crisis is weighing heavily on the show.

And so, in terms of the official number of exhibitors - without taking into account the space organized in collaboration with Eurovet, Moscow Mode Lingerie & Swim - the number of Italians has dropped in one year from 304 to 150; the number of Germans from 209 to 140, and the number of French from 89 to about 30.

"I suppose that we have to exhibit at CPM, which is Russia’s largest trade show, given our existing clientele. Nevertheless, as compared with past shows, it seems like buyers have greatly reduced their budgets. And there were, of course, fewer Ukrainians," said Fabrice Raoul, sales manager at Didier Parakian. Besides Didier Parakian, participants also included Steilmann, Bugatti, Gardeur, Lagerfeld, Daniela Drei, Gran Sasso, Colb, Elisa Cavaletti, Elisa Fanti, Sassofono, Derhy, Lauren Vidal, Paul Brial, Crea... 

With the fall of the ruble, retailers have already been struggling to adjust to spring preorders. Igedo, meanwhile, continues to work to improve its trade show and to refine its segmentation. As already mentioned by FashionMag, this time around the lingerie and swimwear area has been organized in collaboration with Eurovet. Igedo has also created the CPM Accessories space, which joins the already existent CPM Kids and CPM Premium. The aim is to gradually separate segments by style and not by nationality. In any case, CPM remains the premier event for those wishing to attack the Russian market and especially to take the pulse of the national economic situation.