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Last week, Interreg Europe Success Road project consortium met virtually with Spanish public and private stakeholders to debate on the role of social partners in facilitating the transfer process of EU family businesses. During this online workshop, legal and fiscal experts shared their expertise in an attempt to guide policy makers at regional and national level in Europe. Timing: an essential success factor in business transfer The experts agreed that many companies would have survived if their succession was planned well in advance. Transferring a business, a family legacy, was a challenging step, and families often postponed this moment until it was too late. Planning early, involving the next generation in the company workflow, establishing a governance structure and working with specialists on legal and fiscal issues could make a difference, avoid conflicts and ensure a successful transfer. The current pandemic has shown the need for accelerating succession related decisions. Families, that usually take their time in making decisions impacting their businesses, are now urged to act quickly on drafting their future path and be more agile. Social partners play an important role in motivating and guiding family businesses during their transfer process and in mediating their conflicts. “Working on family business conflicts, providing legal and fiscal advice and drafting policy instruments to facilitate business succession are some of the main activities covered by AVECAL”, explained a representative from the Valencian Association of Footwear Entrepreneurs, project partner and workshop organiser.

The most important international trade fair for the volume footwear sector and the showroom for bags, leather goods and accessories will take place in January 2021, moving back to its traditional dates. This unprecedented moment in history that the world is currently going through, and the desire to adapt to the situation with the utmost flexibility and spirit of innovation, have forced Riva del Garda Fierecongressi to shift the 94th edition of and the 5th edition of Gardabags to Saturday 16th to Tuesday 19th January 2021 in the Riva del Garda Exhibition Centre.

Over 16,000 buyers chose to believe in the relaunch of one of ‘Made in Italy’s’ most strategic sectors. With their presence they rewarded the courage of all the exhibiting companies that chose to participate in MICAM Milano - the international footwear trade fair; MIPEL - the international event dedicated to leather goods and accessories; TheOneMilano Special featured by MICAM - the women's haut-à-porter show; A New Point Of View - the special format by LINEAPELLE, that showcased the most exclusive semi-finished leather products; and HOMI Fashion&Jewels Exhibition - the event dedicated to jewellery and wearable fashion accessories. DaTE - the salon dedicated to avant-garde eyewear, held at the ‘Leopolda’ exhibition space in Florence and closely connected to the Milan exhibitions through their common desire to work in symbiosis - also sent positive signals, with the attendance of 1,000 buyers, both Italian and foreign.

Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags return to analyse the most pressing and current issues for the footwear and accessories sectors, with a focus on the world of retail and changes in purchasing habits. And this will be the theme of“2020 retail update, new formats & spaces,” the second in the#PLAYfashion series of live talks,the in-depth space that supports and strengthens the exhibition organised by Rivadel Garda Fierecongressi.