A Trip to the Toronto Shoe Show

For starters let me say that show shoes, like the one I went to in Toronto isn’t open to the public, it’s only for the retailers so they can see the upcoming collection and make the selection for what they want in their store for the coming season. But behind this very good explanation, I think they are protecting themselves from immense crowds of women who would swarm the place in no time flat! I mean, if you love shoes, these events are heaven!

An Extended Family

I was incredibly honoured to be welcomed along with the team for this event and in the process I learned a lot about the shoe industry and those who make up that community. And yes, it is a community, or should I say more like a family. That’s the impression I had anyway. When you step into this industry, just like when you first meet with your girlfriend/boyfriends family, you are evaluated and you should be. You have to be able to carve yourself a place amongst those who have been there for years, who know what their field like the back of their hand and who appreciate each other; it’s not a small task! But there’s another lever to the evaluation. Because yes this is an extended family of sorts, but it’s also a business, so you’re evaluated on both fronts; you have to demonstrate that you can measure up because, well, business is business.

I know that Portofino has an incredible brand and wonderful people working within its walls but to hear it from others, from competitors, it was refreshing! We can say that we’ve made our mark, and it’s a positive one!

I Wasn’t Prepared

Now I am usually always organized and prepared for pretty much anything, but had a million things to that I needed to do before I left for the shoe show and I was so excited to go that I forget about my own footwear! And of course, when you work in a particular industry, you tend to notice those who are “doing it wrong” and boy was I ever noticed! I have no excuse, I should have had a pair of Portofino shoes but I didn’t, instead I had an old pair of black sandals, which wasn’t too bad and an old pair of worn out running shoes which was the absolute worst thing to wear at the event! Good thing that my personality and otherwise professionalism passed the test. Needless to say that a pair of Portofino shoes is on my list! The only thing is that I’m still debating on whether I’m buying a pair of sandals now or waiting to buy a nice pair of pumps for the fall. I’ll let you know ;)

By Jasmine Beausoleil