JANUARY 2013 www.footweartoday.co.uk
Transcription
JANUARY 2013 www.footweartoday.co.uk
Footwear_Jan13_p01:Footwear_Jan13_p01 17/12/2012 13:44 Page 1 www.footweartoday.co.uk JANUARY 2013 Inside this issue: Foot Health - National Shoe Fitting Week March 23rd 2013: Keep Feet Fit, Retailer of the Month, Best Sellers, Footwear Focus: Waldlaufer, Editor’s Choice: Best in Ladies’ Boots and Children’s Footwear, Fashion Law, Previews: GDS Dusseldorf and Pure London ECL_fp_NovDec12:ECL_fp_NovDec12 12/11/2012 11:59 Page 1 Footwear_Jan13_p03:Footwear_Jan10_p3 14/01/2013 14:55 Page 3 CONTENTS FROM THE EDITOR Keep Feet Fit T he Society of Shoe Fitters has announced that it will be launching National Shoe Fitting Week under the banner Keep Feet ‘Fit’ on March 25th 2013. The SSF, which operates on a non-profit basis, wants to raise national awareness of importance well-fitting footwear and the vital service independent shoe retailers provide to the public. The Society’s Secretary, Laura West, explains “If everyone working in shoe shops trained to become professional Shoe Fitters we could save the NHS thousands of pounds over the coming years, as our members already do in a small way, if Government would simply realise the importance of people’s feet in relation to their entire physiology and well-being. Footwear is treated as an accessory, but it is vitally important and the only item of clothing that can seriously damage your health in the long term.” (Read more on page 30). This month the Footwear Today Best Sellers Page celebrates its first birthday! I would like to say a big thank you to all those independent footwear retailers on our Best Sellers Panel who kindly notified us of their star performers each month in 2012. We very much hope that we can look forward to receiving your continued support during 2013. 4 12 16 18 20 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 NEWS EDITOR’S CHOICE (CHILDREN’S) GDS PREVIEW (DÜSSELDORF) FOOTWEAR FOCUS EDITOR’S CHOICE (BEST IN LADIES BOOTS) RETAILER OF THE MONTH BEST SELLERS PURE PREVIEW (LONDON) FOOT HEALTH MODA PREVIEW FASHION TRENDS FASHION LAW FRONT COVER: pediped www.footweartoday.co.uk JANUARY 2013 The top selling brands for November 2012 are revealed in Best Sellers section on page 26 of this issue! We’re now asking retailers to let us have their four top selling brands in December 2012 for the February issue. If you would like to take part in Footwear Today Magazine’s Best Sellers section in future, please let me know and, provided you have a wide range of brands, I’ll add you to our list of panel members. Those who participate in Best Sellers are invited to email me each month informing me of their best-selling brands, to be reported in the magazine. My email address is: ctaylor@datateam.co.uk We would like to know your five best sellers overall for ladies, men's footwear and children’s footwear. Also, your five best sellers in the various categories, ladies and men’s comfort/casuals, ladies/men's fashion footwear, ladies/men’s boots, ladies/men's formal, etc. But, if it’s just Ladies and Men’s overall, that fine. In return for your participation in Best Sellers, we will feature you and your shop in our Retailer of the Month pages, see pages 24-25. This month we are featuring children’s footwear retailer, ShuZu, in Farnborough, Hampshire and Knaphill, Woking. I look forward to working with you all in 2013. Best wishes to all our readers for a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. Kind regards, Cheryl Cheryl Taylor, Editor, Footwear Today Tel: 01622 862962 Email: ctaylor@datateam.co.uk With over 100 new doors in SS13, pediped Footwear is a kids brand on the move. In AW13 pediped will launch a new school collection and debut the adult collection 'Brian James Footwear'. See page 22-23 for more information Contact: Matt Wright Email: matt@pediped.com Tel: 07703 856072 Inside this issue: Foot Health - National Shoe Fitting Week March 23rd 2013: Keep Feet Fit, Retailer of the Month, Best Sellers, Footwear Focus: Waldlaufer, Editor’s Choice: Best in Ladies’ Boots and Children’s Footwear, Fashion Law, Previews: GDS Dusseldorf and Pure London EDITOR Cheryl Taylor: ctaylor@datateam.co.uk CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Adam Bernstein FEATURE WRITERS: Becci Knowles • Henry Harington Dawn Smith • Vicky Kember Joe Maggio • Emma Cooke JOURNAL MANAGER Sue Wiseman: 01622 699185 swiseman@datateam.co.uk DESIGNER Steve Parks ADMINISTRATION Ellie Inchmore PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Paul Ryder: pryder@datateam.co.uk Media Partner of the STAG Buying Group Published by: Datateam Business Media Ltd, London Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8LY. Tel: 01622 687031 Fax: 01622 757646 email: footwear@datateam.co.uk website: www.datateam.co.uk Subscription Prices 2013 Footwear Today Magazine Number of editions per year: 10 ISSN: 1475-8601 UK: £58 Overseas: £109 The Publishers cannot accept responsibility for any discrepancies either in copy or between products and/or services listed. Nor can they be responsible for illustrations and/or copy for products which lead to infringement of copyright. IFRA, BFA and Society of Shoe Fitters all support Footwear Today as a valuable forum for the footwear industry, helping to promote trade and keeping retailers informed about the latest products and developments. • • JANUARY 2013 FOOTWEAR TODAY 3 Footwear_Jan13_p04-10:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 12:15 Page 4 AWARDS NEWS The ultimate seal of approval The first Footwear Industry Awards - run by the industry for the industry - united the trade and brought real credibility to the process. Becci Knowles caught up with some of last year‚s winners to find out how the event has benefitted them and the industry as a whole... Organised by Datateam Business Media, in association with the BFA, IFRA, Society of Shoe Fitters and Footwear Today, the Footwear Industry Awards will be held on the first night of the Moda Footwear Show, Sunday 17th February 2013 at the National Motorcycle Museum. Following the success of last year, which was a sell out event, the awards are taking place in this new venue to enable more people to attend. Winning a Footwear Industry Award is the ultimate seal of approval – but it’s also much more than that. Here, key members of the trade explain why being an award winning brand or retailer is so important and how past winners have gone on to use the accolade as part of their marketing strategy. We also discuss why free to enter and voted on awards represent a true reflection of excellence in the current economic climate and why we should unite again next month to reward and celebrate the achievements of our peers and colleagues. Richard Kottler, Chief Executive, the British Footwear Association “The UK footwear sector is looking to 2013 with some apprehension, but with some potentially strong news for it. As we have found in previous difficult times, the well known resilience of industry leaders will ensure that most companies will not only survive but will make a positive impact. “In making their brand statements, they will want to seize on any good news item that can endorse their plans and intentions, so prizes at prestigious events like the Footwear Industry Awards will be a hugely helpful thing to brag about. “The first Awards last year caught the trade's imagination and with the improved marketing and category definitions this year, the BFA is confident that there will be even more support from attendees and voters alike and that there will be more use made by prize winners of the public acknowledgment of their success." Laura West, Secretary, The Society of Shoefitters (and Winner of Personality of the Year!) “There is no denying that things are tough, particularly for Independent Retailers and unless they specialise in some way, it is difficult for them to retain the loyalty of their customers with so much competition. “There is no doubt that winning an Award has great kudos among our own industry as well as with the public. An Award is a seal of approval, an acknowledgement that you are aiming high. I was delighted to win the Personality of the Year Award last year and thrilled to be nominated again this year; I hope the next person to whom I pass the honour will enjoy it as much as I have. 4 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • JANUARY 2013 “Not having a Board of Judges has made these Awards extremely fair, as personalities involved cannot be accused of bias. I have always sympathised with the Judges of Awards as it is never an easy job and certain companies both in supply and retail will always stand out, which is disheartening to smaller ones or those who are so specialised that they duck under the radar. “It would be foolish for a company not to trade on their Award win, as it is a talking point and draws attention to your business. “My husband represents Garvalin here in the UK and it definitely opened doors as Best Children's Footwear brand. The company provided their retailers with a show card to entice the public to take a look too, all of which worked well. “No-one has money to squander and every penny counts so the Awards are affordable to ensure everyone can attend if they wish to. The trade is divided between fashion, 'normal' footwear and specialised - with most money being in the fashion segment for mass market, so it is nice to have an Award event that encompasses all and not just one segment. “These Awards are recognition of all the good things and a time to celebrate.” Award Winning Brands Dave Watkins, Sales Director, Granger's International – Winner of Best Below the Ankle Product (now Shoecare and Accessories Brand of the Year) “It was important in the development of Cherry Blossom Premium shoecare to gain recognition for our progress over the last two years at last year’s Awards. “We were delighted to win our category award, which we have used in all of our trade presentations this year as we believe it gives us credibility. “We are supporting the industry dinner again this year as a mark of the importance we believe it holds to our trade. We will also continue to market actively our involvement in the Awards going forward.” Chris Gorrod, Managing Director, Rieker - Winner of Best Customer Service and Footwear Brand of the Year “Winning an award, which is voted on by the industry in which you work, is a wonderful accolade. It illustrates that in whatever capacity you have won, you have excelled and it has been noticed by the industry, what better endorsement is there? “As a past winner of an award, we have used the accolade on our website, facebook, and twitter page and in our retail shops. Winning an award helps in these times when there is a lot of choice out in the market place.” “The UK is one of the few countries that organise such awards and I personally believe they are very worthwhile to the whole industry. Not only does it allow suppliers and retailers to network together, more importantly it rewards those companies and individuals who work tirelessly to drive the footwear industry and their own business forward.” Lucinda Merriman, Marketing Manager, Padders – Highly Commended in Best Men’s Footwear Brand and Winner of Comfort Brand of the Year “Awards provide essential market research - they are a clear indication that we are heading in the right direction with both product and service. We have gone on to use the award on our website and in our literature. Winning has especially helped our export market. www.footweartoday.co.uk Pure_fp_Jan13:Pure_fp_Jan13 14/12/2012 12:07 Page 1 Footwear_Jan13_p04-10:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 12:15 Page 6 AWARDS NEWS “I would like to see more retailers at the awards to make this a more balanced networking opportunity. It’s important to support the awards as we need to raise the profile of the Footwear Industry nationally and internationally.” Emma Liptrott, Sales Manager, Shoestring – a brand new nominee and this year’s Wine Sponsor “The Footwear Industry Awards are great because they are voted for by the people. Winning builds trust with customers and suppliers. Being able to talk about the hard work they have put in and receiving an award is something to be proud of. “The awards ceremony represents the perfect way in which to network in a friendly social environment. No hard selling, just a great way to socialise whilst gaining knowledge of other retailers, brands and services. " The trade should support the Footwear Industry Awards.." to ensure they continue to grow year on year, promoting awareness of all the great brands and retailers in the industry. Too many of these events fail to the detriment of future years and generations joining the business – they need these opportunities to understand the business and network for themselves. “I hope that the event will show the outstanding companies and brands that we have to offer. With the current economic climate as it is, we should be proud of what we have achieved. “Shoe-String believes events like this are good for the industry, as a group we can look to the future and only by listening can we offer what the retailer needs.” Nigel Hamilton, Managing Director of Bishops, Winner of Best Men’s Independent Retailer added: “We are really enthusiastic about the Footwear Industry Awards, they are an indispensible part of the industry, bringing credibility and giving everybody a sense of where they are at in the marketplace – we are booking our tickets today!” Celebrating award winning brands, retailers, people and services The Footwear Industry Awards is a not-be missed-event. With only a few weeks to go tickets are selling fast, so please call Events Executive Sam Baughan on 07733 042104 to discuss your requirements, or drop her an email at sbaughan@datateam.co.uk For sponsorship opportunities speak to Sue Wiseman call 01622 699185 or email swiseman@datateam.co.uk As the official publication for the Awards, we will publish an exclusive review in the March issue packed full of winner’s comments and pictures. We look forward to seeing you at the event! Awards Category Sponsors Independent Children's Footwear Retailer of the Year Independent Ladies Footwear Retailer of the Year Award Winning Retailers Commenting at the 2012 event, Adam Lumb, of Best Ladies Independent Retailer, Friary Shoes said: “We felt fantastic to receive the award and were pleased that the footwear industry had voted strongly for us across two categories. Next year we’re going to aim for a clean sweep across all the independent categories.” John Meek, of Best E-tailer Edward Meeks added: “I am absolutely delighted to have won the award and am proudly displaying the fact on our homepage. Our internet business continues to grow from strength to strength which is a great help in such difficult trading conditions.” Charles Clinkard of Best Multiple Retailer, Charles Clinkard said: “We were delighted to win the award for Best Multiple retailer as the votes were from people in the industry who know how hard the team at Clinkard’s work to offer a great level of service and selection of quality footwear. It is great recognition for the team that we have won and I would like to thank those people from the trade who kindly voted for us.” 'The Platinum Shoe' Award Best Use of Technology Footwear Brand of the Year Champagne Reception Sponsor Independent Men's Footwear Retailer of the Year Leader in Customer Service 11 months on…. Errol Bayram, Managing Director, Pares Footwear, Winner of Best Children’s Retailer told me: “People are shopping by brands more now than ever before; there are so many that if you don’t have that added symbol of trust, you are not going to get the sales. Being an award winning brand definitely gives you the edge. “We were delighted with our award last year as it provides confidence to the team and to the customer, as it shows that we are an established retailer that has credence. Our existing customers already know this, but it’s particularly important for new customers as it gives them a sense of safety. We have been rotating the award around each of our three stores and have posters up in all of them. “The Footwear Industry Awards are so important. It’s nice to meet with everybody and see what they are doing. You get more from an event like this than a trade show, as sitting down to dinner you have longer to talk and can speak more generally about where you are heading and what the challenges are. “The important thing about the Footwear Industry Awards is getting everyone together - not just the select few - the more people get involved the more important it will become.” 6 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • JANUARY 2013 Wine Sponsor The official publication of the Footwear Industry Awards Supported by: www.footweartoday.co.uk Tamaris_fp_Jan13:Tamaris_fp_Jan13 20/12/2012 17:50 Page 1 Footwear_Jan13_p04-10:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 14:48 Page 8 NEWS Keep Feet Fit By Cheryl Taylor The Society of Shoe Fitters has announced that it will be launching National Shoe Fitting Week under the banner Keep Feet ‘Fit’ on March 25th 2013. The SSF, which operates on a non-profit basis, wants to raise national awareness of importance well-fitting footwear and the vital service independent shoe retailers provide to the public. The Society’s Secretary, Laura West, explains “If everyone working in shoe shops trained to become professional Shoe Fitters we could save the NHS thousands of pounds over the coming years, as our members already do in a small way, if Government would simply realise the importance of people’s feet in relation to their entire physiology and well-being. Footwear is treated as an accessory, but it is vitally important and the only item of clothing that can seriously damage your health in the long term. “Online footwear purchase for children particularly is irresponsible as there is no standardisation of shoe sizing and no two pairs of feet are the same. Parents think they are doing the right thing having feet measured and then try to buy cheaper than the shop that measured them, what they don’t realise is that all gauges are calibrated differently and the size the gauge says is merely a starting point to a qualified or experienced shoe fitter. A gauge won’t tell you if a child has a high or low ankle bone, high or low instep, flaccid or rigid feet, the start of a bunion or flat feet…the list is long and is taken into account by a professional.” The SSF is concerned that the number of independent shoe shops will continue to decline, which will have a knock on effect for many of the footwear brands (both children and adults) that supply them and depend upon them as the main showroom for their goods. And, the more people are encouraged to shop online and fit their own children, the less likely they are to go to a quality shop and have their children’s shoes foot health assessed and shoes fitted correctly. The Clarks brand has continued to grow and develop internationally, but not all brands could, or can, afford to do likewise. If independent shoe shops are scarce, then the fashion high street stores and supermarkets are likely to take over (as they are already doing to some extent), and eventually will only want their ‘own label’, reducing the number of brands available – no point making shoes if there is no-one to sell to! This reduces the shoe fitting skill base, the very people who give FREE advice at point of sale, i.e. the fitter. “We all know banks can help the most, but there are ways manufacturers can help to make business easier and drive footfall into their stockists”, advises Laura. “Keep some in-stock available, offer smaller pack sizes, agree individual credit terms, incentivise assisted promotions, don’t go into ‘Sale’ too early, do not offer the same product you’ve sold your retailer cheaper online… these are just a few ways that manufacturers can help. 8 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • JANUARY 2013 “In turn, independent retailers need to communicate their concerns and ideas, share business plans, keep promotions fresh etc. This is not a vast industry despite the number of shoes sold in the U.K. and if we don’t act now to help our independents it will be smaller still and far worse for everyone.!” “Now, is the time for the government to help the real footwear industry to work together to ensure a future for shoe fitting and independent shops. This has been a mighty industry with a skill base second to none, but gradually it has been eroded by get-rich-quick business managers, incentives for factories to close and move production overseas, and the lure of cutting out the middle man to sell online”. There are also moves afoot to create a petition about the importance of shoe fitting, which if enough people sign, can be handed to Downing Street. As Laura West points out, “it is perfectly possible to study shoe design and technology at university, but the most important part of a shoe is the fitting which is ignored. There is currently no legal obligation for anyone selling footwear to know anything about feet or fitting, but there is a moral obligation, which is why our members are so valuable to the country. “We are in our 53rd year of assisting the trade and public, but we need help and unless we can carry on the skill base, it will be lost for ever, the health of the British public will suffer and it could end up costing the NHS millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money. Every shop should have at least one Qualified Shoe Fitter and every website selling children’s footwear should be made to carry a prominent Government Health Warning advising parents to have feet assessed professionally” says West. Membership of the SSF is by qualification only and includes a 5-10 month course, (or entrance examination for shoe fitters with 5 years or more experience). Their courses cover everything from anatomy and problem feet, to gauges, shoe sizing, construction methods, materials, right through to customer care. They are primarily distance learning with hands-on workshops at the Society of Chiropodists & Podiatrists in London and a shoe factory. Monies raised provides a helpful website, free helpline and foot health education material. “We all need to help one another to avoid the marginalisation of our trade, so power to the independents, their suppliers and qualified shoefitters for 2013. We hope the public will support Keep Feet ‘Fit’ - National Shoe Fitting Week and by supporting their local shoe shop – use it or lose it” says Laura West. Tel: +44 (0)1953 851171 www.shoefitters-uk.org Email: secretary@shoefitters-uk.org www.footweartoday.co.uk Footwear_Jan13_p09:Footwear_Jan13_p09 11/01/2013 12:00 Page 9 Southern UK David Palmer 07767 201461 Central UK Stephen Smith 01933 679001 Northern UK and Ireland David Bailey 07831 463687 Footwear_Jan13_p04-10:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 12:16 Page 10 BFA NEWS BFA launches new brand development initiative Young managers ‘graduate’ in BFA technical management programme BFA-Graduates Richard Kottler, CEO BFA The British Footwear Association (BFA) has launched the Accelerated Development Programme (ADP). The ADP is a targeted extension of the popular Mentoring Programme and has been designed to assist in raising the level of success for a small group of up-and-coming footwear brands. After a rigorous assessment procedure the companies identified to be the first participants in this innovative scheme are: • Beyond Skin • Joanne Stoker • Laidback London • Northern Cobbler • Zoe Lee The BFA will provide each company with its full range of support services but, in addition, will match each company with an experienced, trained mentor drawn from a pool of senior and respected executives from the industry. The mentors will work with participating companies for a year. The main aim is to assist in raising the level of profitable growth for the business while laying the foundation for a successful and sustainable future. Richard Kottler, Chief Executive of the BFA commented “This breakthrough programme consolidates and extends the BFA’s commitment to helping companies in their early stages of development, and to assist them in establishing themselves as well known international brands. We have been fortunate in being able to call on the experience and time of a number of highly respected industry figures, all of whom agreed to go through a specially designed training course on mentoring techniquesand skills, specific to the industry. At a special ceremony held at the offices of the British Footwear Association (BFA) last week, six young managers from the footwear industry received their Certificates for completing the BFA Foundation Course in Footwear Technology. Richard Kottler, Chief Executive of the BFA, presented the Certificates. This followed a similar event at Clarks head office. The 8 graduates were the first Clarks employees to start the course and over a two year period attended 45 hours’ worth of lectures internally, alongside two external courses – a 5 day shoemaking course and 2 day leather course. Melissa Potter and Richard Kottler met with the group following the completion of the course, to understand what the group had learnt throughout the training and how this had improved their understanding of the business. Melissa presented each person with a custom designed trophy that had been 3D printed in-house to mark the occasion and Richard presented the final BFA Certificate. Kottler commented “in all, a total of 28 trainees from ten companies took part in some or all of the programme, which has rapidly established itself as a respected industry standard and which is going a long way to correcting the biggest skills shortage in the industry – that of qualified technical managers. “We are looking forward to launching the 2013 programme early next year, and are confident that we continue to have the enthusiastic support of the industry for this important contribution to adding skills and expertise to future managers in it. Everyone involved is really looking forward to making this first edition of the programme a successful and powerful one.” British Footwear Association Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 1933 229005 Web: www.britishfootwearassociation.co.uk 10 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • JANUARY 2013 Clarks-Graduates www.footweartoday.co.uk Footwear_Jan13_p11:Footwear_Jan13_p11 11/01/2013 12:06 Page 11 Exclusive Distributors: H B Shoes Ltd, Fosse Way, Syston LE7 1NL Tel: 44 1162 605043 info@hbshoes.co.uk www.hbshoes.co.uk PRIMA SOLUTIONS Footwear IT Specialists ______________________________ PrimaNet is the specialist mulchannel business system designed specifically to meet the unique needs of the footwear, clothing and accessories marketplace. The Prima ethos is simple – by really understanding the business requirements and issues faced by each customer, we can work together to design praccal, low risk soluons that add real value. Now in its 22nd year, Prima has enjoyed many successful partnerships with leading footwear companies such as Loake Bros, Church’s, Edward Green, Startrite, Van Dal, Cheaney, One Small Step One Giant Leap, Barker Shoes, Terra Plana and Dubarry of Ireland. “The system is a perfect fit for a mulchannel footwear business such as ours, and Prima’s reputaon in the industry is second to none.” www.primasoluons.co.uk Footwear_Jan13_p12-14:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 16:16 Page 12 EDITOR’S CHOICE Children’s Footwear Compass Footwear Garvalin Instock available now 121663A Trade price: £27.75 - RRP £55 (sizes 24x30) £29.67 - RRP: £60 (sizes 31x35) Pediped Instock - Harper Fuchsia Flex. This waterproof fashion snow boot features a front zipper, rugged sole, Flex Fit System and is temperature tested at -20 degrees Celsius. Trade price: £24.95 SS13 - Mercury Grey, Red Flex. This Lightweight and flexible price-point trainer is machine washable and features the Flex Fit System, arch support and a gift with purchase for children. Trade price: £17.95 SS13 132761 SS13 Trade price: £12.25 - RRP: £26,50 Agatha Ruiz De La Prada 132932A SS13 Trade price: £18.67 - RRP £37.50 (sizes 24x30) and £19.67 - RRP: £40 (sizes 31x35) AW13 - Charleston Navy Grip 'n' Go. This flexible toddler shoe, looks great with denim and provides excellent toe protection and a supportive collar. Trade price: £16.95 Contact: Matt Wright: Tel. 07703856072 www.pediped.com Biomecanics 132151A Trade price: £19.90 - RRP £40 (sizes 22x28 ) and Trade price: £21.10 - RRP: £42.50 (sizes 29x32) Contact: Nick West Email: nick@compassfootwear.com > 14 12 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • JANUARY 2013 Petasil_fp_Jan13:Petasil_fp_Jan13 14/12/2012 13:03 Page 1 Footwear_Jan13_p12-14:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 16:19 Page 14 EDITOR’S CHOICE Children’s Footwear Ricosta Petasil Bonnie. Trade price: £22.00 - £24.00 / RRP: £44.00 - £48.00 A back to school classic. The pretty flower detailing makes it popular with children, whilst Mum is guaranteed an excellent fit with the security of the best leather and a Velcro™ strap. BEAT ref: 96206-096 Fashionable, fully adjustable water sandal for the boys with fluorescent detail. Available in Black, blue and Grey. Size: 25-40 Trade Price: £20.30 - £25.80 RRP £41.00 - £52.00 Franco. Trade price: £24.00 - £27.00 / RRP: £48.00 - £54.00 This popular shoe with trainer styling is exceedingly comfortable and hard wearing with the bumper toe for added protection. Laces and Velcro™ strap. KODI ref: 12243-154 From Pepino range, “Kodi” is a soft, light, flexible first shoe with natural rubber sole designed to aid those early steps. Size: 18-23 Trade Price: £22.10 - RRP: £44.00 Everest. Trade price: £24.00 - £25.00 / RRP: £48.00 - £50.00 This is one of the bestselling back to school shoes and for S/S 2013 it’s also available in fun and funky colours. The brogue detail will make it a must have for all style conscious youngsters. NIPPY ref: 25204-350 The soft leather upper is directly moulded onto the PU sole unit creating an exceptionally light first shoe. Scuff resistant toe. Available in a variety of bright colours, 2 Blue’s, Rose pink, Red, Green and White. Size: 20-28. Trade Price: £20.70 - RRP: £42.00 Contact: sales@marrum.co.uk Tel: 01604 876800 www.petasilkidsshoes.com Umi Karolina: These sweet daisy-studded sandals are made from water-friendly materials including a man-made upper as well as a neoprene and microfiber lining with high-traction outsoles. Trade price: £16 - RRP: £32 LILLA ref: 81226-330 Pretty, heart & gem detailed bar shoe for Girls; Lilla is available in plain leather or Nubuck in a variety of colours: Blues’, Pinks’, red and white. Size: 25-35. Trade Price: £22.10 - £25.80 - RRP: £44.00 - £52.00 Anthony Freer, Tel: +44 (0)116 259 7427 Email: info@footwearinternational.co.uk www.ricosta.com 14 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • JANUARY 2013 Zander: Built from leather, mesh and man-made lining this shoe features a high, thick outsole. Trade price: £17.50 - RRP: £35 Cassie: Gorgeous red patent mary jane is perfect for school or party wear. Trade price: £18.50 - Retail: £37.00 Emily West emily@treadwellagencies.com Footwear_Jan13_p15:Footwear_Jan13_p15 11/01/2013 12:13 Page 15 Footwear_Jan13_p16-17:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 12:14 Page 16 GDS PREVIEW GDS international event for shoes & accessories Düsseldorf, Germany, 13 to 15 March 2013 16 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • JANUARY 2013 Footwear_Jan13_p16-17:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 12:14 Page 17 Bring it on GDS: Many Exciting Labels and a Wide-Ranging Supporting Programme promise a Successful Trade Fair rom 13 to 15 March 2013 that time will have come around again: GDS will be inviting the international shoe sector to meet in Düsseldorf. On offer here: collections presented by over 800 exhibitors from throughout the world, a compact supporting programme featuring lots of seminars and trend lectures, unique fashion shows and a redesigned children’s segment. Also running in parallel with GDS once again will be GLOBAL SHOES – with some 300 exhibitors showcasing a wide range of shoes and leather goods for the volume market. F Exciting New Labels at GDS Whether it is upper style, essential or urban – GDS presents the entire spectrum of shoes and bags for the 2013/14 Autumn/Winter order season. As well as many new things to discover: for instance, the shoe collection by star designer Michael Kors, the sub-line See by Chloe from French luxury label Chloé or styles care of famous Dutch designer Hester van Eeghen. Her extraordinary shoes and bags stand for quirky geometry and a variety of colour. Also on show: US sneaker brand Pastry founded in 2007 by sisters Angela and Vanessa Simmons (of Run's house and Daddy’s Girls fame) and daughters of Joey "Rev Run" Simmons (Run DMC). Also celebrating their premieres here is the shoe collection from early Lagerfeld muse Inès de la Fressange, those famous sheepskin boots from Australia Luxe Collective, Panara’s men’s shoe collection or the trendy shoe and accessories label Redo Your Shoe. As this name suggests, here you can combine your shoes with little accessories thereby creating ever new styles. In the S/Know - Design Attack with the Motto "Snow TV" Design Attack is the trendy area for hip and trendy products. About one hundred designers and young entrepreneurs will be showcasing their unusual collections here. The motto for this the 18th edition of Design Attack reads "Snow TV". The entire area will be transformed here into a huge television studio. There will be cameras and floodlights everywhere. Monitors will be suspended on the walls and will screen little clips, test cards or just typical snowy TV images. HDS Awards Facelift for kidwalk Also promising bags of inspiration is GDS’ large children’s shoe segment located in Hall 7a. This is home to kidwalk – which will be presented at the forthcoming GDS in a refreshingly new look. The stand’s concept and the kidwalk Lounge have both undergone a total revamp. The high-quality design makes for an inviting and communicative atmosphere. Overall at GDS some 180 children’s shoe collections will be on show, including the likes of Richter, Däumling, Pinocchio van Hilst, Falc/ Naturino, Bisgaard, Cherie, clic! And Primigi. Newcomers include New Swing from Italy, Cuquito and Leon Postigo from Spain, My Sweet Shoes from the Netherlands and Emel from Poland. Collections from Canada and Israel are also to feature for the first time now with the brands Beeko/Top Winner and Papaya. The mobile web theme will be continued this time and deepened further with new aspects. The Wellness Roundtable at the forthcoming GDS will focus on the topic of “Classis, Comfort, Cold Coffee... Ways out of the Comfy Shoe Trap”. In addition to your favourite trend lectures Nicoline van Enter from the Dutch design school SLEM will be highlighting the topic of comfort shoes in a separate seminar block. Overall, three seminars are planned, focusing on current and successful examples. In parallel with the speakers’ corner GDS will also present its trends for the 2013/14 Autumn/Winter season. It will provide guidance and run like a common theme through the unique fashion shows and trend installations featured in the halls. Supporting Programme with Fashion Shows and Seminars The supporting programme at the forthcoming GDS will once again pick up on a variety of topics providing trade visitors with compact information. Daily in speakers’ corner there will be a wide range of seminars on offer. In focus here will be the key trends for Autumn/Winter 2013/14 as well as new ideas and approaches to topics relevant to the sector. These include Modeurop’s Fashion Forecast lecture featuring Marga Indra Heide or an Order Info event for the 2013/14 Autumn/Winter season. At the forthcoming GDS HDS will be in a celebratory mood. This year the Federal Association of the German Footwear and Leather Goods Industry will be presenting its awards the “German Shoe Prize“ and the “HDS Junior Award”. Furthermore, a shoe-focused celebrity will once again be voted Shoe-Wearer of the Year. All activities related to GDS and GLOBAL SHOES can be found online at: www.gds-online.com www.globalshoes-online.com JANUARY 2013 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • 17 Footwear_Jan13_p18:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 12:25 Page 18 FOOTWEAR FOCUS ROAD TEST Hayo, Hayo, it’s off to hike we go! Henry Harington “Walks Through Life in Comfort” with Hayo waterproof boots by Waldläufer. M any of the hiking boots on the market have all the attributes you would expect from a good hiking boot: they are solid, robust, waterproof, hard wearing and smart to look at. But some, like the Hayo waterproof boot from Waldlaufer, can help change the way one looks at what is really, really needed for most people when they don a pair of boots for a hike. I live in the country and most of the country folk hereabouts have cars. That sounds like stating the obvious but most of them have cars rather than four wheel drive trucks that are appropriately called “Chelsea Tractors” as it is in the heart of the capital’s plushest suburb that they seem to congregate – not in the countryside. My neighbours use their cars to ferry dogs, riding gear, sheep, bales of hay or straw. Their cars wouldn’t fetch a premium on the AutoTrader website as they are mucky and dented and, frankly, marginally roadworthy – but they are certainly off roadworthy and can be seen bouncing around fields carrying guns for shooting or finding a missing calf. Yes, they do get stuck and struggle when we have snow and ice but in those extremes they get the tractor to haul the car out of the mud or hedge if that is where it ended up after sliding on the ice. Up on Dartmoor in midwinter without a fourwheel drive you are stuck, its hilly and icy – a friend of mine’s father used to be the local doctor and could only reach his patients on horseback with the horse shod with snowshoes – the equine equivalent of a 4X4. 18 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • JANUARY 2013 Many of the boots I have tried have been over engineered for most people’s use: most people keep a pair of hiking boots in their boot – their car boot. And on high days and holidays they can be seen in the parking area of well-known beauty spots perched on the lip of their boot (their car boot – English can be a confusing language) wearing their cagoules, pulling on their hiking boots. They will amble along the well-maintained paths, pop into the café for a cup of tea and put their hiking boots back in the car boot for the next outing. They don’t need 4X4 shoes. They are not trudging through mud or yomping over the moors. They simply don’t want to get their normal shoes and their cars muddy. They would be better with something comfortable and serviceable and waterproof. Enter Waldlaufer. Their stylish Hayo waterproof boots are just ideal for hikers. I’m not saying they don’t have the attributes of the hunky chunky boots, but they live up to Waldlaufer’s slogan, “Walk Through Life in Comfort”. No, I’d never heard of them either, but they admit they have kept their light hidden under a bushel: they claim to be one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. But, producing handcrafted footwear with a comfortable fit since 1960 and by combining proven lasts, the finest leathers, and the highest quality components, they now have annual production exceeding one million pairs, in a product range that covers loafers, technical walking shoes, waterproof hikers, and even pumps, so one of Europe’s best kept footwear secrets is out. Waldlaufer say the secret of the comfort in their shoes is custom designed lasts, the provision of extra volume in the toe box while contouring to hold the midfoot and heel. They combine this with multiple density soles for increased flexibility combined with maximum midfoot stability. Finally, they offer removable footbeds with arch and metatarsal support and firm counters for increased heel stability. It seems not only is the secret out, but they have spilled the beans on the recipe too! We are not supposed to stereotype people nowadays but one can be forgiven if it is done in a positive way. German thoroughness shows through the Hayo boot down to the metal rings in the shoe box that makes it easier for shop assistants in shoe shops to reach for the Waldlaufer boxes in a stack of shoe boxes. Then, rather than waste the space on the bottom of the shoe box they have a handy guide comparing the shoe sizes in Europe, the UK and US. Description: • Waldläufer Schufabrik Hayo 415900 • A waterproof stylish wide-fitting boot with removable insole • Nubuck black/brown • Trade Price £38.50 - Retail £99.95 Contact: Tel: 01706 828799 Email: dandrbailey@talktalk.net Mephisto_fp_Jan13:Mephisto_fp_Jan13 11/01/2013 16:49 Page 1 Footwear_Jan13_p20-21:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 16:03 Page 20 EDITOR’S CHOICE Best in Ladies Boots Nero Giardini Aetrex Essence™ Fashion Comfort Collection Style: Victoria (EB50) Stylish ankle boot. Sizes: 5-11 (inc. half sizes), Widths: B, D. Trade Price: US$80.00 - RRP: US$169.95 Style 7813 Calf Leather, Rubber sole, 70mm heel. Trade Price: £53 - Retail: £120-145 Style 7894D/101 Knee high lace up suede boot. Trade Price: £67 Retail between: £155 - 179 Style: Chelsea (EB91) Tall riding boot. Sizes: 5-11 (inc.half sizes). Widths: B, D Trade Price: US$95.00 - RRP: US$199.95 www.aetrex.com Contact: RenatoDeAngelis@aol.com Tel: 0207 9377618 Vitti Love Waldläufer Tan calf ankle boot with a leather lining. Trade price: £36.50 - RRP: £110. Contact: Martin Ward: Tel: 07778 595508 e: martinwardfootwear@hotmail.co.uk Style: Hamara No 597804. Trade £41.00 - RRP £99.95. Warm-lined, side zip wide-fitting boot with cleated sole in satin mocca leather. Style: Katja No 601805. Trade £41.00 - RRP £99.95. Sporty wide-fitting boot, in leather/nubuck combination with knit. Mjus With all of the Mjus collection they use featured leathers that have an antique/burnished finished to them.They appeal to all ages and with the supple finish of the boots are as comfortable as they are stylish! Contact: Rosemary Tel: 01706 828799 Email: dandrbailey@talktalk.net Teva 185306 – £64 / £160 78210 - £54 / £135 Contact: Crosby Shoe Agencies M: 079 3564 8070 Tel: 01244 900967 E: Crosbyshoe@gmail.com www.crosbyshoeagencies.co.uk 20 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • JANUARY 2013 Style: Jordanelle: T.I.D.E. GRIP. White Spider Rubber sole and nylon shank keeps the foot stable and in control. T.I.D.E. HYDRO. Waterproof upper materials can handle getting wet. Seam sealed to keep you dry. T.I.D.E COMFORT MSuper light EVA foam is waterproof and insulative to keep you warm and dry. Removable boot liner. Trade price £50 RRP: £110. Contact: Tel: 0808 234 2388 Footwear_Jan13_p20-21:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 16:03 Page 21 Paul Green Romika Style: Fiona 02 Trade Price: £41.25 RRP: £89.99. Lightweight, flexible PU soles with removable footbeds. The combination of the underfoot comfort and soft Italian interest leather uppers offers the ultimate in everyday comfort for the Autumn season. Style: Alsaka 07 Trade price: £55 RRP: £120 New collection of Top Dry Tex boots. With subtle, stylish high tech materials make these wind and waterproof boots eye catchers with the glam factor! Contact: Tel. 01603 307860 email: enquiries@romika.co.uk Style 7312/14 Trade price: £92.00 RRP £230 – Spanish rider style boot in super soft saddle leather with multiple width adjustment Style 1905/41 Trade price: £57.50 RRP £150 – Chic shoe boot with fur effect trim Contact: t.varrall@benchgradebrands.com cell: ++ 44 7974 816166 Tel: ++ 44 1604 686 800 Josef Seibel West Midland Shoe Company Earth Spirit Style: Palm Beach. Calf leather uppers. TPR, hard wearing and flexible soles with Gelron 2000 memory foam insoles. Trade price: £33.95 - SRP: £100.00 Adesso Style A1639 – Red lace up wedge boot. This rich red suede lace-up boot has a comfortable wedge and cosy fur lining. Trade price: £39.95 - SRP: £89.99 to £99.99 Contact: Tel: 01889 561790 Email: enquiries@wmsc.co.uk El Naturlista Style: N813 Slim neat wedge long leg boot. Trade Price: £64.00 - RRP: £160.00 Style: N410 Dress / Casual Square heel ankle boot produced in leather. Trade Price: £52.00 - RRP: £130.00 Tel: 01455 203222 sheena@blueskymoda.com Style: Olga 02 Trade Price: £36.66. RRP£79.99 The wedge continues with an updated sporty influenced design! The combination of rich Italian leather, ultra comfort and distinctive Josef Seibel handwriting makes these essential everyday wear for the Autumn season. Style: Sandra 04 Trade Price: £41.25 RRP: £89.99 With warm linings, faux fur trims, soft Italian leather uppers and a flexible, hard wearing outsole these boots are perfect for braving the elements on cold winter days! Contact: enquiries@josefseibel.co.uk Tel. 01603 307860 Gerry Weber Style G14003 Trade Price: £39.58 RRP £95. Imaginative, feminine, glove-soft nubuck leather and fleecy cuffs offers a super-sexy “Clean Chic” look which is right for the season! Style GK10001 Trade Price: £39.58 £95. Cowboy and Western inspirations give these boots their casual look. High quality leather with a two-tone finish, punching and beautiful autumn colour make this boot an indispensable fashion must-have. enquiries@gerryweberfootwear.co.uk Tel: 01603 307860 JANUARY 2013 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • 21 Footwear_Jan13_p22-23:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 12:26 Page 22 A Brand On The Move With over 100 new doors on board for SS13, the Las Vegas-based brand pediped has defied the economic climate and significantly grown their distribution network for the forthcoming season. The combination of styling, price and flexibility when ordering is the key to their success. pediped’s user friendly Retailer Portal will help you to restock in With a base margin of 2.1 and an average cost price of just £18, the proposal is an attractive one in a difficult trading environment. 2-3 days Loose Stock Ordering No Minimums size: 0-6 months - 18-24 months size: EU 19 - 23 (UK 3.5 - 6 kids) New UK Sales Director, Matt Wright, is delighted with the pre-order season: “I’m so happy with the response to the SS13 range, the quality of the new account base is excellent. These are experienced and well respected retailers who have seen the potential with pediped. They have been very complimentary of the styling, price and flexibility when placing the order, and pediped will support them in every way possible. We are all looking forward to seeing the stock delivered and I’m positive the new accounts will be delighted with the product quality and fast replenishment service we can provide.” MODA pediped will be presenting their SS13 and AW13 ranges at MODA on Stand S28 stand S28 and will also have the new Brian James collection on display. Contact Matt Wright for more information on 07703 856072 or matt@pediped.co.uk size: EU 20 - 36 (UK 4 kids - 3.5 youth) There is a demand for a price point athletic shoe in the UK market and pediped has developed a lightweight, machine washable and flexible product to fill this gap. It is an ideal “secondary purchase” for parents looking to buy a trainer when school shoe shopping. The athletic shoes also feature pediped’s Flex Ft System™, allowing staff to adapt the fit on the shop floor. These shoes also have premium POS displays for slat walls, shelves or window displays. Footwear_Jan13_p22-23:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 12:27 Page 23 Managing partner Rudy Glocker stated: Autumn/Winter 2013 AW13 will see the first UK specific collection delivered into the market. pediped has taken guidence from retailers and their new Sales Director to create everyday casuals in tonal commercial colourways, new waterproof lines and a debut school range. “We know the importance of Back-toSchool in the UK and have had a school range in mind for a while now. pediped is set up perfectly for a school proposition. Our Flex Fit SystemTM allows staff to change the fit of the shoe on the shop floor. We use dyed-through leathers, flexible soles and ultra-durable materials to handle everyday wear. This combined with our loose stock ordering and super-fast reorder service is a unique alternative to the other leading school brands.” A Whole New Class pediped school shoes pediped has an affiliation with the Society of Shoe Fitters. With an outstanding collection of awards from U.S podiatrists and doctors the brand also wanted to have recognition in the UK market for their foot health platform and dedication to fit. The Society of Shoe Fitters are delighted to welcome U.S. brand pediped as Associate Members. Associate membership is purely by invitation. The quality of the footwear and customer services are extremely important factors in choosing our Associate Members, all of whom respect the aims and objectives of our organisation and skilled membership. Knowing that Matt Wright will be heading the brand in the U.K. gives the brand even greater kudos, as Matt is well known for his friendly, professional and personal service. - Laura West (Secretary, Society of Shoe Fitters). Benefits of pediped Flex Fit System™ Dyed-through Leathers Durable and Flexible Uppers Built In Arch Support Removable Footbeds for Orthotics Non-marking Soles Society of Shoefitters Affiliated Loose Stock Ordering 2-3 Day Reorder Service Via FedEx No Minimums Per Style 5% Discount on Pre-order Brian James Footwear After countless requests from retailers and consumers, pediped founder Angela Edgeworth created Brian James™, her debut women’s collection. Launching in Spring/Summer 2013, Brian James embraces the same level of comfort, quality and style that sets pediped apart. The SS13 collection offers a range of sandals and ballet flats that feature all-leather uppers, leather linings, memory foam footbeds and soft, flexible soles. Visit www.brianjamesfootwear.com. Footwear_Jan13_p24-25:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 12:30 Page 24 STRAP Footwear Retailer of the month Cheryl Taylor talks to Nadia Arden-Scott of ShuZu Q&A: Name: Nadia Arden-Scott Shop: ShuZu Brands: Start-rite, Ricosta, Superfit, Hush Puppies, Timberland, Geox, Skechers, Vans, Toughees Home town: Farnborough, Hampshire Family: Husband Chris, a son and a daughter 1. How did you get into footwear? Tell us about your background and your current business? My background is catering, but very much the customer service side. I have always been a people person and I have always loved kids! Chris also started in catering, but as it turns out his great grandfather’s family was in shoes (Shortland Shoes – which still exists in Cobham, Surrey) and they owned several shoe shops in and around the Woking area. There was a need in our area for a good quality shoe shop offering more choice. 24 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • JANUARY 2013 2. Where are your premises located and how many people do you employ? Do you have a high turnover of staff? Tell us about your shop(s), the local area, your customers and their requirements? We have two shops, Farnborough, Hampshire and Knaphill, Woking. The shops are in secondary shopping high streets, great for the local community and not lost in big shopping centres. Both shops are nearby local schools and uniform shops; we also have free or very cheap parking, which is very important. Our customers vary from those looking for fashionable footwear to those with medical needs. We are recommended by local hospitals, podiatrists and childrens’ centres as we cater for children with orthotics, splints or other requirements. We have two full time and three part-time staff, turnover is low and it’s mainly the part-time students that we lose as they move on, but they often come back to work over the back to school period. 3. Do you employ a qualified Shoe fitter? Our full-time staff members have recently completed the Society of Shoe Fitter’s course, which is a great investment as people are our greatest asset. The SSF qualification makes them feel empowered with knowledge and able to give the best service. 4. Do you have an online shop/website and do you use social networking for business? No online shop at the moment, but we have just started to look into it, it’s a double edge sword as we are very committed to fitting and this cannot be done online. We have a Facebook page which is becoming more popular and this will probably lead to Twitter! Footwear_Jan13_p24-25:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 12:31 Page 25 5. How are you finding the footwear market currently? It’s variable, but better than we expected, the weather always has such an impact which is out of our control. However, we give an excellent service and our customer loyalty is very high. Back to School was a slow start, but picked up and was very good. 6. What’s selling well? Any particular trends? Which are your best selling footwear brands – and why? School shoes always sell well as they are needed! Vans did very well this year, as they have been the trend, Superfit and Ricosta are always very popular, as they are waterproof and robust. Start-rite is a traditional favourite and does very well too. 7. Does your shop sell other items besides footwear, bags, gloves, tights, socks, below the ankle products? We sell a small selection of reasonable priced kids gifts/toys , lunch bags, Kidorable raincoats and umbrellas 8. Any difficulties/problems? In the same boat as others with poor summer weather so low sales on sandals. We are always astounded by the lack of knowledge parents have about feet and more so that they don’t notice or check their kid’s feet for problems. Parents that allow their children to use their shoes as brakes and then complain that the shoe is at fault! 9. Any tips on stock offers, novel ideas for clearing lines or advice for independent shoe retailers who might be feeling the pinch? Just be careful buying in the first place and if you’re not sure don’t buy it. 10. What is your favourite men’s footwear brand/manufacturer – ditto ladies/children’s brand – and why? They are all great, but Ricosta is definitely a staff favourite followed closely by Superfit as they are so durable, quality is fantastic, great styles and I personally like the fact they are made in the EU. 11. How do you select your products – which criteria do you use / what are your customers looking for? Historically what works and what has been popular, but we listen to our customers what they want to see. Always look for something a bit different as that is what our customers expect from us, but also quality and value too. 12. Which footwear/fashion shows do you attend, how do you rate them? We have been to Moda, but don’t have the time to go every year. It is good to go every now and again to see what brands are out there and what the trends are likely to be. 13. Do you have a favourite footwear agent? Ooh tough one to answer! They are all really good, have worked with Mark from Ricosta and Marcus from Superfit the longest so obviously have a really good relationship with them, and I have a great rapport with Tony from Skechers 14. Have you always had a passion for footwear? Who doesn’t have a passion for footwear!! However, I am passionate about foot health and well fitted shoes. How many pairs of shoes do you own? I can’t say my husband will be reading this! 15. Do you have a favourite pair? I have a real love of boots and I have a pair of Dr Marten knee high wedge boots, which are the most comfortable boots ever! 16. And, the next step? Any plans for the future, new lines, retail systems/new technology, etc.? No major plans apart from updating our website and selling on line. Recently saw the brand Froddo and am very tempted by them. ShuZu Tel: 01252 54 85 85 Email: info@shuzu.co.uk Web: www.shuzu.co.uk JANUARY 2013 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • 25 Footwear_Jan13_p26-27:FOOTWEAR NEW TEMPLAT 10 08 14/01/2013 12:36 Page 26 BEST SELLERS Best Selling Footwear Brands November 2012 What the retailers had to say: “November 2012 turned out a much better month than expected. Overall trade was up by 7% which in current climate is excellent. The number of sales have been down but the average price per pair has risen to over £80 for the first time. We have done very well with long boots especially Fly London Mjus, Josef Seibel all very serviceable styles, but with a touch of fashion. Waterproof shoes have done well and our Men’s trade has been excellent for the first time in ages. “2012 has been the hardest years trade since we started 8 years ago. The seasons have been so short. We had about 6 weeks during March / April which were really good and slightly longer from the end of September to mid November. Besides these periods it has been a real challenge. We have had to invent new ideas to entice customers through our doors, whether it be promotions , open evenings , Sunday opening or as a last resort discount. We have had to find ways to keep the till ringing. “Another area that is causing major problems on the High Street is the retailers discounting on the Internet. Our major brands are very keen not to allow retailers on the High Street to discount new product, but when it comes to the Internet it’s another story. The only answer you get is “sorry but it’s so hard to police”. I don’t accept this and although we have 2 websites (Amazon & our own) we never discount. I believe the Internet is a great asset to businesses as long as everybody plays by the same rules. I have one supplier who has worked tirelessly to stop her brand being discounted and we intend to support that brand going forward. “Looking forward to 2013, I think the suppliers have got to look at different buying/delivery options. At present the suppliers want the retailer to attend a show in February and commit to stock that will be delivered in September. When the stock is delivered it arrives all together, very often regardless of the fact the retailer has requested split deliveries. You also get fur lined boots delivered along with autumn shoes all in August . Then the retailer has probably 6/8 good weeks in which to sell this mountain of stock. When you get a good selling line you can almost guarantee the supplier won’t have any stock to back it. They want us to commit to stock but won’t do the same themselves. I firmly believe the way forward for all parties is to return to the old system of 4 seasons. This would split the deliveries keep shops fresh with new stock arriving throughout the year and help cash flow, which is king . This coupled with suppliers increasing their stock holding would allow the independent retailer to grow rather than stagnate. I have already found 3 or 4 of my suppliers who are adopting this theory and I will be looking to support them far more than the suppliers who want the big order early. “ Andrew Marshall , Strolling4Shoes, Cumbria. “Boots are moving well. There is nothing like a few cold snaps to make people face the fact that it is very probably going to be a cold winter. Sadly it will soon be time to look at the sale – the ‘big boys’ seem to start their sales earlier and earlier (are they ever out of sale?). We moved ours forward to the day after boxing day (not quite January) in an effort to compete for that Christmas cash. “ Karen Little, Haswell Shoes, Nuneaton. 26 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • JANUARY 2013 Footwear_Jan13_p26-27:FOOTWEAR NEW TEMPLAT 10 08 14/01/2013 12:36 Page 27 Top Ladies Footwear Brands Rieker was the best selling Ladies brand overall in November 2012 among the independent UK footwear retailers polled by Footwear Today Magazine, followed by Van Dal, Josef Seibel, Fly London and Lotus. Top Ladies brands overall Rieker Van Dal, Josef Seibel Fly London Lotus Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order): Ara, Cara, Clarks, Earth Spirit, Easy B, Gabor, Heavenly Feet, Hotter, Josef Seibel, Lunar, Marco Tozzi, Mjus, Padders, Rohde, Romika, Tamaris, UKD, Waldläufer, Wendel. Top Ladies Comfort/Casual Shoes Rieker Josef Seibel Hotter Clarks Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order): Ara, Easy B, Earth Spirit, Ecco, Fit-Flop, Fly London, Gabor, Geox, HB Shoes, Heavenly Feet, Hush Puppies, Khrio, Lotus, Maria Lya, Padders, Riva, Remonte Dorndorf, Rohde, Skechers, Softwaves, Waldläufer. Top Ladies Formal shoes Van Dal Gabor Cara Ara Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order): Geox, HB Shoes, Hush Puppies, Lotus, Marco Tozzi, Peter Kaiser, Rieker. Top Ladies Fashion/Contemporary shoes (3 clear winners) Fly London Clarks Gabor Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order): Barino, El Naturalista, GRS, Heavenly Feet, J. Shoes, Marco Tozzi, Mjus, Pikolinos, Rieker, Riva, Softwaves, Sponge, Susst, Tamaris, Van Dal, Wonders. Top Ladies Boots Josef Seibel Rieker Clarks Fly London Wonders Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order): Ara, Cara, Earth Spirit, Easy B, Dubarry, Gabor, Hotter, Hush Puppies, Lotus, Marco Tozzi, Mjus, Rohde, Romika, Susst, Waldläufer. Top Men’s Footwear Brands According to the indies polled by Footwear Today, the star performing men’s footwear brand in November 2012 was Rieker, followed by Josef Seibel, Loake, Maybury, Clarks. Top Men’s brands overall Rieker Josef Seibel Maybury Loake Clarks Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order): Anatomic Gel, Barassi, Barker, Cotswold, Easy B, El Naturalista, Dr. Martens, Geox, Hi-Tec, Hush Puppies, J. Shoes, John White, Maybury, Nordikas, Padders, Pikolinos, Rhode, Skechers, Steptronic, Waldläufer, UKD Top Men’s Comfort/Casual Shoes (3 clear winners) Josef Seibel Clarks Rieker Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order): Ara, Easy B, Ecco, El Naturalista, Dr. Martens, Dubarry, Hush Puppies, Mephisto, Merrell, Padders, Pikolinos, RM Williams, Roamer, Skechers, Wrangler. Top Men’s Formal Shoes Loake Clarks Steptronic Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order): Anatomic Gel, Ara, Barker, Cotswold, Clarks, Dubarry, Easy B, Ecco, Goor, J. Shoes, Kensington. Men’s Boots – no clear winners Highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order): Anatomic Gel, Bugatti, Caterpillar, Gardiners, Ecco, Josef Seibel, Loake, Rieker, Timberland. Top Children’s Footwear Brands Start-rite was the number one best-selling brand across all children’s ranges in November 2012, among the UK footwear retailers polled by Footwear Today Magazine, followed by Clarks, Hush Puppies, Superfit Legero and Kickers. Top Children’s brands overall StartRite Clarks Hush Puppies Superfit Legero Lelli Kelly Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order): Ecco, Geox, Kickers, Primigi, Ricosta Top PreWalkers Clarks Start-rite Hush Puppies Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order): Converse, Kickers, UGG Top Walkers: Startrite Clarks Hush Puppies Superfit Legero Lelli Kelly Ricosta Top Children’s School Shoes: StartRite Clarks Hush Puppies Geox Lelli Kelly Top Children’s Boots (4 clear winners): Clarks Startrite Hush Puppies Superfit Legero Other highly acclaimed best sellers (in alphabetical order): Geox, Hunter, Kickers, Lelli Kelly, Timberland. JANUARY 2013 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • 27 Footwear_Jan13_p28-29:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 12:38 Page 28 PURE PREVIEW Pure London Footwear and Accessories Preview T his February will again see the UK’s largest footwear and accessory offer, featuring a mass of new, international and niche brands showcasing their A/W13 collections at London Olympia. The Footwear Hall will be returning for another season, housing numerous first-time exhibitors as well as a variety of fresh, exciting styles from returning brands. Scholl will be returning for a third year, presenting their new collection which focuses on the versatility and adaptability of both ankle 28 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • JANUARY 2013 and knee-length boots. Incorporating rich seasonal colours of lichen, taupe and mocha, a key range will be ‘Limira’; a refined take on lace-up ankle boots which will be available in nubuck and cow leather. After the success of their spring / summer cork wedge, Scholl will also be collaborating with prestigious Italian designers to rework the style into their next collection. Also returning is Melissa, who will be articulating their recurrent theme of ‘pop luxury’ across their extensive range of heels, pumps, wedges and sandals. In contrast to winter expectations, Melissa will be ejecting bursts of colour throughout their A/W13 collection. Celebrating their 175th anniversary, Peter Kaiser’s A/W13 collection is set to be contemporary and on-trend, featuring new and innovative designs across their range of ankle boots, set-back heels, platforms and slipper-style pumps. The German brand will match their designs with equally sensational colours, ranging from warm reds to khaki, bottle green, striking purple and rich plum. Footwear_Jan13_p28-29:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 12:38 Page 29 10th -12th February 2013 London Olympia Ravel will be adding exquisite finishing touches to the traditional riding boot and Chelsea boot, including studs, bows, zips, metallic tones, velvet trims and baroque detailing. A key A/W13 piece is their pointed toe court shoes adorned with metallic bows, as well as block heels and wedge ankle boots. The collection will display autumnal palettes such as oxblood and navy. Other footwear brands debuting their A/W13 collections at Pure London are; French Connection, Luxury Rebel, Fly London, French Sole, Prime Boots, Paco Herrero, Hudson, Moda In Pelle, Chinese Laundry, Vitti Love, United Nude, Birkenstock, Unisa, Wonders, Pikolinos, Lodi, Gadea, Babycham and Bronx. Joining the footwear brands on the gallery level will be an eclectic range of accessory labels, showcasing vast collections of scarves, jewellery, bags, sunglasses and more. Esteemed accessory brand Falke will be debuting at Pure London in February with their intricate collection of hosiery and socks. Known for their diverse range of scarves, Passigatti will be incorporating elements of knitwear, looped scarves, checked patterns and florals into their A/W13 collection. Their colour scheme ranges from soft pastels, to country colours of mustard and wine, and oriental bolds such as peony, ruby and gold. Showcasing their leather designs for the first time are Zandra Rhodes Handbags, who have centred their designs upon Zandra’s eccentric, inimitable style and adventurous detailing. Ranging from purses to rucksacks, all designs are finished with delicate stitching, gold trim, tassels and other stylish touches. Zandra Rhodes’ collaboration with costume jewellery designer brand Adele Marie will also be presented at Pure London, drawing inspiration from timeless vintage prints and distinctive designs across a range of necklaces, brooches, bangles and earrings. Also focusing on bold detailing is Fiorelli, whose collection will boast everything from structured bucket bags to gusseted totes and elegant clutches. Following three different themes, Fiorelli will incorporate elements of century romance and gothic theatre with structured silhouettes, luxury exotics, textured layers and geometric elements with block colouring. Their ‘Hope’ range will retail at £30 with £1 from every sale going towards Cancer Research UK, with the hope of raising £100,000. Eel skin handbag specialists Makki follow a 1950’s theme for their S/S13 collection, featuring structured shapes that remain playful with a combination of bright colours and a new soft cow leather range. Nat & Nin will also be presenting a colourful S/S13 collection of bags, ranging from mini clutches to large totes and focusing their attention on detailing, keeping their ranges feminine with a mix of soft neutral colours and bright summer bolds. First time jewellery exhibitor, Belle & Flo, have drawn inspiration from strong catwalk trends this season to create their S/S13 collection which will be presented at Pure London. The accessories section will also house the likes of; Tous & Tous Compliments, Quinton Chadwick, Ruby & Ed, Dyrberg Kern, Bibi, Twin Stars Sterling, Ubu Bijoux, Ottoman Hands, Nica Bags, Demi Club, Caths Belgium, Marco Lev Exim Gloves, Urban Code Accessories, Santacana Gloves, Kreisicouture Hats, Sam Ubhi, Pierre Quioc, Yuna, and Lola Rose. www.purelondon.com JANUARY 2013 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • 29 Footwear_Jan13_p30:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 13:01 Page 30 FOOT HEALTH Fitting matters..... By Cheryl Taylor I nternational recognition for the Society of Shoe Fitters’ Courses is growing fast. Two students from China attended the SSF’s last workshop in November. This follows a report in Footwear Today in July about new SSF Member, Karen Feltham, who opted to take the Society’s course in order to be better qualified to sell shoes at her shop in South West France. One of the first things that excited Rosie Walker-Chen when she moved from Kent to Taiwan ten years ago was the number of shoe shops. The sheer variety of shoe styles and colours displayed amazed her. However, some years down the line, being a new mum to a daughter who had just started to walk, she was becoming increasingly concerned about the lack of shoe fitting and the untrained staff working in children’s shoe shops. This included shops that carry certain European and American well-known brands. “I was aware that poorly fitted shoes could harm my daughter. As there are no podiatrists in Taiwan I knew that I had to get correctly fitted shoes from the start. My worry drove me to the Internet, where I came across the Society of Shoe Fitters website. I learned that the shoe fitting course was distance learning and that I could go at my own pace and that finalized the decision for me to enrol. “I had no idea how in-depth the course would be and all the different factors needed to take into consideration to fit shoes. It really isn’t as straight forward as knowing your size and ordering a pair of shoes on the internet. The course material is extremely interesting and well laid out in an easy to understand format. As an adult who hasn’t studied for quite a while, I was a bit daunted at first, but with my tutor’s guidance and encouragement I have been able to throw myself in. Rosie attended two SSF workshops in November 2012. During the last workshop she studied shoe construction and visited the DB Shoes Factory in Northampton and commented to “The workshops have been eye-opening as well as backing up what I have learnt in the course. I’ve realized that even the shoes that I wear do not fit properly and I have been making do for the sake of fashion. “I’m so pleased I made the decision to take the course because I know now that regardless of where I am in the world, I can fit my daughter’s shoes. I’m now planning to open my own children’s shoe shop that offers a professional fitting service. It’s only in the embryonic stages and I have yet to decide on which brands to carry. But, if I can put a few other mothers’ worries at ease in a country that may or may not be their own and ensure their children are well shod, I shall be happy.” “The second workshop of the SSF course kicked off with Adult Shoe Fitting/Adaptations (The Art of Shoe Fitting). For me, being tremendously green to the industry, this really helped to back up the course work and demystify the Brannock gauge and ‘heel to ball’ fitting. The way the tutor, Karen Little, presented the material was extremely helpful and practical. She was very approachable and answered any questions which arose helping to further our understanding. Being a small group that had mostly met at the previous workshop, it was a good chance to bounce ideas off each other and learn from each other’s experiences. We were also made aware of a few tricks of the trade that aren’t included in the course material, and a few things on the retail side, but would definitely be something to consider and use in the business. “The afternoon session was Shoe Construction. Firstly, Mr Charles Denton of D.B. Shoes gave us an introduction to the shoe making process, from materials used to how all the different components are put together. We were also made aware of different manufacturing defects. All the time Mr Denton was really happy to field any questions we had and didn’t bamboozle us with science. We were then led onto the factory floor after 30 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • JANUARY 2013 Mr Denton first made us aware of the health and safety rules, I think they were basically “DON’T TOUCH!” This was fine by me because I wanted to be able to drive home with both of my arms intact. “We were shown every step of the shoe making process and came into close contact with all of the machinery. It was fascinating to being able to get a good look at what actually goes into making a shoe. The amount of work put into one pair of shoes is amazing. After our guided tour we were led back to our little ‘classroom’ and Mr Denton answered more of our questions about his factory and D.B. Shoes, shoe making and the industry. “After attending both workshops, I feel they were both exceptionally worthwhile. All the tutors have been very willing to give of their time to help and answer any questions we have had. Additionally, I feel quite honoured to have had the opportunity to actually visit a shoe factory in action. If I have the opportunity to attend again for a refresher, I definitely would do it.” It was a similar story for Shamsa van Keulan. Shamsa’s shop in Hong Kong, called apple&pie, was reviewed in Retailer of the Month in our November edition. On a personal level, having grown up in London, Shamsa van Keulen had always had her feet measured on a regular basis and she wanted her children to have the same experience in China “After all, their feet are the only pair they have for the rest of their lives and it is important to look after them so that they do not suffer unnecessarily from other problems as they get older”, she says. Shamsa explains: “It was important for us to find a way of becoming more knowledgeable about shoe fitting, particularly if we were going to sell shoes! There is very little experience/knowledge of shoe fitting services in Asia. Children are rarely 'fitted' for shoes. I looked at several websites, but it was only the SSF website that offered a comprehensive course that suited our needs. “My experience of SSF has been consistently good. The Secretary LauraWest, has been helpful and supportive with every query/concern offering solutions to any hurdle. The tutors are supportive and responsive which is very helpful when it comes to ‘distance learning’. They have in depth knowledge of shoe structure, foot physiology, selling and buying shoes. “The knowledge and experience gained from undertaking the course gives customers a sense of reassurance that they are dealing with someone who is informed and knowledgeable about their trade, it is not just a commercial venture, but a true passion. We are keen to share our knowledge with our staff and help to train them to provide a better service to our customers. I would recommend every shoe retailer take the course – it definitely helped to distinguish us from our competitors.” If you would like to join us and would like access to our help and support, contact us now… (www.shoefitters-uk.org or Email: secretary@shoefitters-uk.org) Novesta_fp_Jan13:Novesta_fp_Jan13 09/01/2013 15:27 Page 1 Footwear_Jan13_p32:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 13:02 Page 32 MODA PREVIEW Moda Footwear NEC Birmingham 17th - 19th February 2013 M oda Footwear, the UK’s largest and busiest footwear show will see the arrival of even more creative newcomers from across the globe as the line-up of noteworthy names continues to grow ahead of next month’s show, which takes place from 17-19 February 2013 at the NEC Birmingham. More than 400 international labels will showcase their latest collections at Moda Footwear giving retailers the best selection of international footwear brands to be seen in the UK. New signings strengthening an already impressive line-up of labels for the autumn/winter 13 event include Desigual, Ciccone, Think!, Kusa Flip Flops, Sixtyseven, Sheep Feet Australia, Furiezza, Destroy Mediterranea and Bugatti. The new additions will add even more weight to the ever-growing host of names, which includes show regulars Rocket Dog, Barker Shoes, Fly London, Fiona McGuinness, Mustang Shoes, 32 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • JANUARY 2013 Brakeburn, Peter Kaiser, Ikon Footwear, Ravel, Iron Fist, Mephisto, Froddo, Angulus, Chipmunks, plus many more. Meanwhile, Select will showcase the most covetable labels in contemporary, urban and directional footwear including new signings Chrome and Shoes Like Pottery as well as returning favourites Jack & Jones, Wrangler Footwear, K-Swiss, Original Penguin, and Palladium. This season sees Moda introduce an additional catwalk theatre located next to Moda Footwear in Hall 20, featuring three brand new catwalk shows highlighting the trends from Moda Footwear as well as Moda Gent, Select and new denim and urban show FLIP. The catwalk theatre will also play host to a full programme of seminars offering even more essential business advice from a handpicked line-up of industry experts. Taking place on Monday 18 February in Hall 20 at 12pm will be the footwear specific seminar hosted by Debbie Paver, from the UK’s leading comfort footwear specialists Pavers Ltd. Debbie, TV presenter and home shopping buyer for Pavers Ltd, will share the secrets to their success and discuss how they’ve sustained their longevity in what is an extremely competitive market. Moda will host the autumn/winter 13 collections from 17 - 19 February at the NEC Birmingham. The UK’s leading trade fashion event will also feature daily fashion, evening & occasionwear and lingerie & swimwear catwalk shows. The free-to-all visitors seminar programme will cover topics including e-commerce, customer service, social media and visual merchandising. To register for your complimentary ticket and find out more about the seminar schedule, latest signings, the events programme and industry news please visit moda-uk.co.uk. TableBookingForm_Jan13:TableBookingForm_Jan13 09/01/2013 15:36 Page 1 Sunday 17th February 2013 National Motorcycle Museum Table Booking Form Please complete the details below and send your form to Sam Baughan : or email: sbaughan@datateam.co.uk I wish to book place(s) at the dinner: Individual place(s) @ £ 90.00+VAT or Table(s) of 10 @ £ 900.00+VAT TOTAL PRICE: £ Booking and Payment Terms: 1. 2. Payment must be made prior to the event and any late payment will incur a 10% surcharge. Any person booked into the gala dinner may substitute a colleague at any time, but wherever possible, please inform Sam Baughan on 07733 042104 beforehand. 3. Cancellations will be accepted up to one month prior to the event, in writing, without penalty. 4. Cancellations between 15-28 days prior to the event will be charged 50% of the total invoice without exception. 5. Cancellations up to 14 days before the event will be liable for 100% of the cost without exception. Your completion of this form constitutes an acceptance of the above cancellation charges. Contact Details: Full Name: Job Title: Company Name: Address Line 1: Address Line 2: Town/City: County: Postcode: Tel: Email: Contact 2: Contact 2 Email: Signature: Date: Invoice Details: Please provide us with a P/O number to cover this booking: Datateam Business Media Ltd. 15a London Road, Maidstone, Kent. ME16 8LY Tel: +44 (0) 7733 042104 Email: SBaughan@datateam.co.uk Footwear_Jan13_p34-35:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 13:30 Page 34 Agnes B Dries Van Noten Ermenegildo Zegna Enrico Coverih Dior Homme Fashion Trends - Combining traditiona Trend forecasting agency Stylesight illustrates the top A/W trends for men. Updated Oxfords Bulkier lasts introduce new silhouettes. Creeper and wedge soles stand out. The new running sole makes an impact in the pop colors. Metallic shield details add a touch of avant-garde luxury. Waxed calf remains key while croc re-emerges. Burnished uppers appear in new autumn blues. The Wingtip Contrast black and white uppers give a nod to retro inspirations. Oiled and burnished finishes play up the artisanal trend in cognac and earthen tones. White contrast lug soles standout, carrying the trend through the upcoming season. Closed lacing and derby uppers with updated brogue perforated patterns. The Loafer Rounded almond toe lasts remain key on slim leather outsole constructions. Exotic skins make an impact in colored water snake textures and hand painted crocodile. Horsebits look fresh over quirky brogue perforations. New contemporary details emerge, including zipper closures and metallic shields. Penny loafer uppers are contrasted with athletic-inspired running outsoles. Tassels + Kilties Kilted details get updated for A/W. New patterns emerge with layered panels and pinked raw edges. Burnished leather desert boots mix Italian craftsmanship with underplayed kilties and piping details. Apron-front drivers become luxurious with feather detailed uppers. Refined Monk Straps The Monk Strap evolves with sartorial design and elegant detailing. Single and double monk straps make an impact. Brushed metal buckles remain key while the covered matching buckle emerges. Western inspired embellishments stand out. Panelled upper patterns appear as updates. Burnished and rub-off leather treatments showcase newer hues for A/W. The Laced Boot Designers explore layered techniques as well as a minimalist approach to update the classic lace-up. Wholecut uppers stand out in waxed calf leathers and the new running outsole. Exposed zipper details expose lacing details on a layered double shaft. Hybrid looks emerge mixing duck boot shafts with brogue detailed court shoe constructions. Patchwork appliqué details recall digital pixel graphics. Hotel Chelsea Chelsea boots get refreshing updates through new materials and updated constructions. High-gloss uppers stand out over sporty outsoles. Embossed croc textures look fresh on round toe lasts and olive green hues. Distressed uppers showcase new surface treatments resembling crackled paint. Slimmer lasts evoke city influences in slate grey burnished uppers and white washed wooden outsoles. The Brogue Boot Intricate pattern updates push the evolution of the brogue boot for A/W. Knee-high silhouettes emerge for the new season. Brogue hybrids stand out with athletic inspired upper patterns, new brogue detailing and tonal color blocking. Victorian inspirations are mixed with urban influences through distressed finishes. Traditional uppers get refreshed with striped outsole details. Modern Biker New textures and construction updates give new life to the motorcycle silhouette. White foam wedge soles stand out and are mixed with stacked finishes. Canvas and leather combinations refresh uppers. Heavily oiled uppers stay true to rugged influences and create new silhouettes with a slouch shaft. Slanted shaft openings emerge over pebble surface leathers and rubber gum soles. Viktor & Rolf The Luxe Slipper The Smoking Slipper continues as a menswear staple with sophisticated updates. Uppers get refreshed with new sartorial prints in modern tartans. Elastic gore instep updates the classic pattern. Hair calf remains key. Cap toe details emerge in luxe feather materials. Bright oversize patterns stand out reminiscent of fresco techniques. Ankle High Ankle boot silhouettes remain a staple for the Autumn season. Slim leather outsoles create evening-inspired items in burnished ox-blood hides. Glossy stingray uppers make an impact in winter red. Heavier lug soles continue through the season with shark tooth finishes. Moc-stitched uppers emerge and are mixed with quilted shaft details and metal shield embellishments. 34 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • JANUARY 2013 Hermes Footwear_Jan13_p34-35:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 13:30 Page 35 Louis Vuitton Nicole Farhi Phillip Lim John Varvatos Yves Saint nal silhouettes with contemporary detailing The Knee Boot Designers are pushing higher boot silhouettes for A/W. Thick outsoles are base for wide round constructions and juxtaposed with slim-fitting shafts. Lace-up styles pay homage to the punk era with 20-eye silhouettes and brogueing details. Ombré effect uppers stand out in vegetable dyed hides. Traditional riding pattern uppers emerge in crocodile prints and cap toe details. Court Rules Classic court sneakers become a staple. Round toe, vulcanized constructions are key. Mixed materials remain important; leather and suede combos are strongest. Quilted fabric upper details emerge feature high-top silhouettes and Velcro closures. Performance-inspired uppers are toned down for a sophisticated feel in neutral white, grey and black combinations. A/W13 Colour Charts WINE COUNTRY BRICK ROAD Ahtletic Couture The Loafer lasts evoke city influences in slate grey burnished uppers and white washed made their way onto the runway in seasonal navy and oxblood tones. White vulcanized outsoles remain key. Lace-less uppers look fresh in high-gloss waxed uppers. Ribbed outsoles emerge creating surface interest. Speed-lacing details remain strong. The Peasant Hiker Traditional hiking silhouettes get even more rugged for the A/W season. Chalky clay tones stand out in soft, pleated uppers. Pebble surface leathers are brightened with raw edge finishing. Leather belts substitute laces creating a new mountaineer look. Woven nylon laces are showcased in exaggerated corseted uppers and combined with trident clips for a nod to utility. Galoshes All-weather functional items emerge for the next season. Thigh-high rubberized boots make an impact recalling true Fisherman’s hip boots. Leather versions of the hip boots emerge in pieced uppers with contrast stitching. True galoshes remain classic in dark navy hues. Luxe updates include embossed monograms on vamp and velvet binding trim. BLUE NOTE MAHOGANY HUES HINT OF COGNAC NEUTRAL ZONE POP CULTURE Stylesight is the industry-leading content and technology solution for professionals in the style, fashion and design sectors. They deliver global information and a visionary online workspace designed to help you anticipate and analyse an ever-changing marketplace. For more information visit www.stylesight.com BRIGHT WHITES JANUARY 2013 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • 35 Footwear_Jan13_p36:Footwear_Jan10_p30 14/01/2013 13:36 Page 36 FASHION LAW Top 10 Tips to Protect Your Footwear Designs Hannah Steggles, Intellectual Property Associate at Howes Percival LLP, discusses how footwear manufacturers can protect their designs from infringement. verybody knows that footwear design is big business but in today's market, protecting designs is becoming more and more important. As financial pressures increase there is a temptation to cut down on design costs and to purchase cheap shoes from the Far East without thinking about where that design came from in the first place. You may have spent thousands of pounds on creating your designs, so why should you tolerate unauthorised reproductions? E Here I share my top ten tips for protecting your footwear designs from copycats who can cause significant damage to your business: 1. Are your designs capable of protection? This means checking that your designs are "new" and have "individual character". If these boxes are ticked, the appearance of your designs will be protected throughout Europe by the Community Design Regulations. 2. Know your market: go shoe shopping! Make sure you are fully familiar with the designs which are currently on the market so that you can ensure that your design is different and has individual character when compared with existing designs. 3. Record every step Make sure that you date and retain all of your design drawings (including all drafts and rough notes) so that you can show the providence of your design. Leading brands understand the importance of this and record their designs as a matter of course. 4. Inspiration not imitation. Whilst it is entirely natural to take inspiration from successful designs, that is as far as you should go. The safest way to ensure that you do not stray into the realms of imitation is to ensure that you do not have samples or images of other designs lying around during the design process and review your new design against those you took inspiration from. 5. Check your contracts are tightly laced up Make sure that the contracts you have in place with any third parties who might have access to your designs (such as manufacturing companies and sales agents) specify that you own all rights in those designs and make sure they know that copying is not permitted. 6. Know your designers It might sound simple but it is important to know exactly who is creating your designs. The general rule is that the designer owns the design, not the person who commissioned the work. However, if the designer is an employee then, provided the design is created in the course of their employment, the employer will be the first owner of the design. 7. Watch your dates Provided it meets the requirements for protection, a Community design attracts automatic protection for 3 years from the date it is first made available to the public in the European Community (provided it is first made available to the public in the EC). It is therefore important not to 'accidentally' make your designs available to the public before you are ready and to make sure that when they are first made available it is within the EC! 36 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • JANUARY 2013 8. What about registration? If you think that your design is likely to have staying power and you would like to protect it for more than 3 years you should consider obtaining a registered Community design. This allows you to protect your design from copying for up to 25 years! 9. Policing There is no point in spending considerable time and money creating your own designs if you simply allow your competitors to copy them without taking steps to stop them. By copying your designs your competitors can obtain a price advantage as they do not have the increased costs of employing a design team. If you fail to police your designs they are effectively worthless and imitations will spring up everywhere! Keep your eyes peeled for imitations so that you can stop copycat brands at an early stage, before they get out of control. 10. Build relationships Build relationships with your local trading standards and specialist Intellectual Property solicitors so that if an issue arises you know exactly who to speak to. I know my clients well and understand how they operate from the initial design through to the finished product. This all contributes to obtaining a swift resolution with minimal disruption to their businesses. Case Study Mary Jane is a talented shoe designer who works for Shiny Blue Shoes Ltd. One day at work she comes up with the idea for a new winter boot. Nothing like this has ever been seen before! The boots are a huge success but the following winter their sales drop. When Mary Jane is out Christmas shopping one day, she notices an exact replica of the boots for sale in "No Sole Shoes" for half the price of the Shiny Blue Shoes original. Shiny Blue Shoes Ltd is angry about this and instructs their solicitor to write to No Sole Shoes to inform them that their boot is an infringement of their design right and to demand that they remove the infringing product from sale. No Sole Shoes refuses to stop selling the boot and in any event argues that Shiny Blue Shoes' boot is not "new" and does not have "individual character" (there are lots of boots like it on the market that season) so does not qualify for protection under the Community Design Regulations. At trial, Mr Justice Loafer held that Shiny Blue Shoes Ltd's design was valid and infringed. The following factors influenced his decision: • Shiny Blue Shoes Ltd produced design documents dated from last winter to show that their boot pre-dated No Sole Shoes' version; • Shiny Blue Shoes Ltd knew its market very well so could produce evidence to show that there was nothing like their boot on the market when it was launched; • No Sole Shoes' designer admitted under cross examination at trial that her daughter in fact owned a pair of Shiny Blue Shoes Ltd's boots. Footwear_Classi_Jan13:Footwear_Classi_Jan13 11/01/2013 12:23 Page 37 CL ASSIFIED To advertise please contact John Andrews on 01622 699135 or Sue Wiseman on 01622 699185 CANVAS SHOES/PLIMSOLLS CHILDREN’S FOOTWEAR John Robinsons Ltd Suppliers specialising in Plimsoles and Canvas Footwear to the Multiples / Wholesalers. Instock Availability. Tel: 0151 920 7373 Lesley’s Mobile: 07769 185999 Andrew’s Mobile: 07770 978199 Email: info@jer.uk.com COSYFEET EXTRA ROOMY CHILDREN’S FOOTWEAR www.footweartoday.co.uk Visit today to view our new digital magazine plus read the new ‘Breaking News’ section COMPUTER SYSTEMS Footwear_Classi_Jan13:Footwear_Classi_Jan13 11/01/2013 12:23 Page 38 CHILDREN’S FOOTWEAR DANCO FOOTWEAR Importers, Exporters & Wholesalers offering a wide range of Rsb Children’s Footwear • • • • • Winter Boots Back to School Shoes Summer Sandals Wide range of Party Shoes Flower Girl & Page Boy Shoes Visit our Cash and Carry or call us for a Catalogue 124 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JE Tel: 020 7613 5076 Fax: 020 7613 5078 Email: dancofoot@aol.com www.dancofootwear.com MTO and export enquiries Contact Raj on 07860 464072 COMPUTER SYSTEMS Proven solutions for improving visibility, efficiency and productivity throughout the fashion supply chain. To book your classified advertisement in please call Sue Wiseman on 01622 699185 or email swiseman@datateam.co.uk Footwear_Classi_Jan13:Footwear_Classi_Jan13 11/01/2013 12:23 Page 39 COMPUTER SYSTEMS COMFORT FOOTWEAR PRIMA SOLUTIONS Footwear IT Specialists ______________________________ PrimaNet is the specialist mulchannel business system designed specifically to meet the unique needs of the footwear, clothing and accessories marketplace. The Prima ethos is simple – by really understanding the business requirements and issues faced by each customer, we can work together to design praccal, low risk soluons that add real value. Now in its 22nd year, Prima has enjoyed many successful partnerships with leading footwear companies such as Loake Bros, Church’s, Edward Green, Startrite, Van Dal, Cheaney, One Small Step One Giant Leap, Barker Shoes, Terra Plana and Dubarry of Ireland. “The system is a perfect fit for a mulchannel footwear business such as ours, and Prima’s reputaon in the industry is second to none.” www.primasoluons.co.uk DISTRIBUTORS bonzer Worldwide Ltd. 22 Hill Rise, Greenford Middlesex UB6 8NZ England Tel : +44 7904863372 F: +44 (0) 208 963 1600 Email : sales@bonzerworldwide.com Web : www.bonzerworldwide.com Beta Shoes 01753 822500 info@betashoes.co.uk www.betashoes.co.uk Unit 15, Slough Interchange Industrial Estate, Slough, Berkshire SL2 5EP Footwear_Classi_Jan13:Footwear_Classi_Jan13 15/01/2013 11:44 Page 40 DISTRIBUTORS Haworth Footwear Call in at our cash & carry or visit our web page. The web page is updated weekly with all the latest offers. We also manufacture a large range of latex foam insoles. We are open 8am till 5pm Monday to Friday. Haworth Footwear Union Mill, Bacup Road, Rawtenstall, Rossendale, Lancashire BB4 7JN Tel: 01706 830406 Fax: 01706 219233 www.haworthfootwear.com Footwear_Classi_Jan13:Footwear_Classi_Jan13 11/01/2013 12:24 Page 41 IMPORTERS, EXPORTERS & WHOLESALERS LADIES’ FASHION Unit 3 Myrtle Grove Mill, Lench Road, Waterfoot, Rossendale, Lancashire, BB4 7JJ Tel:01706 229909 Fax: 01706 221144 LADIES’ FASHION Footwear_Classi_Jan13:Footwear_Classi_Jan13 11/01/2013 12:24 Page 42 LADIES’ FASHION All that glitters ‘Specialist supplier of Sexy Boots and Shoes in sizes 3/36 to 12/45’s’ Tel: 0116 2669926 Fax: 0116 2680011 email: bcm.irwin@gmail.com www.erosella.co.uk BCM IMPORTS LIMITED Byford Road Leicester LE4 0DG Exclusively Distributed in the UK & Ireland by PHILDON FOOTWEAR LTD 2 Gunnery Terrace, The Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, London SE18 6SW. Telephone: 020 8309 8880 Contact: Mike Donovan - mike@phildon.net Telephone: 01670 716878 www.lunarshoes.co.uk Footwear_Classi_Jan13:Footwear_Classi_Jan13 14/01/2013 12:04 Page 43 LADIES’ FASHION LADIES’ FASHION Suppliers of fashionable ladies’ footwear dedicated to bring you cutting edge trends that guarantee you quality footwear at competitive prices. New styles are available for our winter collection so enquire now LADIES’ AND MEN’S FASHION LEATHER & SHEEPSKIN Footwear_Classi_Jan13:Footwear_Classi_Jan13 11/01/2013 12:25 Page 44 OUTDOOR FOOTWEAR SHOECARE & ACCESSORIES We will offer you: sAFFORDABLEKEYPRICEPOINTS with excellent margins sHOURIMMEDIATEDELIVERY sSTYLESTHATSTAYINTHERANGE FORAMINIMUMOFYEARS Designed by Europeans for European fitting. Manufactured using ‘green’ renewable energy. QUALITY & EXPERTISE Quality Leather Care To visit the showroom or book a sales appointment, call: 01670 716878, fax: 01670 716858, www.euroleathers.com tel: 01604 843 740 sales@euroleathers.com email: info@grs-footwear.co.uk, or visit: www.grisport.co.uk MEN’S FOOTWEAR QUALITY & EXPERTISE Footbeds | Insoles | Gel Produc Products cts www.euroleathers.com www .euroleathhers.com tel: 01604 843 740 7 sales@ @euroleathers.com sales@euroleathers.com SHOECARE & ACCESSORIES “Innovative Shoe Care Products Crafted By The Past Masters” Grangers International Ltd, DE55 4QT +44(0) 1773 521521 www.shoe-polish.com Footwear_Classi_Jan13:Footwear_Classi_Jan13 11/01/2013 12:25 Page 45 SHOPFITTING & DISPLAY SLIPPERS www.comfylux.co.uk Are you buying The Best ? Individually made display units MORE SALES = MORE PROFIT Choice of size : Choice of material Main stockists: UK Distributors Ltd, Leicester G.R.S Footwear Ltd, Cramlington Gardiner Bros. Ltd, Gloucester 0116 2403232 01670 716878 01452 727300 TRAINING & COURSES Prices to include delivery and installation Turn 1 sq mtr of floor space into a quality unit to display up to 60 shoes For more information e-mail: ganderdesign@hotmail.com www.ganderdesign.co.uk Tel: 0783 181 1008 RETURNS WANTED WANTED Clearance - End of lines samples - rejects, imperfect footwear, worn returns for export, small shops clearance stock Top prices paid ££££ Based in London and South East Call Frank Pittal - Lorna Shoes Ltd (Est 1974) 07733 192188 email:shoeboyuk@hotmail.com To book your classified advertisement in Ask for a free copy of our latest Catalogue Freefone 0800 435 333 or buy online at morplan.com please call Sue Wiseman on 01622 699185 or email swiseman@datateam.co.uk Footwear_Classi_Jan13:Footwear_Classi_Jan13 11/01/2013 12:25 Page 46 SOCIETY OF SHOE FITTERS The Society of Shoe Fitters will help you sell shoes that won’t come back ... to people who will. Our members are true professionals and we are proud to promote them and network with trade, media and health experts. Membership application for experienced Fitters. • Deluxe Course available all year. • Straightforward Entrance Application for experienced shoe fitters available. Student of the Year 2011 David O’Dwyer, Cushyfeet, Limerick GIVE YOUR STAFF THE BESTEDUCATION Email: secretary@shoefitters-uk.org Tel: 01953 851171 www.shoefitters-uk.org WHOLESALERS, IMPORTERS & EXPORTERS WELLIES Suri_TredFlex_Jan13:Suri_TredFlex_Jan13 14/01/2013 15:00 Page 1 Visit us on the stand, hall 20 R41 at Moda 17th-19th February For further details please telephone: 0208 144 8275 or alternatively visit www.tredflex.com For wholesale enquiries pete.hill@ukdistributors.co.uk Bugatti_fp_Jan13:Bugatti_fp_Jan13 04/01/2013 12:24 Page 1