p.4-7 news 6:FOOTWEAR NEW TEMPLAT 10 08 20/05/2009 12:01 Page 7
NEWS
Luxury and leisure retail sales boosted by bank holiday
Sales figures from BDO Stoy terioration in demand compared stores performing especially well. demand for big-ticket items
Hayward’s High Street Sales to last week, with footwear and remained depressed despite
Tracker for the week ending 3 formalwear notably lower, sales Rupert Eastell, Head of Retail at increased promotional activity.
May 2009 were as follows: still remained slightly ahead of BDO Stoy Hayward, says: "The It would seem that while
last year. Womenswear May Day holiday weekend consumers are reasonably
Total Sales: +1.5 per cent appeared to strengthen during proved to be reasonably suc- comfortable buying lower priced
Total sales increased by 1.5 per the week, while youth ranges cessful for mid-market retailers discretionary goods, they are
cent on a like-for-like basis. continued to sell well. with demand holding-up in continuing to avoid larger
Non-fashion: +3.3 per cent Homewares: -9.8 per cent many areas despite the poor purchases linked to the home".
Non-fashion retailers generally Sales in most areas retreated economic conditions. Overall
had a good week with the this week, despite a general like-for-like sales were up +1.5 Sales this week last year
majority of stores registering uplift in the level of promotional per cent compared to last year. The arrival of warmer weather
higher sales. Demand for luxury activity. Big ticket purchases in “Non-fashion stores continued coupled with the bank holiday
goods continued to be very particular were weak, while to lead the way, helped by weekend helped encourage
positive, while leisure and textile and lighting sales were strong demand for luxury and demand this week last year, with
gifting stores also saw sales also depressed. leisure related goods, while non-fashion (+4.8%) and
improve during the week. In Non-Store: +63.1 per cent fashion sales also remained homeware (+0.4%) sales higher.
contrast, health and beauty The holiday weekend helped positive, although down on last In contrast, fashion sales
was softer. non-store takings grow very week. remained negative (-6.2%) with
Fashion: +0.9 per cent strongly with clothing, outdoor “However, the big negative more than two-thirds of stores
Although there was a slight de- specialists and footwear area was homewares, where reporting lower demand.
Flip-flops and heels –
Dimethylfumarate (DMF) product ban
great on the feet, lousy
causes confusion
behind the wheel
The recent directive paper sachets some of
issued by the European SATRA’s customers are
More than 1 in 10 women drivers in the UK have
Union (2009/251/EC) asking whether this affects
had an accident or near miss because of their
restricting the import silica gel. Silica gel is a
footwear, according to new research by HSBC
of products that con- desiccant designed to
Insurance.
tain dimethylfumarate reduce the moisture in the
The research suggests that the most
is causing confusion atmosphere around pack-
dangerous shoes for driving are flip-flops,
among retailers and aged goods to limit the
which 47 per cent of women who have had an
importers of consumer potential for mould
accident or near miss were wearing at the time.
goods. growth. From SATRA’s
This is followed closely by 38 per cent of women
Dimethylfumarate is a biocide used experience we have not found any
who admit to wearing high heels at the time of
to prevent mould growth on products sachets of silica gel which have been
an incident.
during transit or storage and is most contaminated with dimethylfumarate,
Of the 21 million women who drive in the UK,
frequently supplied in the form of a nor have we seen any sachets incor-
around 9 million do not take safety into account
permeable paper sachet through rectly labeled one for the other. SATRA
when deciding which pair of shoes to wear. 32
which the chemical will be released. advises manufacturers, importers and
per cent of women who wear high heels while
Dimethylfumarate is recognized as a retailers to establish that the correct
behind the wheel say their decision to do so is
potential skin irritant and has been sachet is being packaged with the
based on their destination rather than comfort
implicated in cases of contact product. It is also worth mentioning
or safety.
dermatitis from furniture and that any silica gel used should be clear
The drive to work features highly, with half of
footwear in several EU countries. as the pigment used in blue-pink silica
British female drivers in full-time jobs choosing
SATRA Technology Centre is finding gel is a recognized carcinogen.
high heels. Only 12 per cent of these women
that problems are arising because SATRA can test materials for the
carry flat shoes in the car to change into to drive.
dimethylfumarate is often abbreviated presence of dimethylfumarate and
Sarah Conlon of HSBC Insurance UK, said:
to DMF which is also used as an also assist in looking at other
“Every woman knows we are better drivers than
abbreviation for dimethylformamide, a restricted substances. In order to have
men – the statistics speak for themselves – but
solvent associated with the manufac- your items tested whether they are
we do have some nasty habits. Driving in
ture of polyurethanes which is harmful product, packaging or additive
unsuitable shoes is up there with checking your
by inhalation. Dimethylformamide is sachets, or to discuss the impact of
make-up on the motorway and the message from
not banned, but restrictions do exist the ban on dimethylfumarate in your
the research is clear – don’t do it.”
through the system of workplace supply chain then please contact
Other inappropriate footwear that has
exposure limits (WELs) on exposure of Jacque Glasspool, manager of
caused accidents or near misses for women
workers who may have to deal with it SATRA’s chemical analysis group on
whilst driving includes bare feet (20 per cent),
during manufacture. +44 (0)1536 410 000 or
walking boots (15 per cent) and Wellington boots
As dimethylfumarate is supplied in jacqueg@satra.co.uk (www.satra.co.uk)
(12 per cent).
JUNE/JULY 2009
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FOOTWEAR TODAY
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