4 5 6 8 10 12 FOOT FEB10 news:Footwear_Jan10_p4_8 02/02/2010 12:57 Page 4
NEWS
News In Brief . . . Spartoo wants to be the
Manas has launched a line of men’s shoes. Positioned in the
same market segment as its successful line of women’s shoes, it
European Zappos
is described as a well-designed cross-over between urban and
outdoor fashion, targeting an independent, contemporary and
demanding client.
The shareholders of
spartoo.com, which rejected a takeover offer
from Amazon at the end of 2008, are targeting sales of more than
MBT is introducing lighter and more technical models in its
$100 million by 2012, rising to $300 million in 2015, and at least 40 %
athletic shoe collection for spring 2010, and a new line of
of that should come outside France, where this young shoe e-tailer is
business shoes for men and women for autumn 2010. The big
based. Amazon took over last year
zappos.com, the leading American
Swiss company, whose main patents have fallen into the public
shoe retailer over the internet.
Spartoo claims to be already the biggest retailer selling exclusively
domain, is warning shoppers to be careful and not buy
current footwear styles in Europe. To help finance its European
counterfeit versions of its shoes, saying that fake MBT shoes are
expansion, Spartoo has raised currency112 million worth of additional equity by
flooding the market and could pose a health threat to the wearer.
letting in two investment companies as new shareholders.They are
Highland Capital Partners of the U.S. and Endeavour Vision of
Skechers is reporting that it expects sales for the fourth quarter
Switzerland. They have joined are institutional investors and company
to rise by about 29 % to more than $385 million. It will have
managers including Boris Saragaglia, co-founder and president of the
positive net earnings per share of more than 50 cents, a
three-year-old company.
significant improvement over last year’s loss of 44 cents. The
Spartoo is investing strongly in marketing to enter new markets, but
company cited record sales in the fourth quarter. this year foreign sales should still represent only about 10 % of
Spartoo’s revenues, which are expected to grow to currency150 million from
Lacrosse Footwear has reported that it expects a 21 % increase currency130 million in 2009. About 10 % of its 600,000-plus regular clients
in sales to $42.5 million for the fourth quarter. The performance
are located outside France. Its websites have received more than 4
was good of both work shoes, up by 25 % to $25.2 million, and
million unique visits so far. The company is spending between currency11
outdoor footwear, expected to rise by 16 % to $17.3 million. Sales
million and currency12 million in marketing for a launch on any new market.
for the full year are forecast to grow by 9 % to $139.2 million.
Excluding these expenses, the company is expecting a net profit
margin more than 3 % in France this year. Cash flow is positive.
This year’s Christmas present for Bakers Footwear Group was
Besides France, Spartoo is already present on the market in the
a 9.5 % increase in sales to $30.0 million for the five-week
U.K., Italy, Belgium and Luxembourg. It plans to hit the German and
period ended Jan. 2. Comparable store sales grew by 9.9 % for
Spanish markets this year:
spartoo.de and
spartoo.es websites are
the month of December. Boot sales at regular prices were given
already in place with the wording “coming soon.” The company is
credit for the good performance. As a result of the positive
studying various options to acquire existing local e-commerce
figures, Bakers is now forecasting net income of $6.0 million to
operations in order to accelerate its growth in Europe. Spartoo’s
website offers more than 7,000 current styles of women’s, men’s and
$7.0 million for the fourth quarter, compared with $0.5 million
children’s shoes by about 150 major brands, and no close-outs from
for last year.
previous seasons. It is proposing the establishment of a dedicated
section for luxury brands, called “The Temple.”
Kingmaker, a Chinese supplier to companies such as Skechers,
www.shoeintelligence.com
Clarks and Stride Rite, saw an 11 % drop in sales to 709.0 million
Hong Kong dollars (currency163.0m-$91.4m) for the first half ended Sept.
30, but still managed a jump of 36 % in profits to HK$39.5
million (currency13.5m-$5.1m). This increase came as a result of efforts
to increase its higher-margin businesses while cutting costs.
Kevin Monahan will be Frank Wright’s new sales agent for
Baracuta Steps Out
Ireland and Northern Ireland starting Feb. 1. He is the owner of
Wired Agencies, a fashion agency based in Dublin. Frank
Baracuta, renowned for its effortless style and timeless cool, is
Wright’s head office in the U.K. will provide additional sales and
stepping up its brand offer by launching a stylish footwear
marketing support
collection.The British brand, founded in the 1930’s has enjoyed
iconic status, being the favoured casual staple of the coolest from
Kurt Geiger is relaunching the footwear line by the same name
Steve McQueen to Daniel Craig, Frank Sinatra to Pete Doherty and
as a higher-end collection that is going to be manufactured in
Elvis to Oasis. The extension from clothing into footwear comes
Italy rather than in Brazil and other lower cost countries as the brand is enjoying great success worldwide.
The footwear collection will be produced, under license, by Base
ECCO will be the footwear supplier for the 2010 AT&T Pebble London. The collection will be a tightly focused range of styles to
Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament next month, outfitting complement the clothing range including vulcanized, desert boots,
the celebrity participants for the event
loafers and boots. The footwear will be unveiled early in the New
Year for A/W 10 retail.
Andrew Estey, the shoe designer who co-founded END
Kevin Stone, Marketing Director of BMB said: “We have evolved
Footwear, has launched LUME, a new lifestyle brand focusing
the brand from an iconic jacket into a lifestyle collection and now is
on health and wellness. It will begin with footwear, inserts and
the right time to add in a footwear line. We believe the team at
socks designed to increase foot comfort
Base London fully understand the brand’s history and heritage
DNA and we look forward to working closely with them on this
exciting project".
www.baracuta-g9.com
4
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FOOTWEAR TODAY
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FEBRUARY 2010
www.footweartoday.co.uk
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