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NEWS
Comment - By Richard Kottler, BFA
This general air of increased profile of visiting buyers and the questions from our recent start
but not overwhelming marketing support they can up member companies is “where
confidence translates into expect from each organiser. can I find a good agent?” The
increased participation by our There is, however, one BFA has great difficulty in
members in exhibitions. For common thread running answering that and as a result it
overseas shows, we calculate an through the decision on whether is planning a portfolio of sales
increase of 10%, for the UK ones to show at a fair or not and if so, agents, noting which market
a bit less. where. And this is the difficulty segment they specialise in and
The BFA recently canvassed its This decision to invest more in most partly established brands which parts of the UK they cover.
members for their predictions selling and marketing applies to have in finding good sales Through the columns of
for 2010 and their views were all sectors of the industry - the agents. Understandably, the best Footwear Today, the BFA appeals
broadly optimistic - but tinged brands, the High Street suppliers agents are reluctant to devote for agents to contact it so we
with realism. They see forward and the direct to consumer guys. their time to low profile, un- can start this process going and
orders as being stronger than In the UK, Pure and Moda have recognised labels. It is a fact that match an undoubted demand
last year but there is the their niches and different target companies wanting to work with with the supply of those much
underlying uncertainty of not audiences. Knowing the two new sales agents are sought after “good” agents.
knowing the way the economy organisations and where they disappointed at the lack of
and consumer confidence is are aiming their shows, the BFA qualified and energetic agents
really moving - together with a is able to give impartial advice to and often the low standard of
pending election, changes in the its members as to which show many of them.
buying habits of the public and would be the most appropriate There are a number of obvious
big pressures on price from both for each company and to let exceptions to this view but one
the retailer and the consumer. them judge value for money, the of the most commonly asked
SATRA Technology News Release
Slip sliding away -
testing in snow and ice
Slips, trips and falls at home, SATRA has conducted and breaks. If you can imagine a
work and in public places can fundamental research into the shoe sticking to the floor, if the
cause serious injury, lost characteristics of slip between strength of this 'stick' is so
productivity and major footwear and ice in a number of strong that it prevents the
compensation claims. The risk of forms (frozen, frosted and wearer from rotating the sole,
slipping increases where people smooth). While it is incorrect to then any sudden twist will put all
walk in conditions of snow and claim that footwear can be the strain on the wearer's limbs
ice. Such risk can often be made non-slip, it is certainly the and joints and not the usual
greatest at entrance and exit case that research and testing friction/slip point between sole
points of buildings where has allowed the global footwear and floor. The potential injury
partially melted snow and ice industry to improve the slip could be just as severe as that
creates a hazardous resistance of footwear. caused by a slip.
combination, made worse by the The risk of slip is present in a Part of SATRA's research towards, for example, a next
tendency of many people to vast array of situations the involves studded footwear used generation of artificial surfaces.
relax attention when stepping whole year round and the in various sports, where the As well as the construction of
inside from extreme external development of slip resistance design of cleats or studs is now footwear and floor surfaces - for
conditions. leads to the question when does technologically advanced. Quick example stud and tread patterns
Working direct with slip resistance pose a acceleration and firm anchorage and surface texture on floorings
manufacturers and public and comparable hazard to slip. of the support foot when - the materials used in products
private institutions and SATRA has conducted research kicking, requires high traction. can make a significant
companies, SATRA Technology focused on the balance between This is achieved by increasing difference to slip. Advances in
Centre plays a key role in translational movement cleat length and the total area materials science, innovative
research and development to (footwear sliding in a straight of the vertical leading face of design, and further insights on
improve the slip resistance of line across the floor surface) the cleats so that resistance is the mechanisms of slip will offer
footwear and floor surfaces. and rotational movement increased as the stud ploughs manufacturers and research
Thirty years ago SATRA (footwear rotating left or right into the turf. However, high organisations like SATRA more
designed and built the first on a floor surface). Footwear twisting strains on knee and opportunity to develop footwear
prototype laboratory-based slip requires a high translational ankle joints can result if the sole and floor surfaces that are safer
testing rig and developed the coefficient of friction to of the boot and ground 'lock' across a wider variety of
corresponding test method. minimise the risk of slipping, but together. The playing surface conditions.
The slip rig can be set up to low rotational friction to reduce itself also contributes and stud
www.satra.co.uk and
test on an ice surface, and the risk of leg and joint strains design needs to follow any trend
www.dontslipup.com
www.footweartoday.co.uk
FEBRUARY 2009
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FOOTWEAR TODAY
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