NEWS
News in brief . . .
Better market trends at the major European shows, which change their schedules
Italy passes law on labels of origin New action on anti-dumping in EU and Brazil ANWR aims for better retail margins Is the Russianmarket coming back?
Predictions for 2010
The BFA recently canvassed its members for their predictions for 2010 and their views were broadly optimistic - but, tinged with realism. They see forward orders as being stronger than last year but there is the underlying uncertainty of not knowing the way the economy and consumer confidence is really moving - together with a pending election, changes in the buying habits of the public and big pressures on price from both the retailer and the consumer. This general air of increased but, not overwhelming confidence,
translates into increased participation by our members in exhibitions. For overseas shows, we calculate an increase of 10%, for the UK ones a bit less. This decision to invest more in selling and marketing applies to all sectors of the industry - the brands, the High Street suppliers and the direct to consumer guys. In the UK, Pure and Moda have their niches and different target
Funding for shoe fitting training
For WOMEN in ENGLAND there is funding available for the Society of Shoe Fitters course. The next course starts October lst, but if you wish to receive a large percentage of the course fee refunded, you need to apply for the course and the funding NOW. The funds are extremely limited in comparison to other years, so an application has to be made immediately.
audiences. Knowing the two organisations and where they are aiming their shows, the BFA is able to give impartial advice to its members as to which show would be the most appropriate for each company and to let them judge value for money, the profile of visiting buyers and the marketing support they can expect from each organiser. There is, however, one common thread running through the decision on
whether to show at a fair or not and if so, where. And this is the difficulty most partly established brands have in finding good sales agents. Understandably, the best agents are reluctant to devote their time to low profile, un-recognised labels. It is a fact that companies wanting to work with new sales agents are disappointed at the lack of qualified and energetic agents and often the low standard of many of them. There are a number of obvious exceptions to this view but one of the
most commonly asked questions from our recent start up member companies is “where can I find a good agent?” The BFA has great difficulty in answering that and as a result it is planning a portfolio of sales agents, noting which market segment they specialise in and which parts of the UK they cover. Though the columns of Footwear Today, the BFA appeals for agents to
If you
would like a course place, are a woman and living/working in England you need to complete the SSF course application form (available for download online: www.shoefitters-uk.org), and email it to Laura West, Secretary (SSF) requesting funding contact details. The secretary cannot guarantee funding as this is a government initiative and it is entirely based on a 'first come first served' basis.
www.shoefitters-uk.org
The major european fairs indicate improving market trends
An excellent mood was registered in the booths of several exhibitors at the international shoe shows in Milan and Düsseldorf last month. All in all, it seems that some companies are coming out of the recession better than others as customers are taking fewer risks. At Micam, the winners were companies such as Dino Bigioni, Fornari and Vittorio Virigili, which markets brands such as Iceberg. At Micam and at the GDS, good reports came from suppliers of toning shoes such as MBT and Skechers and also some important suppliers of pumps such as Peter Kaiser.
4 • FOOTWEAR TODAY
• APRIL 2010
Richard Kottler, CEO BFA
www.footweartoday.co.uk
contact it so we can start this process going and match an undoubted demand with the supply of those much sought after “good” agents.
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