NEWS
Merrell & Garmin forge ground-breaking alliance
Merrell, the global leaders in outdoor footwear and apparel, today announced a groundbreaking alliance with leading sat nav manufacturer Garmin. The alliance will draw on both Merrell and Garmin’s heritage and technical credentials to offer a fresh approach to using GPS technology amongst natural and urban pursuits, from Geocaching and countryside rambling to mountain biking and skiing. Jonathan Pennington, UK Marketing Manager, Merrell, commented:
“Merrell is well known for creating innovative and stylish outdoor footwear and apparel products which enable people to enjoy the great outdoors, whatever the pursuit. The premise of developing a relationship with Garmin, which will include a sharing of expertise and equity, will help ensure both brands go one step further and inspire the outdoor athlete in everyone. We are very much looking forward to working with Garmin on what promises to be a very exciting alliance.” Garmin is renowned for partnerships with car and sports manufacturers
as well as B2B organisations such as the AA, however this alliance represents a natural move for two brands who stand at the forefront of the outdoor industry and have a shared passion to equip and encourage people to explore the great outdoors, seek adventure, exhilaration and new experiences.
Shoe carnival exceeds expectations for quarter
Shoe Carnival reports that its net sales for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 30 rose by 8.8 % to $170.8 million, with a matching 8.8 % increase in comparable store sales. The comp increase was well above the company’s expectations, and was attributed partly to ongoing strength in the toning shoe segment.
LVMH wins a partial victory against google
Google has withstood a legal challenge by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, which opposed its practice of selling search words, including brand names, to advertisers. France’s Supreme Court had referred the case to the European Court of Justice, which ruled that Google did not infringe on LVMH’s trademark rights, but in a precedent-setting decision, the court ordered Google to follow higher standards going forward. LVMH asserted that the sale of “AdWords” could send customers to illegal websites selling counterfeit goods. The European court said that Google as well as advertisers could be found liable if this happened. It also ruled that online advertisers had to get permission from a
trademark owner in order to use that trademark as a keyword search term. As a result, only sites that the company has approved of will show up in a search engine search. The case will now go back to the French court for a final ruling.
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www.footweartoday.co.uk
Ward Shoes started life in 1985 with Michael and Elizabeth Ward buying an old shoe repairing machine and repairing shoes in their local village. They then began to buy customer return shoes from high streets stores and exporting them to West Africa. Since then the company has gone from strength to strength adding
clothing, handbags, accessories and household products to their portfolio. To date the company has exported an amazing 8.25 million items. It won the Queen’s award in 1998 and 2004. In 2009 and 2010 Michael and Elizabeth both featured in the Who’s who of business elite. The Queen’s Award for Enterprise recognises continuous achievement in
international trade over a six year period. It is a very prestigious award that only around 110 companies receive a year. Ward Shoes recorded an astonishing 131% increase in overseas sales between 2004 and 2009. Which equates to £1 million. The company continues to develop and grow. It has just launched an e- bay shop to open a new market.
www.wardshoes.co.uk
Garant's earnings higher than expected
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The Garant Group turned around to a net profit of ¤2.3 million in 2009 from a net loss of ¤4.3 million in the previous year. The 2008 figure was partly due to creditors’ claims related to the previous insolvency of the international German based buying group.
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MAY 2010 • FOOTWEAR TODAY
• 5
Three times a winner
Ward Shoes win Queen’s Award For Enterprise - for a third time!
Ward Shoes, an export company based in Sheffield, specialise in exporting stock lot and worn return footwear and clothing. The company exports 1,000,000 items a year, mainly to Africa and Eastern Europe. Quite an achievement for a company that only has 24 employees. Michael Ward the managing director told Footwear Today: “We are
absolutely over the moon to win the award for a third time. To win the award once was an incredible achievement and we are just astonished that we have managed to win it for the third time. We are very lucky to have such an amazing workforce, it is their hard work and dedication that has made this company the success that it is.” The Queen’s Award For Enterprise is awarded to companies that show
continual growth over a 6 year period. It is truly amazing that in the midst of the recession Ward Shoes has managed to record a 161% growth in overseas sales, making them a well deserving recipient of this prestigious award.
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