NEWS
Blackpool Rocks
If you managed to wade, or should that be paddle, through all the seaside puns from our last feature concerning the Blackpool Show at the Imperial Hotel for that alone you are to be congratulated, well done. Your efforts will also have given you the feeling that the revamped show, championed by Lyndhurst shoes and Jaybill, would work a treat, and manage to re-establish the show as a viable regional event that gives a bit of a bellwether ahead of the main national exhibitions. Once again, well done, you would be right, and by this point probably feeling quietly pleased with yourself. So it was good to hear that Exhibitors and retailers felt the same, and the show is set to
run again from the 24th to the 26th of July once more at the Imperial. Judging by the reports we have
had back from the organisers, business was as brisk as a January walk down the prom and stand bookings for the next show are well up; so the show seems to have hit the mark with its target in a way some politicians can only dream of. Marketing Manager for The Sutton Group David Buchanan, of which Jaybill is part, said “The Blackpool show proved to be just what we had hoped it would be. A concise well targeted preamble for the upcoming season. It gave retailers a chance to view and order ahead of the major events in an environment where
they could take a bit more time in a less formal atmosphere.” The organisers have certainly set about putting the July show together with some vigour, and according to Conrad Dempsey, Director of Jaybill, it is going to bigger and better “We have 19 exhibitors confirmed so far for July which is well up on last time. Obviously economic conditions are challenging for us all, but shows like this help us to do good business and look after our customers so that they can trade strongly as the recession starts to ease a bit.” The opportunity to stay after the close of play to have a couple of drinks with the exhibitors seems to have been a
Base London’s Band For The Brand Competition Winners Announced
Men’s footwear brand, Base London continued their support of the future of British design with the ‘Band for the Brand’ competition for De Montfort University’s Footwear Design 2nd year students. The De Montfort students were
tasked with developing and producing a range of creatively commercial formal and casual footwear styles for a new imaginary band to fit their style and sound for two occasions, festival and award ceremony. Looking at fashion trends relating to the music industry, both past and present, the
students formed a band for whom they would create a range of casual styles ideal for a festival appearance and formal styles for the award ceremony. The students were mentored
through the project by Base London’s design team, and the final designs were judged by Base London’s Brand Manager Liz Lawley, and PR Manager Pete Winkworth. “We were very impressed by the high standard of work produced by each and every one of the students” explains Winkworth, “The students were set
a pretty open brief to try and encourage an expression of their own personality as well as their creative talents and they responded incredibly well. The designs all showed individual creative flair as well as commercial aspects, the students and the university should be very proud.’’ The winning range, by Benjamin
Smart (pictured collecting his award from Pete Winkworth) saw a collection of casual British themed daytime boots, infused with quirky twists and exaggerated detailing, combine with formal evening shoes
with toe punch designs complemented by sand blasted leathers. The winning students (1st
Benjamin Smart and Runners Up Liz Turner and Sarah Jane Holmes) all received cash prizes and Base London also contributed to the De Montfort travel fund to assist with the courses’ educational trips.
www.baselondon.co.uk
Crocs brings purr-fect footwear to the world’s feet
Crocs Europe BV, has entered a license agreement with Hello Kitty licensor Sanrio to bring the iconic Hello Kitty character to a limited edition range of Crocs footwear. The license agreement will allow Crocs Europe to sell, distribute and market Hello Kitty moulded footwear and Hello Kitty Jibbitz, the shoe brands’ popular charms and accessories. The Crocs Hello Kitty collection
consists of several styles, both for children and women. Like all Crocs™ brand shoes, the Hello Kitty range
8 • FOOTWEAR TODAY
•MAY 2010
feature Crocs’ proprietary closed-cell resin, Croslite™ material which enables Crocs to produce soft, comfortable, non- marking and odour-resistant shoes. Robin Akeroyd of
Crocs Europe comments, “We are committed to broadening the Crocs™ range and making sure it is constantly evolving to meet the demands and desires of
Crocs™ lovers worldwide. Hello Kitty has become an international institution and therefore is a perfect
partner. We’re excited to bring the fusion of these two iconic brands to the footwear market.” The Hello Kitty brand is
particularly popular amongst kids, teenagers and young women. The Crocs™ Hello Kitty spring/summer shoe styles
will be available in stores by end
of April 2010. The Crocs™ Hello Kitty winter styles will be available by the end of August.
www.footweartoday.co.uk
good idea and helped to break down barriers and made the whole exhibition a more relaxed and less pressurised. See Blackpool in Summer, why
don’t you. There is every chance that the weather will be better than it was in January, and the sleet ridden ice cold northerly that propelled me along the car park to the impressive doors of the Imperial Hotel should be replaced by a balmy sub tropical breeze to waft me there. Well, I can dream, but I am sure of one thing, even if the weather is more ‘coats and brollies’ than Cote D’Azur; the welcome for retailers at the new Blackpool Show will definitely be warm and friendly.
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