AGENT PROVOCATEUR
Reasons to be cheerful
W
ith the SS’10 selling season half way through, Pure and Moda already done and dusted and GDS, Micam still to come there appears to be a feeling of pessimism that has shown it’s ugly-self all too clearly over the past month or two.
We knew it would be heads down, do what we can and remain as optimistic as possible, but with an early autumn rattling our doors, the resolve and determination to remain cheerful seems to have gone out of the proverbial window. All the exhibition companies seem to do a good job of organising
shows and events for our benefit. It must be difficult to arrange the right time, right venue and get the right people along each and every season, but they seem to manage even if we agents, manufactures and suppliers all want different things. What we all have in common however is that we all need our pound of flesh and they know that if they don’t attract buyers then the following season we will all pull out, hunker down and rely on stockrooms. Stockrooms are not cheap either in fact they are very expensive – which is why it is infuriating and rude when retailers make an appointment and don’t show up! They don’t attract new businesses either, (did I say new business?…I’m either an idiot or an optimist), it is only the conceited delusional who relies on reputation and brand name to gain more hold on the market. So if it is hard for us suppliers, it set me thinking who else
are at our exhibitions, relying on retail and maybe finding it tougher still. Doing the rounds at MODA was Richard Kottler of the British Footwear Association. He is a good man and is apparently succeeding in keeping up the morale of their manufacturer members. Not an easy job when there are now so few UK suppliers. IFRA (independent footwear retailers association) surprisingly did not have a stand this time round, but their secretary was trying to muster up advertising for their in- house newsletter – methinks that was an uphill struggle with excellent magazines like Footwear Today and others taking up most supplier’s budgets. However it was reassuring to see the good old Society of Shoe Fitters flying their flag at MODA. Always there with their big logo’s, ready smile and lots of advice (no I am not being rude, I do mean logo’s). The literature available told me they are in their 51st year as a not-for-profit organisation. I found this amazing to think they have been training retail staff and health professionals all this time, simply to raise funds to give the footwear industry and the public free help and advice. I did notice that Retail Technology (also exhibitors) are showing them some tangible support by offering a free course when you order one of their computer systems – well done them, this is the sort of networking we should all be doing. It made me wonder what we have been missing and shall recommend we sign up as Associate Members to give them some much deserved support. It cannot be easy to offer so much when shops are closing, or tightening their belts and probably
14 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • SEPTEMBER 2010
putting skills and training below ordering stock. The trade bodies all have a purpose, but like the shows if we don’t support them, they will simply cease to exist – and we would all be a lot worse off. Next down the food chain we have the trade charities - Footwear
.
Friends, a body set up to help those who have worked within the shoe industry and have fallen on hard times. Like the SSF it is the charitable bodies that are often hardest hit in a recession as we all seem to assume they will go on regardless of our personal support. Not so, but although they do not exhibit at the shows, we all know who they are and many of us donate a little something each year in the hope there will be something in the pot in case we need it!
All the exhibition companies seem to do a good job of organising shows and events for our benefit. It must be difficult to arrange the right time, right venue and get the right people along each and every season, but they seem to manage even if we agents, manufactures and suppliers all want different things.
Joking apart, the International Golf Championship of the Leather and Allied Trades Society has been set up to raise funds for charities like Footwear Friend’s and The Leather & Hide Trade Benevolent Institution. The NSLATGF are in their 65th year of swinging their clubs for a good cause (the fact that playing golf is a wonderful pastime and chance to meet socially is completely beside the point) – and long may they enjoy doing so. We must also bear a thought for the trade press, who also take a
pitch, valiantly putting together excellent publications, all slightly different from one another but an excellent way of keeping us all informed of the latest trends and news, good job they do judging by the number of retailers who are hiding in their stores frightened to see what’s new and simply waiting for the usual knock on the doors. So, none of us are having an easy time, but we must all spare a thought for the little guys, the good guys, who are probably suffering more than we are. This is not just a time to count our pennies but to count our blessings too, so let’s all pull together and support one another in the best way we can.
www.footweartoday.co.uk
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