CONTENTS
FROM THE EDITOR Time for change?
O
ther retail sectors, such as supermarkets and garden centres, have evolved considerably in the last 40 years, immeasurably increasing the product portfolio on offer to their customers – based on market research.
In contrast, the vast majority of
today’s shoe retailing outlets are very similar both in design and product offering as those operating in the 1970’s and 80’s.
Is it time
for a change? Why can’t shoe retailers follow the example of others and build on the knowledge of their customer base and extend their product offering to them? The most obvious add-ons are shoe care and shoe accessory products – particularly those that provide comfort and relief to the feet such as insoles and gel pads to prevent blisters, relieve pressure on the ball and heel of the foot and provide arch support. Everyone appreciates the pain and discomfort caused by aching feet. (Read more about Foot Care on page 24). Furthermore, there is a growing tendency for chiropodists and podiatrists to augment the fees they receive for consultation and treatments by selling not just inserts to shoes, but shoes themselves! Are shoe retailers missing a trick here? I know I’ve asked you this before, but think about it… Now, there is the opportunity for shoe retailers to offer value added services that could increase the customer footfall (literally), revitalise retail shoes stores and put the sale of shoes on the Internet on the back foot. Innovative marketing like offering cut-price chiropody or podiatry with a purchase of shoes may persuade some who are not totally sold on the idea of brand or cut price shoes – particularly responsible parents. It could offer a way forward for the retail shoe industry to develop a fuller, value added experience for its customers. It could offer employees of shoe stores a challenge and an opportunity and the personal attention, and quality footwear and fitting may be enough to return some shoe purchasers to the high street from the super highway. In this edition, we bring you Fashion Trends, our exciting new section produced in association with leading fashion trend analysis company
Trendstop.com. This month we bring you a taste of Autumn/Winter 2011, including, ‘Ornate Excess’ for the ladies and the ‘Lounge Slipper’ for men. Check out our Best of the Summer Shoe Show section of Ladies Footwear in Editor’s Choice on page 18. We also bring you reviews of major events including GDS in Dusseldorf , MAGIC, Las Vegas and Mess Around, Paris.
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NEWS MISFIT AGENT PROVOCATEUR FASHION TRENDS FOOTWEAR FOCUS EDITOR’S CHOICE ARA GDS REVIEW FOOT CARE ETHICAL
FRONT COVER: ARA ARA’s evolution is, by its nature, constantly
moving. The ARA brand itself is well known for its comfort values and wherever evolution takes the brand, these cornerstone features of good fit, comfort and generous last shapes will never
change.
Identifying the customers’ needs has been vital to ARA’s success.
For more details contact ARA
at Ashton Associates on 01953 859900, or
enquiries@ashton-associates.com
for more information call 01953 859900 or email to:
peter@ashton-associates.com Inside this issue: • GDS Review • Fashion Trends • Footcare • Editors Choice-Best of Shows • OCTOBER 2010
www.footweartoday.co.uk
EDITOR Cheryl Taylor:
cheryltayloreditor@googlemail.com CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Adam Bernstein FEATURE WRITERS: Henry Harington Dawn Smith Vicky Kember Joe Maggio JOURNAL MANAGER John Andrews: 01622 699135
jandrews@datateam.co.uk ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER Sue Wiseman: 01622 699185
swiseman@datateam.co.uk SALES EXECUTIVE Andy Morfey: 01622 699120
amorfey@datateam.co.uk DESIGNER Siobhan Nolan and Steve Parks ADMINISTRATION Ellie Inchmore PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Paul Ryder:
pryder@datateam.co.uk
Media Partner of the STAG Buying Group
Published by: Datateam Business Media Ltd, London Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8LY. Tel: 01622 687031 Fax: 01622 757646 email:
footwear@datateam.co.uk website:
www.datateam.co.uk
ISSN 1475 8601
The Publishers cannot accept responsibility for any discrepancies either in copy or between products and/or services listed. Nor can they be responsible for illustrations and/or copy for products which lead to infringement of copyright.
Best regards,
Cheryl Taylor - Editor, Footwear Today Tel: 01622 862962
Email:
cheryltayloreditor@googlemail.com To receive your own regular copy of footwear today, please visit
www.footweartoday.co.uk/registration
IFRA, BFA and Society of Shoe Fitters all support Footwear Today as a valuable forum for the footwear industry, helping to promote trade and keeping retailers informed about the latest products and developments.
OCTOBER 2010 • FOOTWEAR TODAY
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