NEWS
2012 FOOTWARDS AWARDS UNITE THE INDUSTRY!
Winner of the Society of
Shoe Fitters Student of the Year 2011 - David O'Dwyer of Cushyfeet, Limerick
The Footwear Industry Awards event, held on Sunday 19th February 2012
to coincide with the Moda Show, at the Forest of Arden Hotel, 4 miles from Birmingham NEC, has been hailed as one of the best attended and most enjoyable awards events in the industry’s recent history. With over 220 guests, it was a full house on the night! Tickets sold out a week before and there was a waiting list for ‘no shows’.
A hugely successful and widely publicised event, it was the first which
saw all the trade associations, including the British Footwear Association, the Independent Footwear Retailers Association and the Society of Shoe Fitters, working together as one to reward their peers. The event awarded high achieving brands and retailers, whilst also offering the industry a valuable networking opportunity.
Read more about what the industry has to say about the Footwear Awards and check out the images in our Awards supplement in this issue.
New Shoe Fitting Course starts March 1st
The SSF are delighted at the take up of their new course to make them relevant to today's market, but strongly retain their ethical stance on the importance of 'fit'. The new 5 Month Course started on March 1st and encompasses all you need to know about professional shoe fitting with topics covering anatomy, problem feet, shoe construction, materials, gauges, types of fit and even customer care.
All this is enhanced by two hands-on Workshop days and culminates in membership of this long-standing, prestigeous organisation. There is also a fast-track Entrance Examination for those who don't need the course that have been shoe fitting for years.
In these difficult times it is vital to retain the loyalty of good staff and
encourage those that are new to the trade, and what better way than to teach them everything they will need to know to serve customers professionally so that “they will sell shoes that won’t come back, to people who will!” The SSF are always happy to take late bookings.
Contact: Laura West F.S.S.F.,Secretary, The Society of Shoe Fitters, Tel: 01953-851171
www.shoefitters.org.uk 4 • FOOTWEAR TODAY •MARCH 2012
David O'Dwyer The Society of Shoe Fitters are delighted to announce their winner of
the Student of the Year 2011 at the Footwear Awards Dinner. David O'Dwyer of Cushyfeet in Limerick is a worthy winner coming from a long line of shoe fitters and the family store where he has worked since he was a young lad of 12 and his presentation was proudly watched and enjoyed by his brother Johnny.
Laura West SSF Secretary, said "At the start of last years courses I was
delighted to see so many men taking part, it is quite unusual to have more than one or two men on the course at one time. I joked it would be good to have a man win the Trophy, but little did I know my words would be prophetic! The men do not usually submit as much work as the ladies, but not only did David excel in his papers he attended all the workshops and it was obvious to the tutors and examiners he knew his business well."
"Our two other outstanding students were Kim Jackson of Klodhoppers and Sheridan Parsons of Wooton Bassett. Students come from various backgrounds and experience levels, (some more than capable of tackling our examination), but all say they enjoy this relaxed learning experience to brush up on their knowledge."
www.footweartoday.co.uk
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