MODA REVIEW
Moda Footwear reports a strong summer show M
oda Footwear closed the doors on a buzzing spring/summer 2013 edition this week. The organisers reported a rise in attendance
matched by reports of increased order volumes across the show. The event, the most important show on the UK footwear calendar and part of the UK’s largest trade fashion exhibition, played host to new season’s collections from over 400 brands, including a large number showing at Moda Footwear for the first time. The show’s growing contemporary zone Select
saw first time appearances from brands including Denmark’s Jack & Jones Footwear, US label K Swiss, British brand We Are Saints and iconic French brand Palladium. “As newcomers to the show we had a great reaction, particularly from independents,” says Palladium’s Joel Crane. “Showing the brand in Select has enabled us to promote it to a wider audience than we’d otherwise have been able to do, and we saw a lot of accounts that we’re now going to be following up with after the show.” Stephen McKiernan, UK key account manager
for Jack & Jones Footwear, also reported a successful show. “We were absolutely inundated with orders from the moment the show opened on the Sunday, and had signed up six new accounts just within the first few hours,” he says. “We had a lot of interest from the right kind of store, and will definitely be coming back next season.”
14 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • SEPTEMBER 2012
Moda Footwear’s regular exhibitors praised both the quality of retailer attending the show and the number of new accounts opened over the three days, despite a difficult summer for many stores. Rod Klau, agent for women’s footwear brands Fiona McGuinness, Diavolina and Dollybird reported successful sales across all three brands. “We had a great reaction to the collections this season, and opened new accounts with buyers from the UK and overseas. One of our key aims this season was to build up our network of independent stockists, and that’s exactly what we achieved.” Visitor attendance at Moda increased by 3 per cent on the previous year, with the show attracting footwear retailers including leading London indies Bullfrogs and Author, Edwards of Manchester, Modish of Cambridge and Saffron Walden and Bishops of Coleraine, as well as independent chains including Charles Clinkard and Pavers. Department stores visiting the show included Fenwick, Beales, Bentalls and Arnotts, as well as on-line retailers including Amazon and ASOS. Sarah Decent, owner of Modish, visited the
show on the lookout for new brands as well as to place orders with existing suppliers. “Moda has always been a good show for me, and having discovered Mustang there last season I was pleased to be able to place another order with them this season,” she says. “I’m also hoping to be able to follow up with some new labels I saw at the show such as Rapisardi. I was very impressed by their spring/summer collection.”
Demian Brewster, managing director of
Bullfrogs, praised the breadth of product on offer at Moda Footwear. “Moda Footwear is now an essential date on our calendar due to the sheer number and diversity of brands, both fashion and mainstream,” he says. “Our team had another good show this season, helped by the fact that the event is very well edited and easy to navigate.” Andrew Marshall, owner of independent chain
Strolling 4 Shoes in Cumbria, commented: “After such a tough season we felt it was imperative we gave ourselves the time to really look closely at what we’re buying for spring/summer next year,” he says. “We were very impressed with Josef Seibel, whose collection was extremely good value and all at their normal high quality. Tamaris also looked good, and ART had some great styles at very competitive prices.” Moda Footwear event director Sean O’Connor
comments: “This summer has been a tough season for a lot of footwear retailers in the UK, but the positive feedback from brands and exhibitors over the three days of Moda showed that our industry is still in a good state of health. It’s also showed just how important it is for retailers to have a full overview of the new season’s ranges and be able to seek out new product, and that’s exactly the platform which Moda Footwear seeks to provide.”
Moda Footwear will present the
autumn/winter 13 collections from 17-19 February at the NEC Birmingham.
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