CONTENTS
Keep Feet 'Fit’ - Support National Shoe Fitting Week starting March 23rd 2013
FROM THE EDITOR T
he Society of Shoe Fitters has announced that it will be launching National Shoe Fitting Week, under the banner Keep Feet ‘Fit’ on March 23rd 2013. The SSF,
which operates on a non-profit basis, wants to raise national awareness of importance well-fitting footwear and the vital service the important job retailers provide as opposed to buying online. If everyone working in shoe shops trained to become professional Shoe
Fitters it could save the NHS thousands of pounds over the coming years, as SSF members already do in a small way, if Government would simply realise the importance of people’s feet in relation to their entire physiology and well- being. Footwear is treated as an accessory, but it is vitally important and the only item of clothing that can seriously damage your health in the long term. Membership of the SSF is by qualification only and includes a 5-10 month
course, (or entrance application for shoe fitters with 5 years or more experience). Their courses cover everything from anatomy and problem feet, to gauges, shoe sizing, construction methods, materials, right through to customer care. They are primarily distance learning with hands-on workshops at the Society of Chiropodists & Podiatrists in London and a shoe factory. Monies raised provides a helpful website, free helpline and foot health education material for both the trade and public. Footwear Today Magazine has pledged its support for the Keep Feet ‘Fit’ - National Shoe Fitting Week - and we hope that the British public will do the same by supporting their local shoe shop – use it or lose it”! A3 and A4 posters are being sent to all retailers wishing to be involved including a special edition for shoe repairers. They also have suggestions for your own PR promotions. Whilst the focus is on footwear the SSF are also asking all retailers to lobby their MP's to help footfall instore to try to combat online sales. They can email you lots of suggestions for your letter, so start fighting back now!
Footwear Industry Awards An immensely enjoyable evening was had by all at the Footwear Industry
Awards, held at the Forest of Arden Hotel on Sunday 17th February 2012 at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham. The best attended awards event in the industry’s recent history, with over 250 guests, it was a full house on the night. Organised by Datateam Business Media for the Industry, the Footwear
Awards event 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. We hope it will be the first of many more such awards events in the years to come! Congratulations to all the winners! I’m delighted to report that two of our
Best Sellers panellists were among this year’s winners: North Shoes was voted Ladies Independent Footwear Retailer of the Year. Highly Commended in this category was Strolling4Shoes, Cumbria. North Shoes also won Independent Family Retailer of the Year and was Highly Commended in Men's Independent Retailer of the Year. Well done James and Andrew! It was wonderful to meet so many of our readers, including retailers from
our Best Sellers Panel and exhibitors, old friends and new, both at the awards event and at the Moda Show the following day. All agreed, it was by far the best Moda for a long time. If you didn’t manage to attend Moda this season, there’s still time to check out the cream of the crop in our Editor’s Choice: Ladies Footwear Best In Shows section on pages 27-29. Next month, we’ll be reporting on our favourite Men’s Best In Shows brands.
Best regards
Cheryl Taylor, Editor DL 01622 862962
E:
ctaylor@datateam.co.uk/
cheryltayloreditor@googlemail.com
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NEWS MISFIT FOOTWEAR FOCUS MODA REVIEW EDITOR’S CHOICE (LADIES BEST IN SHOWS) KENSINGTON PREVIEW SPOTLIGHT ON VITTI LOVE PURE REVIEW GDS PREVIEW BEST SELLERS RETAILER OF THE MONTH COMPANY PROFILE
Kensington Shoe Event Guide Pull Out FRONT COVER: bugatti
MARCH 2013
Fashionable good looks, comfort, high quality materials and workmanship make Bugatti shoes dream shoes
Contact: Bench Grade Brands T: 01604 686800 M: 07850434345
www.bugatti-shoes.com
Inside this issue: Kensington Shoe Event • Ladies’ Footwear Best of Shows • Adesso Road Test Moda Review and GDS Preview
FIA 2013 Supplement enclosed – as the official magazine for the Footwear Industry Awards, read our exclusive review inside!
EDITOR Cheryl Taylor:
ctaylor@datateam.co.uk FASHION LAWYER Stephen Sidkin FEATURE WRITERS Becci Knowles • Henry Harington • Dawn Smith • Vicky Kember • Joe Maggio • Emma Cooke • JOURNAL MANAGER Sue Wiseman: 01622 699185
swiseman@datateam.co.uk SALES EXECUTIVE Sam Baughan: 01622 699162
sbaughan@datateam.co.uk DESIGNER Steve Parks CIRCULATION
datateam@capsule-group.com PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Paul Ryder:
pryder@datateam.co.uk
www.footweartoday.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
Subscription Prices 2013 Footwear Today Magazine Number of editions per year: 10 ISSN: 1475-8601 UK: £58 Overseas: £109 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.
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.
MARCH 2013 • FOOTWEAR TODAY
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