NEWS Great Potential in Small Feet


If something is still in its infancy, then this is generally a sign that something is not yet fully developed. However, this time, the opposite is the case because shoe.com GmbH & Co. KG, a subsidiary of the Wortmann Group in Detmold, sees immense growth potential, particularly in the children’s collection.


In January at the Expo Riva, visitors


saw a new-direction junior collection which received a great deal of recognition and consistently positive feedback. Work has subsequently been continued on the models for the Spring/Summer season 2021 and the result is a focused collection with outsoles, innovative material inserts and newly defined size ranges. For example, many styles now start at size 28 – styles which were previously only available from sizes 30 or 33.


“For the new season, we have also


added infants’ shoes to our range.We are offering retailers a total of four styles which will be available from size 20. The demand for shoes for the very young is great and we have now been able to close that gap in our collection”, said Heiko Hüdepohl, Managing Director of shoe.com.


For children, the focus is very clearly on the


theme of sportiness. Sneakers of all kinds define the image of the collection. The common denominator is a clean look which is peppered with practical details, such as Velcro fasteners or elastic laces.


On hot summer days, footbed-sandals and hiking sandals should not be overlooked.


For the girls, many models feature glitter, oily


mirror material and playful applications. For the boys, the focus is on neon accents or the camouflage look. The Wortmann Group, Detmold, is one of the largest shoe production and distribution companies in Europe and is market leader for fashionable women shoes. The collections are available in over 70 countries and in more than 15,000 shoe stores worldwide.


Worldwide footwear production increased by 21.2% over the last decade


Worldwide footwear production has increased by 21.2% since 2010 at an average yearly growth rate of 2.2%. In 2019 the industry slowed down, growing by only 0.6%. However, this was enough to establish a new production record of 24.3


billion pairs, a record which might hold for a few years yet, given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The footwear industry continues to be strongly concentrated in Asia where almost 9 out of every 10 pairs of shoes are manufactured.


Over the last decade, Asia has slightly


strengthened its dominance in the international scene, increasing its share of world production by some 2 percentage points.


SOURCE: APICCAPS


Update from Laura West, Secretary, Society Of Shoe Fitters


The Society of Shoe Fitters and Children’s Foot Health Register are continually pushing the government for more recognition and action regarding children’s shoe fitting. With online sales so popular there is huge concern that parents are merely looking at a gauge and thinking that is the size and fitting their child requires, without realising that there is so much more to professional shoe fitting and that a gauge is merely a guide.


The NHS have now included an item about the importance of shoe fitting on the NHS website. It


10 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • SEPTEMBER 2020


is a small step, but better than nothing and hopefully bigger strides to come going forward.


Secretary Laura West said ‘The only point of


difference that a small shop or independent has in the battle against online and direct sales is their personal service. Knowledge is power and the public are tiring of a general dumbing down in all aspects of retail, and life as we know it now. Specialisation and not being afraid to shout about your qualification and skill is vital, and our members who are media savvy and use social media on a daily basis are reaping the rewards’.


‘We continue to support our members most


recently with COVID-19 showcards and information, and offering discounted courses for more than one student, as well as various other initiatives to let our members know they are not alone and our charity is fighting for them’.


For more information contact: Rosemary Gray, President: info@shoefitters-uk.org


www.footweartoday.co.uk


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