Q&A
How do you select your products – which criteria do you use / what are your customers looking for?
The buying process I think just evolves from season to season. Styling doesn’t move around as much as it used to say 10 years ago. That probably has the athleisure market to blame.
Which footwear/fashion shows do you attend, how do you rate them? Are you planning to attend a Show next year, if so, which one? Just Moda at the moment. Used to visit Garda and Dusseldorf but times have changed.
Do you have a favourite footwear agent you can tell us about? All our agents are great, They’re all friends to mind
...Jeremy at Hot Brands , then Graham at Skape, Rob at Cocoon, Lee at Yum Yum ..... couldn’t say.
Have you always had a passion for footwear? How many pairs of shoes do you own? Do you have a favourite pair? Had too many pairs
....at the moment my Art trainers that I’m wearing.
Any famous customers?
I believe Robert Plant bought a pair of shoes off us a few years ago... I was off that day.
How do you think the Government could best help footwear retailers at this difficult time, i.e. lower business rates, rents, VAT etc? Rents I guess are out of their control, but they need to be lowered to a new market level. Business rates should have been scrapped years ago.
14 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • MARCH 2022
It has definitely been one of the major factors that the high street finds itself in the precarious state that it is in at the moment. The grant money small businesses have received through Covid is just a tiny pay back for the billions small businesses have been over charged/taxed over the years.
Regards VAT, I can’t understand why food and beverage are getting help but not traditional retail? Obviously, politicians are all buying online but worried that they won’t be able to go to an open restaurant and fill their faces?? From what I’m seeing food and beverage are much busier than the shops.... they don’t have to compete with online in the same regards as we do, and they can implement food delivery... yet they are getting continuing support with the drop in VAT rates?? Also, why no face masks when entering a bar or restaurant but compulsory face masks in shops? The bars and restaurants look far busier than the shops from where I’m standing?
Do you have any plans for the future? A day at a time
Contact
Paul Lamb, Sims Footwear, 11-12 Great Western Arcade Birmingham B2 5HU
Tel 0121 236 8441 / 07730 433696
info@simsfootwear.co.uk www.simsfootwear.co.uk
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