14 Drapers February 28 2009

INDICATOR

MEN’S FOOTWEAR

Drapers spoke to 50 independents about their men’s contemporary footwear business for the week ending February 14. Brands and styles mentioned in the lists, including the Top 10 and Top 5, are ranked when mentioned by five or more retailers

TOP 10 Best-selling brands of the week

1 G-Star2 Hudson3 Converse4 Fly London5 Base London6 Dr Martens7 CAT8 Nanny State9 Timberland10 Firetrap

TOP 5 Best-selling styles of the week

1 Lace-up pumps 2 Casual trainers3 Smart casual leather shoes4 Boots5 Classic leather shoes

TOP 5 Best-selling boot brands of the week

1 CAT2 G-Star3 Hudson4 Timberland5 Grenson

Casual styles topped the polls this week as spring stock began selling in UK footwear indies. Adidas was singled out as the quickest brand to deliver new season stock, while retailers said Nanny State was the brand to watch this season as casual lace-up pumps are set to get tills ringing.

Quickfire questions

Footwear prices will continue to rise, according to 68% of the indies in this week’s Indicator survey. However, retailers predicted that higher prices would prompt customers to look around more for better deals and go online, rather than stop spending. “You can see the prices going up; they are being tweaked slowly. This won’t have a huge affect now, but customers will shop around more and on the internet and by the end of the year it may become tricky [for retailers],” said Kevin Harris, manager of Mastershoe in Bath, Somerset. Lyndon Tilbury, managing director of Steptoes in Bridport, Dorset, said: “The price of European shoes will go up because of the European exchange rate. Customers will cope, as long as prices don’t jump hugely.”

Trade was up on this time last year for nearly half of the independents polled by Drapers. Of those surveyed, 47% said men were becoming more fashion savvy and brand conscious. At Zigzag in Chichester, West Sussex, men’s buyer Stuart Hopkins said: “Men are becoming braver and are starting to think more like women. We’ve got guys in Armani jackets wanting to finish off their look with £12 plimsolls; it’s all about what’s fashionable.” Mastershoe’s Harris added: “Brands like Dr Martens and Timberland are strong at the moment and guys are willing to pay a bit more for them.”

Vulcanised and canvas lace-up pumps are still being backed by the majority of contemporary footwear independents this spring, with the styles being stocked in three times more stores than any other style. “We sold canvas pumps last year and they have continued to do well ever since,” said Alfie Hope, director of Jazz Clothing in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. “They are a big trend; a lot of young lads wear them with joggers and oversized beanies and the indie kids are wearing them with skinny jeans.” The style is both on trend and affordable, said Simon Hanna, buyer at Treds in Weymouth, Dorset, who is also backing canvas pumps for spring. He said: “Because they are cheap to sell, I would rather sell a pair of leather shoes for £60, but it’s a fashion thing and so we are getting them in.”

InformerCONTEMPORARY

Average spendWhat was the average spend per customer in your store this week?

of men’s contemporary footwear indies are still on Sale

Fashion in figuresHow does your week’s business compare with this time last year?

47%Better

35% Same

18%Worse

Pump it up: Nanny State

We are still on Sale because we have to get rid of stuff . We need the space for our spring range Dennis Cole, manager of Coles Shoes in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset

Which brand do you predict will be your bestseller this spring?

1 Nanny State2 Converse3 Keds

76%

We resisted going on Sale until later as it sets a precedent for the new yearAndy Brown, owner of Gran Moda in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

DATE:week ending february 14 2008

TOTAL:

£68.10

Which young fashion footwear brand has been the most prompt with spring deliveries?

1 Adidas2 Firetrap3 Hudson4 Converse5 Paul Smith

Which of the following trends are you backing in store this spring?

Lace-up pumps 67%Brogues 26%Desert boots 26%Thong sandals 11%Leather sandals 7%

How long did your Christmas Sale period last compared with last year?

Less 25%Same 53%Longer 22%

For footwear news, go to www.drapersonline.com/news/footwear

What do you think will happen to footwear prices next year?

Go up 68%Go down 13%Stay the same 19%

014DRAP280209_Mens Indicator.jg sd.indd 14 24/2/09 14:29:46