12 Drapers February 28 2009

IndIcator

women’s footwear

Drapers spoke to 50 independents about their women’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 Fly London2 Ugg Australia 3 Converse 4 Miss Sixty5 Hush puppies6 Firetrap7 G-Star8 Terra plana9 Bronx10 Rocket Dog

Top 5 Best-selling styles of the week

1 Casual boots2 Wedges3 Sheepskin boots4 platforms5 Mary Janes

Top 5 Best-selling boot brands of the week

1 Ugg Australia2 Fly London3 Rocket Dog4 Terra plana5 Belstaff

Wedge styles and gladiator-inspired sandals are set to be key again this spring, with the footwear indies surveyed in this week’s Indicator backing both looks. Despite the autumn angle of its Classic style, Ugg is tipped to be the spring 09 branded favourite, with Fly London hot on its heels.

Quickfire questions

A dramatic price increase by suppliers could result in some brands being dropped by retailers, according to this week’s Indicator. Many of the indies surveyed said customers were not willing to spend money on brands that have raised their prices. Mark Richardson, owner of Roots in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, said: “When you have represented a brand for five seasons, it is too much to ask retailers to pay a lot more than what they expect.” Paul Tallett, owner of Cayman Reef in Coalville, Leicestershire, added: “We are staying with the manufacturers but our buying with them has been cut severely. Whether we stay with them [long term] remains to be seen.”

Owners of eco-fashion boutiques that Drapers have spoken to are surprisingly optimistic about the year ahead in footwear, despite customers tightening their purse strings. Emily Best, owner of Bochica in Battersea, south London, said: “We hope people will still be willing to shop ethically and not just see it as a luxury, and it seems people are willing to do that.” Louise Singleton, owner of Betty & Babs in Kendal, Cumbria, said: “People want good-quality products that will last longer, and this is exactly what our products do.”

Ugg Australia stocks are running low, with demand for the Classic boot style outstripping supply at the majority of indies surveyed. The brand took first place in the best-selling boot brand poll and second in the overall best-selling brand chart in this week’s survey. Debbie Smith, manager of Leggs in Darlington, County Durham, said: “We have sold out, we can’t get any more. We have at least 10 phone calls a day from people trying to get them. We can’t do a waiting list because we don’t know when we are going to get any.” The style is popular with a wide customer demographic. “Uggs suit all ages, not just the young. I’ve sold them to 70-year-olds,” said Holly Stringfellow, manager of Dr Kruger in Lancaster, Lancashire.

Informercontemporary

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

of women’s contemporary footwear independents are still on Sale

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

36%Better

42% Same

22% Worse

People aren’t spending what they did last year so we have extra stock left overRosco Howard, sales assistant at Imago Trading in Dartmouth, Devon

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

1 Ugg Australia2 Fly London3 Camper

80%

All of our spring stock has come a month late. We have needed to keep stock out simply to fill the shop Nick Walker, manager of planet in Bedford

DATE:week ending february 14 2008

TOTAL:

£71.09

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

1 Fly London2 Firetrap3 Converse4 G-Star5 paul Smith

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

Wedges 55%Gladiators 55%Platforms 32%1970s-inspired wooden platforms 13%Ankle boots 10%

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

Less 19%Same 58%Longer 23%

For the latest footwear trends, visit www.drapersonline.com/trends

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

Go up 48%Go down 15%Stay the same 37%

Success story: Uggs are in demand

012DRAP280209_Womens Indicator.sd.indd 12 24/2/09 14:31:39