Our next course starts on October 1st and don't forget your colleagues get a £50 discount -AND training and membership costs are tax deductable. Now is the time to let staff know how valuable they are - or could be, to your business. So, if you want your first contact with prospective customers to be bright, knowledgeable and helpful and above all qualified to perform the task set to them, then please contact Laura immediately for an application form.

Forms can be emailed. Also, the government grant offering up to 75% off of the course fee (for women working in England only) called Women in the Workplace, is available from Skillfast and open again to students. Sadly it was not confirmed to us until a short while ago and the budget has being going quickly. There will be a waiting list though, so for more information please contact Sue Green, Skills Manager Tel. 0113-2399600 or Mobile: 07736-083528.

The Off-Price Show, the trade event specialising in stock buying (March 14th–15th Olympia), returns to London after the successful launch of its Warsaw, Poland edition last September. The show organizers report an uplift, both in exhibitors and buyer registrations. Said show manager Max Carter, “confidence seems to be returning to most sectors, confirmed space was already 8% up by mid-February compared to the whole show last year, and with very busy sales in the last few weeks, we expect the show to open at least 15% bigger than last Spring. Buyer registrations are also up – 7% up on last year with hundreds of new registrations pouring in daily”.

The exclusive ‘Sweeties’ range from Norvic, has been designed especially for little girls who love a little sparkle!

The range consists of five styles, but the standout feature of these shoes are the scented rubber soles that release a sweet flavour with every step!*. The soles are jam packed with delicious sweet delights with each style centred around a unique design and colour palette to complement the individual flavour.

In 1918, two war-weary young soldiers and former POW's returned to Britain at the end of the First World War. Identical twins, Jack and Bill Denton had come back to their Northamptonshire roots, having survived the tumult of a war-ravaged Europe. Exactly 15 months later, the brothers were starting a new venture, as proprietors of a footwear business in Irchester. On Feb 11th 1920, D B Shoes was formed, manufacturing men's shoes and boots in a region of the country renowned for its thriving footwear industry. During the 1930’s the business grew and moved to larger premises in Rectory Road, Rushden. The Second World War saw D B Shoes devote much of its production to manufacturing footwear for the war effort.

Cherry Blossom Premium, the new range of shoe care products benefiting  from extensive market research on both formulation and performance, is to be launched exclusively through Debenhams, the UK high street departmental chain with 105 outlets in the UK.

The range, presented in tailor-made merchandising units, will be available from mid January in Debenhams’ Ladies Shoe departments.  An interesting development is that selected items of the Cherry Blossom Premium range will also be positioned to appeal to those who want to take care of their hand bags.

AMG Footwear Ltd has been appointed to manage the distribution of the three brands under the LXY structure: Strutt Couture, Zandra Rhodes by Strutt Couture and Five by Rio Ferdinand exclusively in the UK and Eire with immediate effect.

The addition of the LXY brands to the AMG Footwear portfolio further demonstrates the company’s strength and reputation within the footwear industry. AMG entered the footwear market in 2002 when it began its relationship with Deckers Outdoor Corporation securing the distribution licence for multi-activity lifestyle footwear brand, Teva. Following three highly successful years in 2005, AMG were awarded the UK/Eire distribution rights for world renowned luxury sheepskin brand, UGG® Australia and in early 2006 the company landed the third footwear brand owned by Deckers, Simple shoes.

For this coming autumn, the Kickers collection varies from the downright urban, with bright colour pops and techy materials, to a softer more natural range with soft vintage leathers and rich autumnal hues. Permeating throughout the collection, be it for men, women or littl’uns, the Kickers feel good attitude resonates. As ever, Kickers has designed shoes that make you smile.

Women

For Autumn Winter 2010, the Kickers range for women follows two distinct stories, both designed to ensure feet stay not only warm and comfy, but also firmly on trend. On the one hand, we have ‘Real Folks’, a trend of warm nature-inspired shoes in vintage materials and earthy colours. On the other hand, we have the ‘Express Yourself’ trend featuring reinvented 90’s classic styles with bold chunky silhouettes, funky animal prints and diamante and gold trims.

The Mountain Boot Company has enjoyed a year of significant growth across all core premier brands. Turnover grew from 6 million in 2008 to 8.6 million, strongly supported by exceptional winter conditions and gave the company its first 1 million month in December 09.

Steve Roberts, MD commented:-

“Continuing our desire to raise service standards in line with business growth we continue to invest in providing our customer base with the very best in support”

February is so often the coldest month of the year, but there are several items in this edition that will brighten things up. The shoe-buying experience is not always what it is cracked up to be, but now there is an opportunity for shoe retailers to offer value added services that could increase the customer footfall (literally), revitalise retail shoes stores and put the sale of shoes on the Internet on the back foot.

Picture it. Instead of the conventional shoes store with shoes lined up on racks or perched on display stands, the new “Shoe Heaven™” is a shoe and foot health emporium as inviting as an upmarket coffee house, a five-star health spa or a first class airport lounge.

Pikolinos will be showing at the MODA show on Sunday 21st to Tuesday 23rd February (Hall 19, stand no. FK19) and would be pleased to show you their latest collection.  Footwear International are the UK agents for this highly distinctive Spanish brand that specialises in excellent quality leather incorporating unique design and detail in this popular brand. 

Pikolinos have produced an Autumn Winter collection to really get the competitions designers to sharpen their pencils! The collection is full of innovation and includes styles that are more suitable for our winter climate here in the UK. Prices remain reasonable too. New water-resistant leathers are available in both the original Pikolinos finish and the all new vintage “buffalo” textured leathers for both Ladies and Men.