One of the joys of spring, after feet have been encased in winter footwear for all too long, is the liberating experience of being able to wear scant, strappy sandals again. This footwear can have its own problems though, with the narrow straps prone to slip and rub the foot.

Where will we find the next generation of footwear executives? With the launch of a new degree-level foundation course designed specifically with employers in mind, Leicester College is hoping that they will spring from its own talent pool. Brands like Clarks and Next have been known to ‘dip in' over the years, running competitions to find the stars of the future.

Take any high street in any part of this country and it seems that almost every other shop is having a closing down sale (yet never closes) and the other shops have offered "50% off" on their prices so many times that they must surely owe the customer money by now. Whilst all this sounds like good news for the customer - it isn't always the case.

Whenever I come across some report on the state of trade or economic survey I can be sure, without bothering to look, that clothing and footwear will be at the bottom of any league table that is going.

It can be reasonably argued that the origins of modern footwear were based on the need to protect the soft feet of our ancestors from the sharp and unfriendly ground on which they roamed. And when it got a little cold (say some time around the last ice age) footwear was also pretty useful for keeping our toes safe from frostbite. Furthermore, you could then argue that this in turn ensured the feet of our distant forefathers remained attached to the rest of their bodies long enough to enable them to successfully propagate homo sapiens down through the eons...

A recent Mintel report published in March suggested that future pressure on personal income from external factors like increased living costs was going to have a dramatic effect on the retail sector. This squeeze on expendable income when combined with the economic slowdown (reducing the ability of manufacturers to secure low cost supply) would create a sea change in the women's outerwear market. The media reaction was swift, conclusive and edged with a foreboding sense of gravitas. It was the end of the "it" bag announced several publications. It was a clear signal, said the consensus, of the beginning of a new accessories epoch based on more austere, considered and budget conscious purchases.

Retail crime is a significant drain on UK retailers and affects not only your bottom line but also has a notable impact on staff morale and retention. How best to combat this ‘shrinkage' is one element of increasingly integrated solutions to protect your retail space, your stock and your staff.