SHOE FITTING UNDER ATTACK

Published: 18 September, 2009

As I write it seems that the world has become "expert" shoe fitters. With over 31 years in the shoe trade, I feel that there is always something new to learn. Design and manufacturing methods are being revised and upgraded constantly and we rely on our agents and suppliers to keep us informed of this. Catalogues no longer have precious specifications informing us which ‘last' a shoe was made on and what materials are used - unfortunate, as they were a great help to buyers and fitters alike.

We as shoe fitters must be on our guard as advice being given by "amateurs" and occasionally those who should know better, is often ill informed, illconceived and sometimes wrong. We must endeavour to right these inaccuracies in the same way as before, with honest, courteous service and advice to our customers.

Our ‘back-to-school' has been quite good this year, a little down on last year in turnover, but up in pairage, so good and not so good news. As I write we are trying to finish one season S/S, receive our A/W collections and are being "haunted" to look at SS '10, there must be an easier way!!!!!, any suggestions? With GDS and Micam upon us it is important to view the scene (despite what I said earlier) because we as retailers cannot sell fresh air. This year I am opting for Milan as it's a wonderful city - if only for a couple of days, but although not as glamorous I also visited Moda last month - a vital date in the diary - as long as suppliers continue to support it, as indeed they should. Perhaps we need a few incentives from them to ensure a good turn out (your thoughts on that would be interesting too!).

If I can be of any assistance to you our members, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to meeting and presenting our successful students with their certificates etc. next week in London, and hope that trading conditions improve for all our retail members and that ALL members have a successful season ahead.

BERNARD

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'FITTING' NEWS' - Summer 2012 - Another Warm Welcome from the President – Jan Parry
In my last column I was hoping for a hot – or even warm summer – not much luck so far I am sad to say, and as the last edition was just prior to MODA, I was also hoping to meet more of our members – fortunately I had better luck on that score! Thank you so much for coming up to say ‘hello’ to my husband Francis and I, it was lovely to meet you and chat about trade. We have since had our AGM and I embark on my second year in office – where does the time go? The Minutes of the meeting are available from our Secretary, so if you want to know how the SSF has performed over the past year, do request a copy. My address at the meeting was as follows:
Who says it is all doom and gloom and no good news?
Are you an experienced shoe fitter but have not qualified as a member of The Society of Shoe Fitters? What a pity, because we are always looking to promote staff and shops that do the job well and our members are well respected. There has never been a better time to join us - you need every possible achievement to retain your customers and your staff in these tough times and with overwhelming competition.
Comment from Laura West, Secretary, the Society of Shoefitters
The Society of Shoefitters would like to thank Datateam for putting together a fantastic event for the footwear industry, which without doubt will be another sell-out next year. "The best thing about it was the equal mix of suppliers and retailers" said Laura West the Secretary, 'It really united the industry. Awards dinners are normally prohibitively expensive and rather starchy and as Independent retailers are not having an easy time it would be impossible for most to attend. However with this in mind Datateam managed to host an affordable, glitzy, relaxed and really fun event. The predictable raffle was replaced with a Heads & Tails game and the wine flowed generously all evening. It reminded me of shoe fair events twenty to thirty years ago. the trade was very supportive of one another and there was great camarderie between companies which of latter years had sadly dwindled, but this event certainly rekindled the 'feel good factor' and made the Moda Shoe Fair an even more enjoyable occasion'.
Finalists announced for the Society of Shoe Fitters Student of the Year 2011
The Awards Dinner will be held on Sunday 19th February and transport is available from the show to the hotel, but this must be pre-arranged with Stella Ryder on 0773 304 2104 by Wednesday 15^th February. We shall be presenting our Trophy for Student of the Year 2011, and our finalists are: Kim Jackson of Klodhoppers, Hove, E. Sussex, David O’Dwyer of Cushyfeet, Limerick, Sheridan Parsons of Wooton Bassett
The Society of Shoe Fitters FITTING NEWS Spring 2012
A warm welcome from the President - Here we are embarking on a new season in a tough retail world. Let's hope for once the weather will be kind to us all with a lovely long hot summer. That will cheer us up and make our bank accounts look better. Here in South West Wales it has been a very wet and mild winter. In my establishment the next season’s stock is flooding in. Where will it all go? We are still crossing our fingers for ice and snow with the hope of selling more winter boots.