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Just in time for the show season and up pops a familiar face! I just couldn't keep away and have decided that amongst my other footwear antics I would like to get back on track and pick up where I left off here at Footwear Today.
So, once again we fast approach the show season and everyone is talking about which show best suit buyers. Smaller funky edged shows featuring up and coming designers? Big “free for all” events with sections covering the reasonably priced to the luxury lines? Designer label shows with their lengthy waiting lists and high standards as to whom they allow in? We have a real difficult job these days with so many more shows popping up amongst the big players like MICAM, GDS and Premier Classe.
My thoughts are whether we will soon see a revolution in the market – the mania that is the international trade show is perhaps under the threat of becoming a victim of its own success. Buyers, tired of traipsing the aisles for days and days of the season seem to be welcoming more and more targeted personal appointments.
Of course there are pitfalls to each method for buyers- much like internet shopping, personal appointments allow one to relax, chill out in the comfort of our own space.. the ease and swift payment options make it ideal for time saving..but in reality nothing beats the therapy of window shopping and impulse buying..and the same goes for trade shows.
Trade shows- like much of our trade offer a real catch 22 for many buyers out there. They are indeed time consuming and expensive, hard work and require a lot of fast energy but without them, our stores perhaps loose the personal edge that nudged us to open them in the first place...that little known label that caught our eye, those pair of brogues on aisle 22.. that must have glitzy number that would sell so well next to our other labels.
Variety is the spice of life as they say.. and Footwear Today, is not stranger to this notion either! As well as sneak previews of MODA and PURE we also speak to coveted luxury label designer Jane Brown, catch up with Martin Rye of Lunar sandals and have a little insight into the next spongey step for Crocs this season..
Regards
Charlotte Martin
Editor
DL: 01622 699155
E: cmartin@datateam.co.uk
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