Retail News CRM

Tag: Footwear

  • Find Me A Shoe virtual footwear fitting service app in beta trial

    Find Me A Shoe virtual footwear fitting service app in beta trial

    Find Me A Shoe, a retail technology start-up has launched the beta version of its virtual fitting service for footwear called ‘Try Me’.

    The app is described as an “end-to-end footwear size and fit recommendation application that aims at giving all footwear shoppers an oh-so-easy footwear shopping experience online”. The mobile and vision-based technology provides consumers with shoe recommendations based on precision measurements and personalised fitting algorithms that go beyond the traditional shoe scale system.

    Unlike other virtual fitting solutions, the app does not use analytics or purchasing history.

    “Our technology takes the purist approach to shoe fitting,” said Anand Ganesan, CEO of Find Me A Shoe.

    “Research shows two main factors that increase customer loyalty in retail-time-savings and personal attention,” he said. “Find Me A Shoe creates a brick and mortar experience by delivering a spot-on fit recommendation that’s personalised to the customer’s foot. No more trials in store and no more online returns.”

    The California-based company offers its fitting service to footwear retailers and brand outlets. The patent-pending technology enables the shoppers to find a shoe that fits in just a click. The recommendation engine simulates a shopper’s foot (with 12+ parameters) inside every model before suggesting the best size and fit.

    With cloud-based servers running Artificial Intelligence-enabled complex computer vision algorithms in the background, recommendations ensure customer’s toes and heels will fit comfortably in that new shoe.

    “Personalisation and customisation are the pillars of the next generation retail experience,” said Ganesan.

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  • Footwear company Red Wing opens first store in Malaysia

    Footwear company Red Wing opens first store in Malaysia

    Red Wing Shoe Company announced on Tuesday the grand opening of its first retail location in Kuala Lumpur. The store opening expands the footwear company’s retail footprint in Southeast Asia.

    The new store is a result of Red Wing’s partnership with Leeden National Oxygen (Leeden NOX), a distributor partner for over four decades. Prior to opening the new store in Kuala Lumpur, the two companies opened stores in Singapore.

    The Kuala Lumpur store, which is located in the Avenue K Shopping Mall, features an industrial work-themed interior with leather chairs, brick walls, and custom fixtures.

    In addition to offering the brand’s full product offering, including its namesake line, Vasque, the performance hiking boots and shoes collection, the Heritage collection that launched in 2008 and personal protective equipment and accessories, Red Wing Kuala Lumpur offers foot-scanning technology that identifies arch type, foot type and pressure points.

    “Red Wing Shoe Company has been a leader in the footwear industry for over 110 years, and for more than 50 years it has grown to become a top provider of head-to-toe solutions for the international energy industry,” said Paul Olson, Managing Director, Eastern Hemisphere for Red Wing. “From oil rigs to shipping docks, factory floors to refineries, we’ve supported Malaysian oil and gas workers for over three decades through our distribution services, and we’re now excited to offer those workwear products as well as new offerings for lifestyle and hiking footwear through our Kuala Lumpur retail store location.”

    Established in Red Wing, Minnesota in 1905, the Red Wing Shoe Company is a global designer, producer, and distributor of work, safety and lifestyle and work apparel. Today, Red Wing is distributed in over 110 countries in a multi-channel environment of 500+ stores, third party partners, and owned e-commerce platforms.

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  • Shoes Of Prey delivers women’s custom footwear in two weeks at retail prices

    Shoes Of Prey delivers women’s custom footwear in two weeks at retail prices

    The future of shoes is two weeks away. That’s how long it takes Shoes of Prey to build and deliver custom-made women’s footwear in just about any size, color and style imaginable.

    Founded in 2009 in Australia but now based here in Los Angeles, Shoes of Prey lets women choose from millions of design options, from gold metallic stilettos to purple fishskin peeptoes, at prices in step with everyday retail.  The company has designed more than six million shoes, according to the company’s 2016 end-of-year report, after raising $26 million in venture funding. Manufacturing is outsourced to China but plans are, ahem, afoot to speed delivery by adding factories in North America and Europe.

    Customers usually appreciate the idea of designing shoes. Psychologist Barry Schwartz famously talks about The Paradox of Choice and how option profusion makes consumers less happy rather than more. But the Shoes of Prey 3D design interface keeps people on track with recommendations for heel height, colors, materials… Possibilities are limitless, but framed pre-designed shoe options, hence helping clients.

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  • Vietnamese footwear manufacturers ignore local market

    Vietnamese footwear manufacturers ignore local market

    Doan Ngoc Hieu, managing director of Leedo, confirmed that foreign countries were the target markets for most companies. Very few companies try to exploit the domestic market because they think big Vietnamese footwear manufacturers such as Asia and Biti’s hold much of the market share.

    However, there is still large room for Vietnamese manufacturers in the home market, as there is high demand for footwear makers.

    Hieu noted that the majority of Vietnamese footwear companies are household-run ones which follow old management ways. However, the companies need new management technologies to do business more effectively.

    Doan Ngoc Hai, the father of Hieu, established Le Doan Company in 1990, the predecessor of Leedo. By the end of 2015, Leedo had 300 workers and two workshops, one in Long An province and the other in Binh Chanh district of HCMC.

    Leedo provides 40 percent of PU soles in HCM City, churning out 4 million soles and 1 million pairs of footwear products a year.

    Hieu noted that with the old management method, companies didn’t pay much importance to marketing or sales. They just focused on wholesaling, supplying products to wholesalers at markets.

    However, he believes that companies need to change, because it is now the digital era, when Facebook and internet are popular.

    Hieu and his father argue about whether to bring Leedo’s products to international trade fairs to promote the brand. He also thinks that it is necessary to spend money on ISO and other certificates.

    “One cannot go far in the world market if he does not have certificates,” he commented, adding that footwear companies need to reform management to catch up with the times.

    According to the Taiwan Footwear Manufacturers Association, Vietnam’s footwear exports will increase by 20 percent this year thanks to free trade agreements, including TPP.

    Its shoe and handbag exports increased by 16 percent in 2015 with turnover of $15 billion in 2015, including $12 billion from footwear and $3 billion from handbags.

    Vietnam is the world’s third-largest shoe manufacturer, after China and India, and is the third largest exporter, after China and Italy.

    Vietnam expects a 20 percent growth rate in footwear exports in 2016 due to a number of new free trade agreements including the Transpacific Partnership (TPP).

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  • Footwear, leather promotion conference scheduled this week

    Footwear, leather promotion conference scheduled this week

    A footwear and leather export promotion conference will be held in HCM City next week. In 2016, the sector earned an export revenue of US$16.2 billion, representing an year-on-year increase of 8.8 per cent.

    The information was released on Friday by the Viet Nam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (Lefaso), which said this would be an opportunity for the Vietnamese footwear sector in general and Lefaso in particular to promote images and improve prestige and positions in the Asian region and the world.

    The conference will also give an opportunity for local businesses to meet and share experiences with local partners, approach foreign importers and investors and seek co-operation agreements.

    Some 300 firms manufacturing footwear and materials for the industry inside and outside Viet Nam are expected to participate in the conference, which will focus on issues such as footwear planning and related policies, investment environment, impact of free trade deal on the sector, labour relationship management in the labour-intensive sector, and supply chain optimisation to boost competition and sustainable development.

    They will also discuss the state of the industry in Viet Nam in the context of integration, market demand and technical requirements for the industry to benefit from free trade deals.

    Viet Nam’s leather and footwear industry expects to reach a total export value of US$18 billion this year, up 10 per cent from last year, the association said.

    In 2016, the sector earned an export revenue of $16.2 billion, representing an year-on-year increase of 8.8 per cent.

    Of which, $13 billion came from footwear and the remaining was from handbags and leather items, marking respective annual rises of 8.2 per cent and 11.1 per cent.

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  • Shares of world’s largest footwear maker plunge on false sales data

    Shares of world’s largest footwear maker plunge on false sales data

    Pou Sheng International Ltd, a unit of the world’s largest producer of branded footwear, recorded the largest intraday plunge in its stock price since 2008, after firing its chief financial officer for publishing inaccurate sales figures, and announced the departure of its chief executive.

    Shares of the company tumbled as much as 37 per cent to an intraday low of HK$1.30 in Hong Kong, wiping out HK$4.1 billion of its value. Share prices of Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings, the 62 per cent shareholder of Pou Sheng, fell as much as 9.8 per cent.

    “The Company discovered on 6 January 2017 certain incorrect sales records in the month of December 2016, which could potentially lead to recognition of revenue for sales transactions that did not take place before end of year 2016,” Pou Sheng said in its filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange.

    “The incident revealed weakness over the financial controls,”the Hong Kong-based company said, even though the relevant figures were not significant compared with the group’s overall revenue and did not materially affect any financial information published prior to the announcement.

    The retailer said it has sacked CFO Chen Luo-leng, while CEO Kwan Heh-Der has resigned.

    Pou Sheng is a spin off of Taiwan’s apparel and footwear maker Yue Yuen, which owns factories in mainland China, Vietnam and Indonesia, producing 300 million pairs of shoes every year for Nike, Adidas, Reebok, New Balance, Puma and Timberland.

    Deloitte has been hired by the Hong Kong-based retailer to carry out a check on accounting records of the company, Pou Sheng said.

    Pou Sheng has been in a tight financial spot for the past few quarters, as same store sales growth — a crucial gauge on a retailer’ s business well-being — slowed to 4.6 per cent for the first three quarters of the year from 6.7 per cent for the first half, spurring investor concerns over its long-term prospects.

    The incident has triggered a series of downgrades by research houses on Pousheng and Yue Yuen’s shares.

    “We are worried that a slowdown in Yue Yuen’s retail arm will only be more severe than what the market had feared, and the resignation of the CEO could lead to near term disruption of the company, indirectly affecting Yue Yuen’s financial performance,”a UBS report issued Monday said.

    Credit Suisse cut Yue Yuen’s rating to Underperform from Neutral, as it reckoned its earnings will be weighed down by a projected decline in Pou Sheng’s net profits, according to a Monday note. “This should significantly affect operations and financials of Pou Sheng in the near-term,”the investment bank suggested.

    However, Hugo Suen, an analyst with Sunwah Kingsway, painted a slightly rosier picture for Pou Sheng.

    “After all, this company has the best international sports brands [as its business partners], and the swift action by the board should be able to rescue its reputation in the long term,” Suen said.

    Pou Sheng closed Monday trading at HK$1.61, down 22.22 per cent while Yue Yuen erased some of the earlier losses to settle 6.88 per cent down from the previous close at HK$27.05.

  • Le Saunda sales dips 8pct y-o-y in Q3

    Le Saunda sales dips 8pct y-o-y in Q3

    Footwear manufacturer and retail company Le Saunda Holdings announced a decrease of 8 per cent in its total retail sales year-on-year for the third quarter of its 2016/2017 financial year, according to a filing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
    Same store sales of the retailer also saw a 7.1 per cent drop year-on-year for the quarter, which when coupled with a 40.5 per cent year-on-year drop in the Group’s e-commerce business sales led the group’s diminished performance during the period compared to last year.

    As at the end of the group’s financial quarter, November 30, Le Saunda had a total retail network comprised of 822 outlets spread throughout Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. However, on the back of the declines in sales, the Group has closed 75 outlets compared to the same period of last year.

    Of the total outlets, 737 are in self-owned and in operation in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau while 85 outlets are operated under franchising agreements in Mainland China.

    According to the Group’s previously launched interim financial report, its total revenue for the first six months of fiscal 2016/2017, from March to August of this year, showed a decline of 13.8 per cent year-on-year to RMB651.2 million (US$94 million) from RMB756 million during the same period of the previous fiscal year.

    In addition, the Group’s profit dropped 24 per cent year-on-year to RMB45.6 million during the first half of the fiscal year.
    The Group is also engaged in the design and development of handbags and fashion accessories in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

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  • GEOX Launches Men’s Footwear Collection Autumn/Winter 2016-2017

    GEOX Launches Men’s Footwear Collection Autumn/Winter 2016-2017

    Well-being is the first and foremost inspiration behind the new GEOX winter season, where technological development always reflects the tastes and trends of contemporary design. The breathing shoe becomes a “Comfort Cool” accessory combining creativity, lightness and flexibility, to make life easier and distinguish every step in its functionality and appearance, quality and style, in all weather conditions and anywhere, from the city streets to outdoor activities.

    Comfort is cool

    The unmistakable breathability, heat-regulation, waterproofing, resistance and seal guaranteed by the continual innovation of the GEOX membrane and sole amplify the value of the patents, with a focus on the design and the patterns, the materials and details and the colour and material combinations, combining elegance, versatility and refinement with the philosophy of easy walking.

    The principles of uniqueness and top performance every single day are behind the extensive development of the SNEAKERS, designed for a wide variety of uses and ideal for the most casual and carefree looks: from the slim-runners in wax-coated technical fabrics to the city-active lines combining mesh with leather. Manufactured with the ultra-light EVA soles, guaranteeing an extra-cushioning and ultra-flexible effect, which is amplified by the flex grooves on the sole and the shaped rubber tread, ensuring an optimal grip on all surfaces.

    NEBULA, in contrast, is an all-season model, characterised by the iconic ergonomic slip-on shape, which reconfirms the primary values of a dynamic fit and freedom of movement, in a classier shoe, designed and manufactured for walking anywhere in the world. A symbol of GEOX excellence, combining the Inner Breathing System and the 3D Performance Unit: wider openings at critical points of the sole are combined with the structure calibrated to the natural points of contact of the foot, enhancing breathability, flexibility, lightness and stability. They are available in both casual shades and the contrasting colour-blocks of the fluorescent or camouflage soles, and the clean and essential silhouettes have easy-entry and totally water-repellent uppers, in technical fabric and soft suede, with totally hidden stitching. 

    The water, wind and damp proof AMPHIBIOX technology continues to be a cornerstone in the Fall/Winter season. Totally, waterproof and really comfortable. The rubber soles include the peerless Amphibiox technology which will keep rain, wind, snow and dampness at bay: the breathable and waterproof inner membrane protects both sole and upper, stopping water from getting inside the shoes whilst ensuring amazing breathability – meaning your stay feet warm and dry and can breathe naturally.

    Lastly, the CUOIO patent revolutionises the elegant footwear of the modern gentleman looking for totally waterproof models: the breathing membrane is combined with the leather sole, allowing damp to pass from the inside outwards and ensuring the foot is always completely dry. A combination of a “new classic” spirit and an “old-school” refinement, the authentic Made in Italy style is extremely sophisticated and attractive, as represented by the formal range in vintage feel.

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  • GEOX Launches Women’s Footwear Collection Autumn/Winter 2016-2017

    GEOX Launches Women’s Footwear Collection Autumn/Winter 2016-2017

    A breath of air is a source of life – a line where well-being starts and a symbol of sublime beauty and perfect function. Research and technology are stalwart companions in what Geox does.

    Geox’s “cool comfort” range fuses creativity, lightness and flexibility – be it for urban days, classical events, sporty afternoons or glamorous evenings.

    With the upcoming Winter season, the traditional qualities of breathability, thermo-regulation and water-tightness are bonded into Geox’s vanguard membrane and soles — further enhanced by the German TÜV SÜD FOOTWEAR MARK: that vouches for a rigorous control procedure on quality during production. The aim is to ensure harmful substances are not released during production. A mark of quality assurance is only right given Geox’s unflagging attention to standards and commitment towards society and the environment.

    One of these models is Sfinge, engineered with a hive of spaces which exalts its springiness, grip and cushioning sole. Featuring 3D breathable technology and Inner Breathing Lining, it caters for a female desire for finesse with its eclectic mix of leather, suede and patent finishes, available in both total black version and in a colour-block version featuring cornflower blue, pillarbox red and metallic gold.

    Fall/Winter features ankle boots customised with special embossed details which add dimension to the black leather. Waterproof, lightweight, easy to slip on and comfortable, these shoes have a modern and pared-back look. The rubber soles include the Amphibiox technology which keeps wet weather conditions at bay: the breathable and waterproof inner membrane protects both sole and upper, stopping water from getting inside the shoes whilst ensuring amazing breathability – meaning your feet stay warm, dry and breathe naturally.

    Walking shoes couldn’t get better than this whether to tackle old- town cobblestones or moss-covered boulders. Nebula continues to amaze as it slips into new skins crossing boundaries and seasons on a carpet of clouds: the fabric and suede, both smooth and with quilt-stitching, feature a colour palette spanning from light dusty pink, teal and grey all designed to match the original colour contrast of the soles. Boasting Geox outstanding patents in one shoe, Nebula fuses the Inner Breathing System, Net Breathing System and an inner EVA sole with strategically placed soft rubber inlays to ensure added grip and stability. Easy to slip on and with elastic laces, its natural heat-balancing properties, lightness, flexibility and cushioning effect fuse effortlessly with the hi-tech design.

    One hot comeback is the good old moccasin, revisited in a modern-chic version, available in a wide range including pearly patent leather, brushed leather or crocodile print models as well as a preppy style with metal horsebits. Geox’s iconic loafers for men and women are crafted in the softest black and burgundy leather, with an ultralight, flexible rubber sole, these loafers combine the practicality of breathability with an upbeat urban feel.

    Last, the spotlight turns on a fashion-statement collection which includes boots, ankle boots, pumps, ballerina flats with tapered toes — all capturing the essence of the latest trends on the pret-a-porter catwalks. For the more sophisticated versions, the material mixture, such as smooth and laminated leather, creates eye-catching patterns of black & gold, lit up with small metallic buckle details. Fitted with inner memory foam soles, they are super soft, lightweight and flexible, specially designed for formal daytime looks or more glamorous evening engagements.

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  • Smart footwear market due for rapid growth

    Smart footwear market due for rapid growth

    More than 6 million units of smart footwear will ship in 2021, up from just 300,000 this year, ABI Research predicts. This would represent a CAGR of 82%.

    “The growing elderly population is driving change in the way healthcare can and will be provided, and remote monitoring is one aspect of the m-health industry that can cut costs and improve care,” said ABI Research analyst Stephanie Lawrence said.

    By supporting sensors within shoes or smart socks, home monitoring and remote patient management applications can track a host of valuable parameters with minimal disruption to those being monitored.

    Lawrence further explained that new home and remote patient monitoring smart footwear devices also grant healthcare providers 24×7 access to in-depth, real-time health updates concerning their patients’ posture and gait.

    “Such detailed reporting used to be constricted to a hospital bed; now healthcare providers can paint a fuller picture of their patient’s health outside of the hospital, ultimately allowing them to better monitor ongoing issues and make more accurate diagnoses,” he said.

    ABI Research said that for remote patient monitoring, companies are already turning to smart footwear as a form factor to support diagnostic medical data collection. This includes companies like Plantiga, FeetMe, and Orpyx.

    For instance, diabetic patients are at risk for peripheral neuropathy, or sensory loss, and often cannot detect dangerous pressure levels in their bodies. Orpyx’s SurroSense RX has insoles that use sensors to detect the amount of pressure that a person places on each part of the foot. The device can then alert the user and his/her doctor to any issues.

    “Rising vendors in the smart footwear market need to develop devices that can detect exactly how a person is walking, and provide accurate feedback concerning any issues,” concluded Lawrence.

    “This will ensure that healthcare workers receive detailed health information about their patients, and will allow the smart footwear market to continue to advance and grow significantly.”

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  • UK footwear brand Church’s entering India through tie-up

    UK footwear brand Church’s entering India through tie-up

    UK luxury footwear brand Church’s will now be available in India, priced at up to Rs. 72,000 (USD1,159.72), following an exclusive distribution tie-up with multi-brand retailer Heel & Buckle. “UK’s iconic luxury footwear brand Church’s is entering into India as a result of an exclusive distribution tie-up with Heel & Buckle. Churches will be available at Heel & Buckle’s outlets,” Heel & Buckle Managing Director of Heel & Buckle Dhiraj Bathija told PTI.

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  • COACH to acquire Stuart Weitzman for USD574m

    COACH to acquire Stuart Weitzman for USD574m

    COACH will pay Sycamore Partners a hefty USD574 million for Stuart Weitzman — their women’s footwear brand — in a move that is no doubt designed to diversify their sales portfolio considering 55 percent of their USD4.8 million in sales last year came from women’s handbags with only 9 percent coming from auxiliary items like jewelry, accessories, footwear and the likes.