Consumption
Japan Retail: slow but steady future for retail
After unexpectedly slipping into recession at the end of 2023, the Japanese economy appears to be back on track to grow 3.2% in 2024 (FMI forecast). Against this backdrop, fashion retail sales are outperforming the overall retail performance and, interestingly, footwear inflation is now below the 2% target for any economy. However, the picture is not so clear-cut. The weak yen could dampen any growth in imports and the country is still adjusting to a major change in monetary policy. Nevertheless, as predicted in our last Flash, it’s safe to say that a modest recovery has taken place in the sector
Global footwear production down by 1.5 billion pairs in 2023
Last year saw footwear production and exports decline by 6% and 9.1% respectively, according to data published in the World Footwear Yearbook 2024, as recently released by APICCAPS, the Portuguese Footwear Association
Shift towards Streamlined Production Lines is Anticipated
In this edition of the survey, we asked our experts about their opinion on which technology – from a pre-selected list – is most likely to revolutionize the footwear industry in the coming years. Read all about it now
Influencer Marketing seen as a Successful Tool for Footwear
In this edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions survey, we asked our experts about their opinions on the effectiveness of influencer marketing. The results shed light on the apparent noteworthy impact of influencer marketing in the footwear industry
Argentina: clothing and footwear consumption falls by 27%
The clothing and footwear sectors recorded a 27% year-on-year decline in the first five months of the year, according to the Argentine Chamber of Commerce and Services
Optimistic expectations for footwear retail prices
76% of the respondents of the last edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey expect footwear retail prices to increase over the next six months. The 10th edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey results are now available
UK Retail: are the winds starting to blow in retailers’ favour?
Despite a slight upturn in sales of Textile, Clothing and Footwear in March, a number of factors, including an early Easter, poor weather and the high cost of living, soon led to a visible lack of demand. This will most likely lead to a decline in the number of footwear imports, breaking the growth trend seen in the first quarter of the year. On the bright side, inflation is at its lowest since November 2021 and the economy seems to be picking up, so there is room for some improvement in consumer sentiment. With the UK on the brink of a General Election and a series of sporting events promising to bring people onto the streets, are the winds starting to blow in retailers’ favour?
Positive perspectives about the health of footwear business
Almost 60% of the respondents of the last edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey seem confident regarding the health of their businesses. The 10th edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey results are now available
Germany Retail: positive signs on the horizon, but it’s not yet time to pop the champagne
Good news keep coming, but no one is out of the woods yet. Footwear retail sales outperformed overall retail sales in January and February, although they remain lower than the same period last year. Consumer sentiment remains negative but is improving, driven by lower inflation rates and wage growth, and retailer sentiment, although more negative, is following the trend. With recent news of a better economic outlook for the year and a rise in the value of imports at the start of the year, there is a chance that consumers will pull retailers up. Let’s see how the coming months unfold
Industry is antecipating an increase in the quantity of footwear sold
According to the latest edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey more than 60% of the respondents expect quantities of footwear traded to increase. All results are now available
France Retail: the ball is in the consumers’ court to boost retail
The first quarter of the year brought some contradictory signs in France, but perhaps all is not lost, especially for footwear retailers. Prices in the category have been rising at a slower pace than general items, becoming more stable every month, which perhaps helps explain the (albeit residual) increase in footwear sales in March. Confidence indicators for both retailers and consumers remain in the red, but the small year-on-year increase in imports at the start of 2024 points to higher demand later in the year. With the European elections in June and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in August, as well as real wage growth, the ball is in consumers’ court to boost retail
Cost of raw materials and insufficient demand continues to worry the footwear industry
Respondents of the 10th edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey reveal that cost of raw materials and insufficient demand continue to negatively impact their businesses
Footwear consumption in Latin America set to grow by more than 4% in the next five years
Footwear consumption in Latin America is set to grow by more than 4% in the coming years, according to an estimate by Abicalçados presented at the last edition of the Latin American Footwear Forum
Footwear experts expect importance of digital retail channels to continue to increase
Since the first edition of this survey, we have been asking our panel of experts about their expectations regarding the evolution of the percentage that different retail channels represent in the total sales of footwear in their country
Spain Retail: concerns grow for retailers after an unexpected fall in sales
While 2024 began with consistent, albeit modest (around 1% monthly) growth, a concerning trend emerged in March, with retail sales falling sharply by 7.9% as compared to the previous month. However, a silver lining remains. Fashion is currently the retail sector experiencing the least inflation, and consumers still hold some optimism about the overall economy. This suggests that a period of resilience may be needed from retailers, but a potential rebound could be on the horizon-
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