Despite the spread of the Omicron variant in the last quarter of 2021, the TCF retail sales index shows overall a slow, but positive trend, and retailers’ confidence has not returned below pre-pandemic levels. Consumers are less optimistic, but the results are not substantially worse than two years ago. At the same time, they have embraced e-commerce, which seems to have demarcated itself from the course of the pandemic
Sustainability is becoming more of a real concern for businesses and inhabitants of this world. However, some claim this is just a fashion trend or a marketing tool. With that in mind we have asked our panel if the footwear industry will be able to be carbon neutral by 2050. Half of the respondents don’t believe that will happen
Although footwear retail sales in France have returned to pre-pandemic levels, the beginning of 2022 is being characterized by some uncertainty. Consumers’ mood has become more volatile towards the end of 2021, reaching minus 8 points in January, and rising inflation has not spared the sector. Nonetheless, retailers are proving to be more confident than consumers, displaying some insensitivity towards risks
The COVID-19 pandemic created pressure on the global supply chains, which has resulted in shortages of materials and increased transport prices. The cost of merchandise and raw materials is now the main concern of the footwear industry
A combination of factors will determine the consumer’s decision to choose a pair of shoes. With a view to find out what are the most relevant drivers in that process, we have asked our experts to choose the most relevant factors. Price is at the top of the list
It doesn’t come as a surprise, but the conclusions from enquiring our Panel of Experts of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey point to a continuation of the trend around sneakers and sports related footwear. Read more about it today
Digital channels are increasingly important and during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many retail businesses had to quickly adjust from in-store to digital sales. More then ever, the focus seems to be on the digital
The line between e-commerce and in-store retail continues to shrink in the mind of consumers, which gives a boost to the increase of the use of technology in-store
Since the first edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey conducted in the second semester of 2019, this is the most positive result obtained: traders and manufacturers are extremely optimistic about footwear sales
The average export price of footwear has increased by more than 30% in the last decade. As new pressure points are felt in the footwear market, our experts believe that by 2025 the average footwear export price could be above 12 US dollars
We asked our panel about their expectations regarding the evolution of footwear consumption in 2022, both in their home countries and globally. Expectations are cautious, despite the growth forecast, as a moderate rise is anticipated
David Schröder, up until now Chief Financial Officer, will assume the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) to focus on scaling the German e-commerce platform’s growth
The expected retail boost from the Olympic games never took place in Japan, and the retail index is still below the normal pace registered before the pandemic. With the lifting of the State of Emergency things are expected to improve. If retailers are still lacking confidence, consumers seem to have improved their mood. However, with a rising expecting about the growth of prices, this could negatively impact the good mood of consumers and further deteriorate the confidence of retailers
There is a rising expectation about the evolution of footwear prices in the coming months. Our experts anticipate prices to continue to rise, as a result of several pressure points impacting the business. Get access to the latest Business Conditions report and find out more today
According to the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS), October retail sales volumes increased for the first time in six months in October 2021, most likely due to early Christmas shopping