Retail
Cost of raw materials continues to worry the footwear industry
Cost of merchandise or raw materials maintains its position as the top concern for the footwear industry, according to respondents of the 12th edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey. Domestic market challenges have intensified
US core retail sales hold their own
Continued growth in core retail sales in May was shown by data released by the US Census Bureau, despite a downturn in overall sales amid fluctuating tariffs, said the National Retail Federation
Footwear prices to increase over the next six months
75% 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 report with the results of the 12th edition of the survey is now available
British consumers cut back on non-essential spending
According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), May recorded the slowest growth in retail sales in 2025, as fashion and full price big-ticket items suffered from lower consumer confidence
Less Optimism about Footwear Consumption in 2025
The results of 12th edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey are now available. The average expected growth rate for footwear consumption is 7.6%, slightly less than the 8.4% projection made in the last quarter of 2024
Dick’s Sporting Goods to acquire Foot Locker for 2.4 billion USD
Dick’s Sporting Goods has announced that it will acquire Foot Locker for 2.4 billion US dollars. This deal will give Dick’s a major international presence and greater market leverage with brands such as Nike and adidas
Early signs of supply chain disruption from the recent trade war
Import cargo at major US container ports is expected to decline year-on-year for the first time in over a year and a half in May, as the effects of the trade war on the supply chain start to become apparent
UK Retail: the sector appears to be holding its own
The UK retail sector appears to be holding its own despite fears of increased costs as a result of the new Employment Rights Bill. In particular, retail sales of Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) have risen back-to-back in the first quarter of the year, and the improvement in footwear inflation from negative to neutral in March may suggest a boost to demand. Although consumers aren’t exactly optimistic about the future, especially with new rising bills and the ongoing US trade war, retailers still have reasons to restock
Saks Global lays off hundreds of people
Saks Global, the parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, has laid off hundreds of employees as part of a plan to consolidate operations as the retailers merge
Germany Retail: hope rests on the ability of retailers to weather gloomy circumstances
In a landscape where e-commerce is in a league of its own, footwear retailers continue to struggle to regain sales growth, even against the backdrop of overall retail performance. And low inflation in the sector is actually indicative of low demand, not consumer confidence. Indeed, the data shows that consumers remain far more pessimistic than retailers, and a renewed rise in the propensity to save is clouding the overall picture. Given the volatile global trading environment, hope rests on the ability of retailers to weather these gloomy conditions
US retail sales grew in March but consumers are worried
Data released by the US Census Bureau showed that retail sales rose in March, even as consumers continued to worry about the impact of rising tariffs, the National Retail Federation (NRF) said
France Retail: watch out for the snowball effect
Both the footwear and the retail sector as a whole have failed to start the year on a strong footing, according to sales data. Consumers, who seemed to start the year in a more positive mood, took a step back in March and remain pessimistic about the French economy. Import data also suggest that retail confidence is in free fall. All in all, the risk of a snowball effect in the French retail sector cannot be dismissed.
Retail and business organisations express concern over Trump’s new tariffs
Retail and business organisations from the US and around the world have voiced their concerns over President Donald Trump’s announcement of new tariffs. Read some of these reactions
Netherlands Retail: optimism reigns at the start of the year
Despite falling consumer confidence in the Netherlands, footwear retailers have good reason to be optimistic about 2025. The data shows that consumers have absorbed the expected lower price increases – footwear inflation shows no signs of abating – and will be spending. In fact, overall retail and e-commerce sales in the Netherlands are forecast to grow by 3.5% and 8%, respectively, this year. It’s worth noting that online shopping continues to stand out as a preferred channel for Dutch shoppers
3D printing in footwear is particularly valued in the early stages of production
In the 11th edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey, we asked our experts about their opinion on the impact of 3D printing in the footwear industry. Read the main conclusions now-
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