World Footwear Reports
Germany Retail: war and inflation raise concerns for retail
Despite the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in February, the declining trend of the TCF (Textile, Clothing, and Footwear) Retail Sales Index is clear and is aligned with the plunge in consumer confidence. The war in Ukraine and the high inflation are playing a major role in the severe blow inflicted on both consumers’ and retailers’ confidence. Meanwhile, footwear consumer prices have slightly increased in March, and it is foreseeable that companies continue passing on higher costs to consumers in the near future
Spain Retail: sales increase in the first quarter despite tricky macro-environment
Following an abrupt drop in consumers’ confidence in March due to the war in Ukraine, on top of an alarming inflationary climate, Spanish consumers appear to regard the current situation as temporary. In fact, retail sales of clothes and accessories have increased by 19.1% in the entire first quarter of 2022, despite less generous discounts thanks to this year’s cost inflation. Margin protection is certainly at the top of retailers’ agenda now. Meanwhile, the online and physical retail are somehow at a truce
UK Retail: retail prospects for the next months lean to the downside
In the first quarter of 2022, TCF (Textile, Clothing & Footwear) Retail Sales Index returned to pre-pandemic levels, showing that it is no longer sensitive to COVID-19. However, its positive behaviour is somewhat puzzling: consumer pessimism continues to plunge, most likely due to the rising inflation, which hit a record 7% in March, placing pressure on manufacturers’ costs. In addition, it is yet early to quantify the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on European retail markets
Footwear in Russia – a country snapshot
Today, we bring you a new country snapshot, this time focusing on Russia. With a geographical area of 17 million km2, Russia is the largest country in the world and hosts 144.3 million people (2020). It is the fifth-largest economy in Europe, being one of the world’s leading producers of oil and natural gas, and a top exporter of metals such as steel and aluminum
General outlook for the footwear industry is optimistic
This is the main outcome of the most recent edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey, conducted during the month of April. Today we bring you a summary of some of the main conclusions
General outlook for the footwear industry is optimistic
This is the main outcome of the most recent edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey, conducted during the month of April. Today we bring you a summary of some of the main conclusions
Footwear in South Korea – a country snapshot
Today, we bring you our new country snapshot, this time focusing on South Korea, the 19th largest footwear consumer in the world, and a very attractive market due to its remarkable growth and consumer loyalty
Footwear in South Africa – a country snapshot
Today, we bring you our new country snapshot, this time focusing on South Africa, which ranks third among the top 3 footwear exports on the African continent, just behind Tunisia and Morocco. Nevertheless, it remains a net importer of footwear, being the 27th largest importer of footwear in the world in value
Japan Retail: retail prospects are again at stake
Hope for a return to normality in March, following the lift of the quasi-emergency restrictions imposed to control the Omicron-variant outbreak at the end of 2021, appears to be off the picture. The impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on households and companies, which is prompting a hike in commodities and food prices, can no longer be discarded. Most likely, the footwear retail growth momentum of the final months of last year will not be accompanied by an increase in prices to avoid scaring away consumers, whose confidence suffered yet another blow in front of the international conjuncture
US Retail: COVID-19 is no longer a concern for footwear retail
The monthly shoe stores retail trajectory shows that footwear retail has begun to disregard any COVID-19 related concerns since the second quarter of 2021. However, there are other worries on the horizon. Consumers’ mood has been trailing a downwards trend, hitting the lowest value in January. At the same time, prices have been quickly increasing since September, and the global impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine might contribute to undermining future retail prospects
Germany retail: COVID-19 still looms on retail performance
As of December 2021, the German TCF retail index is far from providing a crystal-clear reading. A sudden improvement in the last month of the year contrasts with mixed feelings on confidence and insights from various sources. The decline in footwear prices during that month, despite the unexpected inflation surge by 5.3%, adds up as another contradictory sign. While the picture is not quite transparent yet, it is safe to presume that the online shopping category is leaning towards pandemic-neutral growth
Spain Retail: leaving COVID-19 fears behind
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
Footwear business not expected to be carbon neutral by 2050
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
France Retail: retailers more confident than consumers amid an uncertain environment
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
Vietnam is now responsible for 10% of the world footwear exports
The Asian country has been on the top 3 of the largest footwear exporters since we started to publish the World Footwear Yearbook in 2011. However, in 2020, for the first time Vietnam has crossed the 10% threshold-
Footwear Consumer 2030
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