Ladies Footwear Brands
Rieker topped the charts as the bestselling Ladies brands overall in Autumn/Winter 2013 among the independent footwear retailers polled by Footwear Today Magazine, closely followed by Josef Seibel, Ara, Gabor, Clarks, Tamaris and Van Dal
Top Ladies brands overall
- Rieker
- Josef Seibel
- Ara
- Gabor
- Clarks
- Tamaris
- Van Dal
Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order):
Airstep, Cara, Charles Clinkard, Ecco,
Fly London, Superfit Legero, Hotter,
HB Shoes, Heavenly Feet, Hush Puppies, Lotus, Lunar, Marco Tozzi, Mjus, Mephisto, Padders, Ravel, Romika, Skechers, Waldlaufer, Wendal, Wonders, UKD, Zodiaco.
Top Ladies Comfort/Casual Shoes
- Josef Seibel
- Rieker
- Skechers
- Gabor
- Tamaris
- Ara
Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order):
Clarks, DB Shoes, Dubarry, Ecco, Fly London, Heavenly Feet, Hush Puppies, Hotter, Lunar, Marco Tozzi, Maria Lya, Mephisto, Mjus, Padders, Ravel, Romika, Skechers,
Superfit Legero, Susst, Van Dal, Waldlaufer.
Top Ladies Formal shoes
- Gabor
- Tamaris
- Marco Tozzi
- Van Dal
- Rieker
Other highly commended best sellers (in alphabetical order):
HB Shoes, Fly London, Lunar,
Peter Kaiser, Zodiaco.
Top Ladies Fashion/Contemporary shoes
- Fly London
- Gabor
- Marco Tozzi
- Clarks
- Skechers
Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order):
Cefalu, El Naturalista, Farashion, France Moda, Hotter, Lunar, Mjus, Peter Kaiser, Ravel, Sabrina Chic, Sponge, Susst, Tamaris.
Top Ladies boots
- Rieker
- Josef Seibel
- Ara
- Fly London
- Gabor
- Clarks
- Marco Tozzi
Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order):
Airstep, Camel Active, Cara, Cats Eyes, Cefalu, France Moda, Heavenly Feet, Hotter, Hush Puppies, Lotus, Mephisto, Maybury, Mod Comfys, Mjus, Padders, Peter Kaiser, Romika, Sabrina Chic, Sponge, Superfit Legero, Susst, Van Dal, Wonders.
Top Men’s Footwear Brands
According to the independent footwear retailers polled by Footwear Today, the star performing men’s footwear brand in Autumn/winter 2013 was Rieker followed by Clarks, Barker, Josef Seibel, Loake and Skechers.
Top Men’s brands overall
- Rieker
- Clarks
- Barker
- Josef Seibel
- Loake
- Skechers
Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order):
Anatomic, Bugatti, Dubarry, El Naturalista, Ecco, Goor, Hush Puppies, John White, Maybury, Merrell, Padders, Roamers, Sioux, Steptronic, Timberland, UKD, Wrangler.
Top Men’s Comfort/Casual Shoes
- Rieker
- Josef Seibel
- Padders
- Clarks
- Skechers
- El Naturalista
Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order:
Boxfresh, Ecco, Hotter, Mephisto, Merrell, Roamers, Sebago, Waldlaufer, Wrangler.
Top Men’s Formal Shoes (four clear winners)
- Barker
- Loake
- Clarks
- Anatomic
Highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order):
Amblers, Barassi,, Camel Active, Charles Clinkard, Hush Puppies, Josef Seibel, Padders, Rieker, Roamers, RM Williams.
Top Men’s Boots
- Rieker
- Josef Seibel
- Anatomic
- Skechers
- Steptronic
Children’s Footwear Brands
StartRite was the number one best-selling brand across all children’s ranges in Autumn/Winter 2013 among the independent UK footwear retailers polled by Footwear Today Magazine, closely followed by Hush Puppies, Ricosta, Lelli Kelly, Clarks, Petasil.
Top Children’s brands overall
- StartRite
- Hush Puppies
- Ricosta
- Lelli Kelly
- Clarks
- Petasil
Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order):
Bo-Bel, Camper, Converse, Dubarry, Garvalin, Geox, Hunter, Melania, Pediped, Primigi, Skechers, Superfit Legero, Vans.
Pre Walkers (three clear winners)
- StartRite
- Ricosta
- Clarks
Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order):
Angry Angels, Camper, Daisy Roots, Geox, Pediped, Robeez.
Top Walkers (3 clear winners)
- StartRite
- Clarks
- Hush Puppies
Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order):
Converse, Camper, Geox, Lelli Kelly, Pediped, Ricosta, Vans
Top Children’s School Shoes
- StartRite
- Lelli Kelly
- Hush Puppies
- Ricosta
- Clarks
- Petasil
Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order):
Angry Angels, Campers, Converse, Garvalin, Geox, Keds, Pediped, Vans.
Top Children’s boots
- StartRite
- Clarks
- Superfit Legero
- Petasil
- Salamander
- Garvalin
Other highly acclaimed best sellers included (in alphabetical order):
Boulevard, Camper, Dubarry, Dr. Martens, Hunter, Kickers, Noel.
What the retailers had to say
“Suppliers are trading on-line these days – yes, I know “that’s the way things are going now” but we, as qualified shoe fitters, cannot in all conscience do that, as to sell fitted footwear over the internet is not only immoral but impossible! However, the savvy shopper is using our expertise to gain the correct size for any style/brand and instead of buying from the shop they are going on-line to see if they can get a better deal! All very well for them but they are totally unaware that no two styles/brands fit the same and there is no standardisation of shoe sizing; but when yet another shop has closed down, because of lack of trade, where will they go then? And more importantly what hope for the nation’s feet, with children’s feet being damaged by badly fitting, internet/supermarket, footwear? “Come on all you Suppliers out there. You want us to promote and sell your brand, which we are more than happy to do, yet you pull the rug from under us by selling the same product on-line and usually cheaper because you’ve cut out the middle man – US!”
Lesley Waddy, Best Feet First.
January was so so, a little up on last year, but BIG mark downs!! Big Brands only performing at large discounts. Why do we in the Footwear trade keep shooting ourselves in the “FOOT”?? Sales are starting TOO early, WE are conditioning the consumer to wait, some “jackass” will always start their sales TOO early, thus creating a knock on effect. Could parliament pass a law to start the January SALES in January, NOT November !!!
Bernard O’Brien.
In response to last month’s question in Best Sellers from a retailer about suppliers of boots with different width fittings, Nicola Phillips, Footwear International Tel: +44 (0)116 259 7427, advises: “Softwaves offer 5 different width fitting on some of their long leg boots. From XS 30.6cms top width, calf width 3l.6 cms to XL top width 40.6cms, calf width 41.6cms. Standard fitting is M 34.6cms and 35.6cms, with elastic 36.6cms and 37.6cms.” David Coles of Tamaris, Tel 07810 560885, has also replied: “We have recognised the fitting issue with long boots. We offer a range of both extra wide and extra slim calf fitting boots. We have also recognised that consumer taste has changed in line with fashion trends, the look for both boots and clothing is a much tighter profile. In long boots we are ensuring that we have a snug fit around both the ankle and the calf.”
This month Laura West, Secretary of the Society of Shoe Fitters, has a question for manufacturers:”Are your shoes Chrome free? If so please contact, Laura, as the SSF often receive requests from the public suffering from allergies and would like to give them greater assistance.”
