Moda visitor numbers up 3%
Moda Footwear, the UK-based trade show, reported increased visitor numbers for its spring/summer 2013 edition and demonstrates the industry is in a “good state of health”, according to organisers.
The event, one of the most important shows on the UK footwear calendar, played host to collections from over 400 brands and attendance was up 3%.
The show’s growing contemporary zone saw first-time appearances from brands including US label K Swiss, British brand We Are Saints and France's Palladium. “As newcomers to the show we had a great reaction, particularly from independents,” said Palladium’s Joel Crane.
Stephen McKiernan, UK key account manager for Denmark's Jack & Jones Footwear, also reported a successful show. “We were absolutely inundated with orders from the moment the show opened on the Sunday, and had signed up six new accounts just within the first few hours,” he said.
Visiting stores included Fenwick, Beales, Bentalls and Arnotts, as well as online retailers Amazon and ASOS.
Moda Footwear event director Sean O’Connor said: “This summer has been a tough season for a lot of footwear retailers in the UK, but the positive feedback from brands and exhibitors over the three days of Moda showed that our industry is still in a good state of health. It’s also showed just how important it is for retailers to have a full overview of the new season’s ranges and be able to seek out new product, and that’s exactly the platform which Moda Footwear seeks to provide.”
