Retail
Retail Flash: insights from key footwear markets
Explore the main retail trends in France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, the UK, the US and Spain from our Retail Flash reports, highlighting volatility in 2024 and mixed consumer and retailer sentiment. In particular, new tariffs on key trading partners could put pressure on US footwear prices, Germany’s online sector continues to expand and Japan faces rising inflation
Decathlon to open 20 stores in Argentina
The France-based sporting goods retailer plans to open 20 stores in Argentina by 2026. The move marks Decathlon’s return to Argentina after more than two decades of absence
Japan Retail: no concrete forecasts as the country adjusts to a new economic paradigm
While the online channel continues to stand out in a retail market that has seen a slight increase in spending since September 2024, the fashion sector has struggled the most, most likely due to the warm weather that has affected seasonal shopping. For footwear in particular, after a year of low prices, there’s reason to wonder if the picture of near-zero interest rates could hurt consumer behaviour, as their confidence wanes. The overall stability of imports, despite currency fluctuations, doesn't allow for a concrete forecast
Industry is confident regarding footwear retail prices
77% 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 11th edition of the survey is now available
Cost of raw materials and competition in their home market worry the footwear industry
Respondents of the 11th edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey elected the cost of raw materials and competition in their home market as the main difficultie sfaced by the industry
US Retail: fuzzy outlook for the year 2025
While footwear sales are expected to have ended 2024 on a high note, overall retail sales were more subdued than in the previous year, suggesting that consumers were cautiously optimistic throughout the year. However, rising inflation in the final months of the year appears to have made them wary again and import figures suggesting that retailers will need to stock up again may be hard to come by, as the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on goods from Mexico, Canada and China have caused some instability. While the outlook for 2025 is not negative, it is certainly not euphoric
UK Retail: the future is not looking very bright
Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) sales have held their own in the final quarter of the year, showing resilience to the drag from overall retail sales. However, the sticky above-target inflation in the UK over the past year is a cause for concern as wages fail to keep pace. In addition, the higher costs for retailers predicted in the last Budget may leave them with little choice but to raise prices and cut jobs. As much as imports have shown some stability, the future for the retail sector is not looking very bright at the moment
Positive perspectives about the health of footwear business continue
More than 65% of the respondents of the last edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey seem confident regarding the health of their businesses. The 11th edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey results are now available
Görtz declares new insolvency
The long-troubled German footwear retailer has filed for insolvency once again, after its previous insolvency proceedings ended in July 2023
Employment in the footwear sector expected to stabilize
In the latest edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey, two-thirds of our panel members responded that they believe the level of employment will stabilise in the next few months. Get free access to the report with the main conclusions
Germany Retail: cautious optimist prevails as the year begins
There are no fireworks in the German retail sector. Overall sales are stable, with e-commerce standing out, inflation is on target, and consumer confidence, which remains negative, has risen slightly. However, retailers have experienced a rollercoaster of emotions throughout 2024, and the only certainty at the start of the year is cautious optimism. Political turmoil, economic difficulties and geopolitical conflicts could just as easily lead to a turbulent year for retail
UK: Golden Quarter fails to salvage 2024 trade
Total UK retail sales grew by 0.7% in 2024 as compared to the previous year, as the Golden Quarter recorded sales growth of just 0.4% year-on-year, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said
Industry is anticipating an increase in the quantity of footwear sold
More than 65% of the respondents of the last edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey expect quantities of footwear traded to increase. The report with the main conclusions of the 11th edition of the survey can be obtained now
Macy’s to close 66 stores as part of turnaround strategy
The US department store chain has confirmed the closure of 66 stores as part of its Bold New Chapter strategy, which aims to return the company to sustainable, profitable sales growth
Spain Retail: will the positive momentum hold up?
Fashion retail sales were generally positive from July to November 2024, but will this trend continue? While we await official data on year-end sales, the negative footwear inflation seen in October and November, combined with a rise in consumer confidence, may have helped to boost spending. And with import figures showing that retailers were stocking up, let’s hope the holidays were the reason, as a recent dip in retail confidence could be just the bad news the sector didn’t need to hear at the start of the year-
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Footwear Consumer 2030
A study reflecting on the main global consumer trends and the key changes for the footwear industry.
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World Footwear Public Calendar
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