This is what the industry wants to offer
Manufacturers want to stand out to retailers and end customers not only with fashion. The Gordon & Bros brand scores points above all with NOS products. In view of the difficulties faced by retailers, Randolf Friedel draws attention to some of Hooijer’s new services: “Overstock is currently the big problem in retail, so we hope that our services will be used to order later or use our B2B shop. We have also broken up the fixed ranges this season so that retailers can offer more choice and try out different models.” Uli H. wants to offer an attractive concept, especially as a new brand: “Because retailers who deal with our price ranges are few and far between, we have to convince people with the concept,” says Ulrich Hauer. This includes an extensive NOS range and a
concentrated collection. “Of course, the turnover of men’s shoes is not particularly high. However, our specialized customer base still relies on sneakers, while outfitters tend to stick with classic shoes.” Floris van Bommel wants to respond even more to the comfort requirements of end customers, says Pepijn van Bommel: “Everything has to be light.” To be more precise: “Light, soft and flexible.” The focus of the collections is therefore on combining the different functionalities. “We have decided to invest in the development of such styles and combinations.” Manufacturers also want to tap into new customer groups through the topic of multiple widths. Michael Schreck from the barefoot shoe brand Koel says: “We attach great importance to different last shapes.” Extra widths are therefore a big topic. “People are different. And children’s shoes ultimately have to fit, and that of course also applies to barefoot shoes. It is therefore important to us to represent this diversity in our collections.”
