Samsonite set to put best foot forward

Samsonite is planning to diversify in a big way.

India, Nashik, June 23:

“Our vision is to grow beyond travel goods and diversify into other travel-related merchandise,” Subrata Dutta, chief operating officer of Samsonite (Asia Pacific), said.

After launching travel shoes recently, the American luggage major is planning to introduce eyewear and watches next. “The collection could arrive in India in a year,” Dutta said.

Designed by Italian shoe designer Alberto Del Biondi for high-flying business executives, Samsonite travel shoes use a technology that allows the footwear to expand and contract according to the need of the feet during air travel.

Samsonite shoes were introduced in Italy, Germany and Korea before they were launched here.

“We want shoes to be the second pillar of the company. Over the next three years, we see shoes accounting for 25 per cent of our business in India,” Dutta said.

Though shoes at present account for just about 5 per cent of Samsonite’s business, it is planning to spend 50 per cent of its advertisement budget on footwear.

Once Samsonite shoes find a foothold in the Indian market, the company will look to launch more travel-related products here, Dutta said.

The $1-billion company’s twin brands —Samsonite and American Tourister — enjoy a 36 per cent market share in the Rs 950-crore Indian organised luggage industry.

Both brands together witnessed 42 per cent growth during the last year, beating the industry average of 15 per cent, officials said.

With air travel growing at 25 per cent annually, Samsonite expects the demand for its products to remain firm in India. The company also plans to scale up its retail network with more stores across the country.

“We have 180 exclusive retail stores. We would like to take the number up to 250 by the end of 2009,” Dutta said.

Samsonite started its India operations in 1995 as a 60:40 joint venture with the Tainwala family. Its unit in Nashik, the company’s only hard-luggage plant outside Belgium, is Samsonite’s biggest manufacturing facility in the world.

Source: www.telegraphindia.com

link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080624/jsp/business/story_9455390.jsp

Tommy Hilfiger posts record results

SOURCE: RETAIL WEEK 23 June 2008 09:40

Fashion retailer and lifestyle brand Tommy Hilfiger has announced record results for the year to March 31.

Group sales increased 14.4 per cent to €1.34 billion (£1.06 billion) and EBITDA soared 23.9 per cent to €268 million (£211.6 million).

Sales growth was driven by Tommy Hilfiger’s European division, where sales rocketed 22.8 per cent to €707 million (£558.2 million).

Both Tommy Hilfiger’s wholesale and retail business in the region recorded “strong double-digit growth”. Retail sales were up 26.4 per cent and like-for-likes climbed 3.8 per cent.

Sales in North America, where Tommy Hilfiger has been repositioning the brand and reversing decline, were up 2.5 per cent to US$836 million (£425.2 million). Like-for-like retail sales were up 6.7 per cent for the year. Wholesale sales fell 11.4 per cent

Revenues at Tommy Hilfiger decreased 2.1 per cent in Canada and double-digit growth was recorded in the rest of the world, with strong performances from Japan, Korea and Latin and South America.

Tommy Hilfiger – which opened 140 standalone stores during the period, taking its global store numbers to 796 – will begin its partnership with US department store Macy’s in the autumn.

During the period, it acquired former licensees Tommy Hilfiger Japan and Tommy Hilfiger Europe Footwear. The retailer has also signed a lease for a global flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York.

Chief executive Fred Gehring said: “Not only does our global forward order book show a double-digit increase for the fall of 2008, our US business at our retail stores and at Macy’s has performed exceptionally well throughout the year and in the currently challenging economic environment.

“The group is now perfectly aligned globally and is strongly positioned for continued global expansion.”

http://www.retail-week.com/NonChannelContent/2008/06/tommy_hilfiger_announces_record_results.html

Adidas ends ties with Indonesian partner Prima

www.chinaview.cn 2008-06-19 19:38:44

JAKARTA, June 19 (Xinhua) — Sportswear giant Adidas has ended contract with its Indonesian major supplier PT Prima Inreksa Industries, threatening a dismissal of some 7,000 workers in the company, an official said Thursday.

Prima is no longer able to guarantee continued supplies to Adidas due to financial constraints while efforts to seek 5 million U.S. dollars in bank loan are put in balance, said AnshariBukhari, a senior official with the Ministry of Industry.

“We have tried to facilitate them to (state-owned) Bank BNI, but BNI gave up,” he was quoted by leading news website Detikcom as saying.

The Indonesian bank refused to channel loan to heavily-indebtedPrima in the Jakarta suburb of Tangerang as the company has no valuable assets for collateral, he said.

Adidas will likely relocate orders to other companies in Indonesia, he said.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/19/content_8401840.htm

Editor: An Lu

Recycling or Donating Shoes – Social Initiatives

Every year, millions of pairs of footwears are thrown away, clogging landfills and wasting a lot of good material.

• Turn your shoes into a football field. Nearly 16 million pairs of shoes have been recycled to date.

• Minimize the impact that your shoes would have if thrown into a landfill. Over 1.3 million pounds of rubber alone has been avoiding the landfill each year due to shoe recycling.

• Help people. Gently-worn shoes can be shipped to needy recipients in Africa.

Some organisations recycling shoes

http://www.letmeplay.com/reuseashoe/overview.html - An initiative by Nike but drop off locations only in USA, Europe, Australia and soon in Japan

http://www.solesunited.com/ – An initiative by crocs^tm. Worn-out crocs^tm shoes recycled into new shoes and donated to people in need around the world.

http://www.pppafrica.org/ – an organisation by Jim named Perpetual Prosperity Pumps Foundation in 2004

http://www.recycledrunners.com/ – Lists shoe donation programs for U.S & International and also Recycling options.

JOIN THE INITIATIVE FOR

Secrets of your soles – germy shoes

How dirty are your shoes? The dirty truth about shoes inside your home.

read more | digg story

Article read: secrets-of-your-soles-germy-shoes

Top sports brands go to court in China

www.chinaview.cn 2008-04-16 09:22:01

BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) — Competition between two sports goods giants, Nike and Adidas, has moved to a different arena – a Shanghai court. Nike is suing its German competitor, and Chinese soccer star Zheng Zhi.

At a hearing held Tuesday, Nike Sports (China) Co Ltd told Shanghai No 1 Intermediate People’s Court that Adidas and Zheng –captain of the Chinese soccer team and a midfield player with England’s Charlton Athletic — had harmed its interests, English-language China Daily reported Wednesday.

Nike said Zheng was seduced by Adidas who promised more money and wore Adidas products and attended its publicity events while working as a brand ambassador for Nike.

It is seeking eight million yuan (1.14 million U.S. dollars) in compensation from the two.

But the accused parties said Nike broke its contract with Zheng due to nonpayment.

“Nike had withdrawn a similar suit accusing Adidas of unfair competition for lack of evidence,” Jiang Xian, the attorney of the28-year-old soccer player, was quoted as saying.

On July 1, 2003, Nike signed a contract with Zheng in a bid to build its image in China. The contract, which was to expire at the end of last year, said Zheng should wear Nike products on any public occasion and attend publicity events of Nike.

The contract promised Zheng 110,000 yuan by October 2003 and another 760,000 in 2004, to be paid in installments.

Nike said Zheng had adhered to the contract at the beginning.

However, in August 2004, Zheng requested a raise, but Nike refused, Nike attorney Yang Jun said. In April, 2005, Zheng wore Adidas soccer shoes at matches in Japan. Soon after he informed Nike he wanted to cancel his contract.

“To get publicity at the World Cup in 2006, Adidas in 2004 decided to recruit famous players who worked for other brands,” Yang said.

The hearing lasted two hours. Verdict will be given later, according to the report.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/16/content_7986475.htm

Editor: Du Guodong

Adidas pledges to maintain presence in Indonesia

www.chinaview.cn 2008-06-23 15:38:14

JAKARTA, June 23 (Xinhua) — German-based footwear maker Adidas Group has pledged to maintain its business in Indonesia despite the recent termination of supply contract from a major local supplier, local press said Monday.

“Indonesia remains a key sourcing country for the Adidas Group,” the company said in the statement as quoted by major newspaper The Jakarta Post.

Adidas has decided to end ties with Indonesian supplier PT Prima Inreksa Industries by the end of this year as the latter failed to meet orders from Adidas due to financial difficulties.

The two sides have announced they agreed to find the best solution to address the current situation and the job security of some 6,500 workers.

“We will continue to engage and support the factory during this difficult period,” the Adidas Group head of footwear sourcing, Horst Stapf, said in a statement.

Prima reportedly is unable to pay some 37 million U.S. dollars in debt to state-owned Bank Negara Indonesia, while its former owner left the company.

According to the statement, currently there are more than 60 factories manufacturing footwear and apparel products for Adidas in Indonesia.

In 2006, Adidas ceased contracts with its suppliers PT Dong Joe Indonesia, PT Spotec and PT Tong Yang Indonesia, leaving some 18,000 people out of work.

Editor: Sun Yunlong

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/23/content_8423774.htm

Architecture & shoes

Footwear to Movie – The real story behind those kinky boots

STEVE Pateman’s factory in Earls Barton looks not much different to any other Northamptonshire boot or shoe workshop. Except that it has provided the inspiration for a Hollywood-backed movie that is expected to be the next big British film hit. Read More….

read more | digg story

Download Story: the-real-story-behind-those-kinky-boots

Do’s Dont’s – Flip Flops

Flip flops used across the world have the benefits but carry some problems with them. The article provides Do’s & Don’ts for Flip Flops

read more | digg story

Download Article: flip-flops-your-body-pays-the-price-by-jennifer-gish