The Global Footwear Market: Athletic and non-Athletic ShoesPackaged FactsAugust 1, 2009 240 Pages - SKU: LA2091872 |
Additional Information
Market Insights: A Selection From The Report
Segments to Show Similar Growth
Packaged Facts expects all segments to show rather slow growth overall with men’s non-athletic footwear and children’s footwear leading the pack at slightly better than one percent annually through 2013. Slower growth is expected in children’s and women’s athletic footwear.
Class: Authorized or Mass
Footwear may be distributed on a mass (unlimited) or authorized (limited or franchise) basis. Mass-distributed footwear is supplied to a variety of retail outlets without limits or restriction; little or no attempt is made to protect retail accounts from competition or maintain product exclusivity. Mass-distributed products are generally lower-priced, often a benefit resulting from higher unit volume and faster turnover. As implied, mass-distributed products have a much wider range of distribution than authorized-distribution (limited) footwear. Common retailers consist of national retailers, local and regional discount shoe stores, and warehouse clubs.
Authorized distribution is restricted in part based on geography to reduce competition at the retail level for each individual brand. The selected outlets may be the only selling agents of the manufacturer within a specific territory, and therefore have a protected franchise, but the degree of restriction on a limited distribution line can vary depending on market. For example, a particular product line may be distributed through only one outlet in a small town, whereas in a major metropolitan area, several outlets might carry that same brand.
Outlets for limited distribution can also be selected on the basis of clientele and image. The prime outlets for limited distribution are usually “class A” department stores, shoe stores, and sporting goods stores. In some cases, marketers are able to reserve a predetermined amount of square footage to carve out exclusivity or even create the appearance of a store-within-a-store.
In the NewsFashion Frugality Revamps Footwear Market
New York, August 7, 2009 — Footwear is a huge and increasingly diversified market driven by a host of demographic, lifestyle and fashion trends, according to The Global Footwear Market: Athletic and non-Athletic Shoes by leading market research publisher Packaged Facts. The market therefore is segmenting ever more finely, as evident in the diversity of mainstream footwear trends, from casual comfort to sexy stiletto.
Moreover, a far greater range of shoe styles has become acceptable in the workplace. The liberalization of footwear norms coincided with an era where $150 sneakers and $500 pumps were symptomatic of seemingly endless conspicuous consumption fueled by seemingly endless credit. But with the new economic reality came a paradigm shift. Charge now and pay later has been replaced with pay now or don’t buy at all. The fashion for frugality has even brought back a variety of money-saving behaviors from days of yore, including layaway plans and shoe repair cobblers.
The worldwide retail footwear market thus grew only two percent in 2008, according to The Global Footwear Market: Athletic and non-Athletic Shoes. The 2008 gain was the lowest during the five-year period spanning 2004 through 2008, and was due largely to increased sales in the emerging economies of Latin America and Asia.
The U.S. footwear market was essentially flat in 2008, though still accounting for 24% of global sales. “In a time of economic crisis, more consumers will conclude that conspicuous consumption is no longer acceptable,” says Tatjana Meerman, publisher of Packaged Facts. “Instead of feeling good about buying expensive brands, consumers will feel good about getting the best value.”
As consumers have gotten more cautious about spending, they have also gotten more curious. Not only do they want to know about the fashion sensibility and functional benefits of footwear products, they also want to know about the core values of the footwear brand. During times of economic upheaval and distress, according to Packaged Facts, it is more important than ever to provide an emotional connection between the consumer and the consumer good.
The Global Footwear Market: Athletic and non-Athletic Shoes analyzes the U.S. and global market for footwear sold at retail. The report covers dollar sales and unit volume consumption, and tabulates U.S. retail sales by major retail channel, major product type, and consumer segment. Along with analyzing the competitive landscape and international marketer strategies, the report discusses key trends affecting the market (including economic, design and marketing factors) and consumer preferences by major product category and retail channel.
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