To ask what IFRA should do it is perhaps better to first address what IFRA lacks (IFRA - Independent Footwear Retailers Association, refered to as IFRA from now on).
Having just had a short spell of exceptionally warm weather I find my mind turning to that old question that shoe retailers ask themselves. Is our trade purely dependant on weather?
This is a short comment and falls into the 'it makes me smile category'. When you feel really strongly about something and that something is business related the thought usually comes to me at about 10 o'clock.
The footwear trade much like any other small trade has some characteristics distinctive to it. Perhaps like many others some of the ways that the trade works are at there best during the good times and the worst at the times that are hard.
Without doubt the phrase of the day to spout forth from the lips of the majority of footwear people at the moment is well I hope you understand X because I am under pressure.
A well organised show can often be spoilt by the lack of attendance by key suppliers. It would be fair to say that considering the state of the footwear trade in the UK the level of buyer attendance was good.
Perhaps one of the most frustrating things that you come across during the buying season (or funny things depends on how you look at it) is how many agents or reps confuse standing legitimate costs with taking a risk.
