November 10, 2010

Johannesburg Store Visits

I have been up here in Joburg since Thursday morning now & am having a blast!
The stores are looking so good and the summer footwear I have seen has been so inspirational - I almost can't wait to get on that plane next week and start developing samples for high summer next year.
Joburg shoe shops are awesome - there are so many that we don't have in Cape Town, so it has ben really amazing getting to see what things are looking like up north.
I spent my time in Eastgate, Melrose Arch, Rosebank and Sandton City. Have visited all the Foschini, Donna Claire and Luella stores in these locations and have taken photos for you all to see.
Then I spent time going round to many of the competition and have taken snaps of them too.
Spent some good money on samples that will go into development now for Summer 2011.


EASTGATE 


Eastgate Foschini Windows were looking so strong!

Footwear Dept was very busy when I visited - people were shopping up a storm!




Feedback from stores is that the hangsell is working very well

The new housing principles in the top stores where outposting and pulling together of the top to toe looks was looking amazing!!






Forever New is an Australian brand that has been brought to SA by the Busby guys. It was is every mall I visited in Joburg - watch out for it opening in the V@A Waterfront soon.

Brand reminded me of Oasis in the UK - but with an even more girly & pretty feel. Very, very feminine - lots of dresses in floral prints and overtly girly styling. Also an Occasionwear slant - perfect destination of a summer wedding outfit!

The more casual stuff.

Shoes and Accessories were given a dedicated section at the back of the store. Shoes are all made in China, are synthetic and prices were generally around the the R599 mark (ranged from R499 to R899).


The overtly feminine prints and details are carried through into the Footwear - note the wedges!


MANGO windows were also showing a very feminine and pretty look for high summer - all the mannequins were wearing a light grey elasticated topline pump.

Cuffing detail sandal in the Truworths window.

This is the shoe department in the Eastgate Truworths store - it is MASSIVE!
Housing is done clearly to show the commodities and the breadth of range is very wide.






Europa Art had a lot of sandals with strapping and cuffing detail, and they were one of the few stores that were showing the new fatigue colourway in footwear already.


ALDO were making a strong wedge statement upfront in the store.



The Trenery Department in Woolworths were showing a an almost all canvas footwear story - on espadrille wedges, casual plimsoles and pumps. The rope tying detail sandal is very directional for Summer 2011.

Ankle-tie fabric sandal at Country Road.

Country Road have also bought into the canvas trend by updating their classic all year round elasticated pump into a canvas version.

Took this pic on the highway to Melrose Arch - these Superga adds were all over Joburg, showing the high summer brights!

MELROSE ARCH



Thought the Donna Claire store in Melrose Arch was looking lovely - the windows were really strong too.








This Frequency Footwear Boutique had some really lovely styles.  All the product is imported, coming from Brazil, Spain and Italy. They had the most beautiful pastel colours and some lovely trim details on their footwear.



Lovely lazer cutt sandal.

Loved the bow trims on these pumps!









Gorgeous flatties!!



Castelo is officially my new fave footwear destination in SA!! The shoes here are mainly from Brazil and some from Greece. They make very strong colour stories and house their footwear this way.




They had just launched these lumo brights - across flat and heeled product.

Coral was also being shown - a big colour for Summer 2011.

Their take on the nude and natural palette.

Some fun denim styling too.


ROSEBANK










Flowers as trims at Europa Art.




The new section of the Zone @Rosebank which is built off the new Gautrain station is still under construction. We recently opened a Luella store in this new section of the Mall, and we are in good company right next to Nine West & ALDO.







The Luella store looked beautiful, although the staff say it is still very quiet in the area. I got a strong sense that when all the construction is over, it is going to get very busy in this part of town.



Nine West were showing a black and white story in their one window.




ALDO showing some mid tone brights.



SANDTON CITY



The Foschini store in Sandton was looking so fab!! Windows were beautifully put together and to me really stood out from the competition.

Beautifully put together styling with the Foschini Collection Footwear.



The housing inside the store was of another level - looking so strong!









Just loved how they were pulling the whole look together using all the propping.



Footwear was also looking great.





The Luella tables were also very well housed and this product looks like it just belongs in this location!



Luella cloggs.






SAMPLES BOUGHT
These are some of the styles that I bought samples of to go into development now.

Loved the lazer cutting detail on these flatties - such a beautifully feminine execution with the bow and the small pin head studds. The colour is also great! And the bar coming across the foot is also something that we have talked about adding more of into the ranges for improved fitting.

These silver cuffing detail sandals are a great update with the new added knotting detail as a key trim element for Summer 2011. A great style that can carry so many colourways - would like fabulous in white for high summer!

Just loved the soft knotted bow on these extreme wedges. A trim that we can do so much with as we know our customer loves feminine bow detailing. The basket weave detail on the wedge is just right for next year. As is this shade of cerise pink.

So much can be used on this style - the new rosette-like trims, the spot-on colour references and the upper design are all great for us!

This mesh and bow detail upper of this style is great! This new heel could look quite tricky, but is it starting to emerge - Johann also brought back a similar one on this recent trip to Brazil.

Just a pretty flat that i bought for myself! Love the multi-colored jewel detail xx

Another gift to me - but thought I would show you as they are so right for next year with the wood, clogging and ankle cuff details!


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