Sunday February 20th 2011
Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel, NEC, Birmingham
Report
The Independent Footwear Retailers Awards are establishing themselves as a highlight of the MODA Calendar. For the third year footwear’s finest converged on the Hilton NEC on the Sunday night to celebrate another year of fabulous footwear.
The evening saw the debut of two awards for 2011, Best Comfort Brand and the Best Use of Technology. The winner of Best Comfort Brand was Rohde Shoes. Collecting the award, MD Justin Morgan said, “I know everybody says it is a surprise when they receive an award… but this really is a surprise.”
The second of these new awards rewards those who use IT to the greatest effect in ordering, stocking and selling shoes. The judges were looking for innovation in areas such as customer loyalty schemes, in-store presentation and marketing and e-commerce selling. Bells Shoes won this award. Eugenio Leijten, MD of Retail Technology explained why they claimed the prize: “They identified the online trend five years ago and added a fully integrated e-commerce tool to their existing system… which now exceeds the revenue from any one of their bricks and mortar stores.”
The Golden Samples Case award drew the greatest reaction from the crowd as the nominees for this best sales representative category were announced. Jeff Clark of Rohde Shoes stepped on to the stage to collect his miniature golden samples case. Judging from the applause he is popular in the world of footwear retail.
JB Hand Footfitters of Stockport won the award for retailer of the year, fighting off competition from Edward Meeks of Ashton-under-Lyne and Friary Shoes of Lichfield. Peter Elliot collected the award saying, “This is really appreciated during the tough economic times we are all experiencing.”
Sales Director Mike Rowe collected Padders’ Award for Best Men’s Brand; “It’s a real treat to be up here. Particularly as we have some VIP guests on our table, including a VIP guest from China who is here sourcing English shoes.” Once again Rieker took away the award for Best Ladies’ Brand. UKD was recognised as providing the Best Customer Service. Peter Lamble of Start-rite collected the award for Best Children’s Brand.
The IFRA Personality of the Year Award is not presented every year. It seeks to recognise those in the Association and Industry who have contributed a great deal. IFRA Secretary Arthur Spencer-Bolland announced the winner; “I hope this award will be a surprise. This year it goes to someone who has spent two decades as a member of the IFRA council. He has been Vice President, President, Immediate Past President and now Honorary Treasurer. He is lucky in that he has a great business; in part because his mum and dad were great business people. But primarily I suspect, because he and his sister and very competent business people in their own right. He has a lovely wife, three super children and a goat. He is not only a colleague but a good friend of mine and it is my pleasure to announce that this year’s IFRA Personality of the Year is Michael Donaghy”. Michael Donaghy thanked the Association for the award but was quick to invite others to follow in his footsteps, onto the IFRA council; “Associations such as IFRA, such as all associations, are only as good as their members. We would welcome anyone who would like to step forward and give some wise advice and get rid of old fogies like myself”.
Special thanks must go to Retail Technology who once again sponsored the event and helped to make it the success it was. See you in 2012.