The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) published its second Annual Footwear Sourcing Forecast, which uses current statistical trends and import data to provide the footwear industry with a future view of global footwear sourcing.



“Footwear sourcing challenges remain a major concern for the industry in terms of higher prices, shortages in labor, increased compliance costs, and unstable consumer demand. This is especially true in China, the industry’s leading provider of footwear. FDRA’s forecast is extremely helpful to companies as we try to develop effective sourcing strategies and explore options beyond China,” said Greg Tunney, Chairman of FDRA and President and CEO of R.G. Barry Brands.

 

“FDRA’s 2013 sourcing forecast will certainly challenge conventional thinking in the industry and help footwear companies think more critically about current and future sourcing issues. It will also give them the data and analysis they need to increase competitiveness, even in an uncertain environment,” said FDRA President Matt Priest.

 

Priest further stated: “Far from continuing to move away from China, footwear imports from China are up 2 percent this year after stabilizing its output last year. We also saw some major gains in non-traditional footwear producing countries, so it seems that there are an increasing amount of sourcing options for companies to consider.”

 

Key findings from the 2013 Forecast include:

 


  • Footwear Costs Continue to Rise, but Less Dramatically – The average price of a pair of shoes was up 5.7% in 2012, cracking the ten-dollar threshold for the first time. This follows an increase of 10.2% in 2011.

  • Growth is in the Forecast – Overall imports are projected to grow from $23.4 billion in 2012 to $29.6 billion in 2017. 

  • Total Footwear Imports Flat in 2012 — Footwear imports were down negligibly in 2012, coming in 0.4% less than 2011. In 2011, imports were off 3.4%.

  • China Market Share Stabilizes– After years of continued loss of market share, China begins to stabilize, providing 84% of all U.S. imported shoes in 2012.

  • Vietnam Will Continue to Gain Market Share – Accounting for 8% of all footwear imports, Vietnam continues to show impressive growth. By 2017, 14% of U.S. imports by value and 12% by volume will come from Vietnam.

FDRA members can download a free copy of the Forecast in FDRA’s innovative Intel Center. Non-members can purchase a copy for just $100 on www.fdra.org/fdra-reports



Matt Priest, and a panel of industry experts, will unveil and explore parts of the forecast findings Tuesday, Aug. 20, at the Sourcing at MAGIC Show in the Las Vegas Convention Center. This is free to MAGIC attendees and will be held in the North Hall, Level 2, Room N261 from 2:30 to 3:30pm.

 

As the largest footwear trade association in the United States, FDRA accounts for approximately 80% of all footwear sales, representing the industry’s leading retailers, brands, buying agents, and factories.