Shoe Prices.. what a pain

The Diva · 05-15-2008, 08:33 AM

This is a tragedy for all shoe addicts...

From WSJ May 13 2008:

Pain at the Other Pump: Shoe Prices Rise .The hottest trend in footwear this season? Inflation.

"After a decade of declining prices, footwear makers at all levels are raising prices. The mass-market Payless, a unit of Collective Brands Inc., recently increased prices on shoes in stores, though it won't say by how much. Brown Shoe Co., which makes Via Spiga and Buster Brown footwear and hasn't altered prices in years, plans an increase of 5% to 12% for fall. And the Nine West shoe label plans to boost prices on some styles by 15% next year.

Brown Shoe Co.
Footwear makers at all levels are raising shoe prices.
The moves reflect higher costs in China, which makes about 85% of shoes sold in the U.S., as well as higher fuel costs and the weak U.S. dollar. And they could presage price increases of other goods soon: Handbags, belts and other leather accessories are made in the same region in China.

The shoe price increases follow 10 years in which U.S. footwear prices fell 4.3%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A key reason for the decline was that makers moved production to low-cost locales such as China and passed along some of the savings to consumers.

For retailers already struggling with a downturn in consumer spending, the higher costs couldn't come at a worse time. They fear the price increases will further damp shopping, forcing them to eventually slash prices to move merchandise and hurting their profit margins in the process. Nannette Kiefer, a 45-year-old homemaker in West Palm Beach, Fla., says she will take more time to find bargains if stores suddenly begin charging $120 for two pairs of shoes that she used to get for $100."

Mikael · 05-15-2008, 09:50 AM

This must be very painful for you, Car Diva.

Alfie · 05-15-2008, 11:45 AM

Ouch, this could mean that it's no longer profitable to buy shoes from american sites!

The Diva · 05-15-2008, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikael

This must be very painful for you, Car Diva.

Very...

Harry Plopper · 05-15-2008, 03:31 PM

Thanks God, I bought my collection in the last years / months.

Although this month I enriched it with a pair of brown leather flip-flops, and a pair of beige Crocks for in-house usage.

And of course I'm used to high inflation, and higher prices in general (small European country with limited market, d'uh!)

05-15-2008, 08:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
The Diva Master Shopper Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 725 My Mood: Thanks: 655 Thanked 628 Times in 306 Posts Blog Entries: 2	Shoe Prices.. what a pain This is a tragedy for all shoe addicts... From WSJ May 13 2008: Pain at the Other Pump: Shoe Prices Rise .The hottest trend in footwear this season? Inflation. "After a decade of declining prices, footwear makers at all levels are raising prices. The mass-market Payless, a unit of Collective Brands Inc., recently increased prices on shoes in stores, though it won't say by how much. Brown Shoe Co., which makes Via Spiga and Buster Brown footwear and hasn't altered prices in years, plans an increase of 5% to 12% for fall. And the Nine West shoe label plans to boost prices on some styles by 15% next year. Brown Shoe Co. Footwear makers at all levels are raising shoe prices. The moves reflect higher costs in China, which makes about 85% of shoes sold in the U.S., as well as higher fuel costs and the weak U.S. dollar. And they could presage price increases of other goods soon: Handbags, belts and other leather accessories are made in the same region in China. The shoe price increases follow 10 years in which U.S. footwear prices fell 4.3%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A key reason for the decline was that makers moved production to low-cost locales such as China and passed along some of the savings to consumers. For retailers already struggling with a downturn in consumer spending, the higher costs couldn't come at a worse time. They fear the price increases will further damp shopping, forcing them to eventually slash prices to move merchandise and hurting their profit margins in the process. Nannette Kiefer, a 45-year-old homemaker in West Palm Beach, Fla., says she will take more time to find bargains if stores suddenly begin charging $120 for two pairs of shoes that she used to get for $100."

05-15-2008, 09:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mikael Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,838 Thanks: 739 Thanked 311 Times in 199 Posts	Re: Shoe Prices.. what a pain This must be very painful for you, Car Diva.

05-15-2008, 11:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
Alfie Aficionado Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: La Svezia! Posts: 4,809 My Mood: Thanks: 781 Thanked 820 Times in 503 Posts	Re: Shoe Prices.. what a pain Ouch, this could mean that it's no longer profitable to buy shoes from american sites!

05-15-2008, 03:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
Harry Plopper Oinky Wizard Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,732 Thanks: 75 Thanked 891 Times in 460 Posts	Re: Shoe Prices.. what a pain Thanks God, I bought my collection in the last years / months. Although this month I enriched it with a pair of brown leather flip-flops, and a pair of beige Crocks for in-house usage. And of course I'm used to high inflation, and higher prices in general (small European country with limited market, d'uh!)

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