Good shoe sales prospect

Press, 28 March 1981, Page 26

Good shoe sales prospect

By

JOHN HUTCHISON

San Francisco Good opportunities for the New Zealand footwear industry maj r be found in the western United States, even though the American industry is in some difficulty. This is the preliminary observation of a seven-mem-ber trade mission completing its tour here to study the market. It is led by Mr John Wylie, general manager of Duckworth Turner Company, Ltd, of Christchurch. The mission, sponsored by the New Zealand Government, includes senior officials from three Christchurch shoe firms and two from Auckland. They returned to New Zealand on Thursday and will report their findings to the Trade and Industry Department.

“There are definitely opportunities for New Zealand to sell sheepskin and leather foot wear in the better grades,’’ Mr Wylie said in San Francisco after he and his colleagues had visited shoe distributors and merchants in Honolulu, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Seattle. However, he reported that some problems face the New Zealand companies. There is sharp competition from countries like Taiwan and Spain where labour costs are low, and per capita consumption of shoes is declining in the United States. Inflation is apparently causing Americans to buy fewer shoes and have them repaired more often. “We find, that there is tremendous under-utilisation of American shoe production capacity.' 1 Mr Wylie said. With Mr Wylie are Mr Martin Cash, marketing manager, Bridgens and Company, Ltd, Auckland; Mr Barry Moss, sales manager, Clark s Shoes. Ltd, Auckland; Mr Bryan Vinnell. managing director. Vinnell Shoes, Ltd, Christchurch; Mr Tom East, general manager, Suckling Bros, Ltd, Christchurch; Mr Joe Robinson. Department of Trade and Industry, Auckland; and Mrs Zena* Journet, executive officer, New Zealand Footwear Federation, Wellington.

Two New Zealand companies. Morrow Taylor. Ltd, and Perillo Bros, both of Auckland, are already exporting shoes to the United States.