WSA witnesses 42% growth in children's footwear section
27 Mar '06
3 min read
WSA (World Shoe Association), the largest and most comprehensive marketplace for the global footwear and accessories industry, announced that its February '06 show experienced a 42 percent increase in the children's footwear section at the show over the August '05 show.
This growth in the children's footwear section, combined with adult footwear manufacturers presenting children's footwear lines, resulted in a total of over 350 exhibitors offering children's footwear at the WSA Show.
The February WSA Show featured nearly 1000 different children's lines on the show floor including those from familiar adult brands such Abilene Boot Co., Acorn, Birkenstock, Dansko, Hummer, Mootsies Tootsies and Sam and Libby and new names such as Oilily and Tsubo.
Licensed brands such as Barbie, Hello Kitty, Matchbox, Muppets, Power Rangers, Tonka and Winnie the Pooh also participated. Established designers exhibiting children's styles included D&G Junior, Kenneth L. Cole, Miss Sixty, and Michael Kors Kids. Children's footwear brands Keds, Lelli Kelly and Stride Rite also made a big footprint at the February WSA Show.
The February '06 WSA Show featured the largest showing of children's footwear brands in the show's history. This tracks growth in sales in the children's category of footwear.
According to the NPD Group, a leading sales and marketing information company, sales of children's footwear were up 18% in 2005, with $2.8 billion in U.S. retail sales.
marketing@alchempro.com
