Alexander Borodin explained the retail crisis
Alexander Borodin, managing director of Mila - shoes wholesale, explained the reasons for closing shoe retail stores in a personal column on the company's website.
As Alexander Borodin wrote in his personal column, recently on the specialized platforms of MNPO and Babybiz there have been frequent reports of the closure of retail stores. The author explains this situation by a drop in income below the breakeven point, due to the deep off-season.
“The closing wave in retail will affect wholesale companies, and then it will also sweep federal suppliers and manufacturers. Already, many federal companies have shown negative dynamics in sales at the end of 2013 compared to 2012. The situation is similar in wholesale, ”writes the manager of Mila - shoes wholesale. By the way, according to the results of 2013, the Ural distributor had a slight increase in sales - about 1%.
According to the author, most of the economic crises of our time are credit ones. First of all, companies suffer from them, in the total turnover of which borrowed funds exceeded the permissible 20%. “Based on my experience, I can say with confidence that today there are companies that have this level of 100%. They are doing well while the financial bubble is growing. But as soon as it bursts, they cannot fulfill their obligations, ”says Alexander Borodin.
A good example is the practice of Mila, which issues commodity loans of no more than 10% of the total turnover and at a high cost, which is an additional “protective barrier”. “As a result of the chosen strategy, we surrounded ourselves with solvent counterparties who effectively use their own working capital and practically do not resort to borrowed funds, which during the crisis allows them to feel quite stable,” writes the manager of Mila - wholesale shoes.
Alexander Borodin, manager of Mila - wholesale footwear, explained the reasons for the closure of retail shoe stores in a personal column on the website ...
Olga Buzova has become the ambassador for the Kari shoe store chain.
Olga Buzova became the ambassador of the Kari shoe store chain on March 1, 2026. 13.04.2026 202
The war in Iran has led to higher shoe production costs in India.
According to the Indian Express, shoe manufacturers across India, the world's second-largest footwear producer after China, have begun raising prices for their products and services due to rising raw material costs. The footwear industry… 10.04.2026 627
PRÓDAN opened a pop-up corner at the Trend Island department store in Moscow's Aviapark shopping center.
At the Trend Island department store in Moscow's Aviapark shopping center, footwear brand PRÓDAN opened a pop-up corner shaped like a giant cream cake. The icing on the cake is shoes from the summer collection… 10.04.2026 637
The growth of shoe imports in Germany contradicts the actual sales situation in the country.
In 2025, Germany imported more shoes but didn't start buying them again. The paradox of a market that grew in numbers but shrank in real terms is due to cautious consumption, store closures, and pressure on retail chains, writes… 10.04.2026 898
The Arlei factory, Argentina's largest leather exporter, is in a state of acute crisis.
One of the tanneries of Arlei Leather Group, Argentina's leading exporter of tanned leather, has reported a sharp decline in production. In two years, the historic tannery's output at Curtiembre Arlei has halved (from… 09.04.2026 713
Euro Shoes opens a new season for buyers and brands
In the first days of spring, from March 4–7, the international footwear and accessories exhibition Euro Shoes Premiere Collection in Moscow will once again gather buyers and other industry professionals to discover the collections of global footwear brands for the upcoming Fall-Winter 26–27 season.
Chinese brands and factories at Euro Shoes
The Russian economy's pivot toward Asia and the active development of the footwear industry and the technological base for producing a wide range of footwear in China are opening up new prospects for cooperation with Chinese partners.
The home collection from Australian brand EMU Australia at Euro Shoes
SOHO Fashion invites you to discover the new Fall/Winter 26 collection of Australian footwear brand EMU Australia at the Euro Shoes Premiere Collection international exhibition in Moscow.
Rieker and Remonte with new collections - at Euro Shoes
Rieker is well-known and beloved in Russia. Each pair of Rieker shoes is designed with the anatomy of the foot in mind, using Rieker's signature Antistress technology to ensure maximum comfort.
Store Manager: Strategic Asset or Redundant Position?
Owners of small shoe stores often juggle multiple roles: negotiating with suppliers, managing inventory, handling marketing, and even personally participating in sales. In such an environment, it's difficult to focus on strategic development and operational management. This is where a store manager comes in – a key employee who oversees daily processes and ensures stable business growth. However, many owners believe they can handle this on their own. SR fashion business management and development expert Maria Gerasimenko explains why a store manager is essential and why you can't do without one if you want to grow and scale your business.
Spring/Summer 2026: Five Trends for Athletic Shoes
In a highly competitive environment, especially in the dynamic digital environment, fashion trends are changing rapidly. We're highlighting five trends from international trend bureau Future Snoops that address local market demands.
Where can you find reliable shoe manufacturing in Russia today?
The market is changing, but the key question for buyers and brands remains: where can you find real Russian manufacturing that you can work with directly—without complicated processes, surprises, and wasted time? On February 12, 2026, this question will be answered not with presentations, but with practice: the Izmailovo Hotel, Beta Building, will host the 2nd All-Russian Technology Industry Conference "Footwear Manufacturing in Russia"—a meeting of footwear manufacturers and those who order, sell, and develop their brands.
MARCO TOZZI announced the launch of the new MT Sport collection.
German footwear brand MARCO TOZZI has announced the launch of its new men's footwear collection, MT Sport. MT Sport is a new collection of men's footwear in a sporty, casual style. It will be available in partner stores this spring.
Tamaris SS26 Collection
In its Spring-Summer 2026 collection, Tamaris combines tradition, innovation, and the latest fashion trends.
Just a month until the Euro Shoes exhibition in Moscow!
We are counting down the days for the main international exhibition of footwear and accessories Euro Shoes Premiere Collection in Moscow! The exhibition will be held from August 27 to 30 at a new premium venue – the capital's congress center WTC on Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment.
Salvatore Ferragamo's Shoes Inspire Pastry Chefs
Italian confectioners have created cakes that are exact copies of six legendary pairs of shoes from the archives of the Italian "Shoemaker to the Stars" maestro Salvatore Ferragamo. They were presented in the 10_11 restaurant of the Milan hotel Portrait Milano, which is part of the hotel management company owned by the Ferragamo family.
Main trend themes for footwear and bags collections for the fall-winter 2025/26 season
Whatever aesthetics your collection adheres to - craft heritage, elegant minimalism inspired by traditions or, conversely, futuristic forms - if your customer strives to be fashionable and you need to regularly update your assortment with current trendy novelties, pay attention to the design trends, models and details of women's shoes and bags in the fall-winter 2025/26 season described in this article. To prepare it, the author used materials from the international trend bureau Fashion Snoops, which is a source of commercial forecasts for the seasons ahead, and current trend analytics of key events in the fashion industry around the world: industry exhibitions, shows, shows.
New brand in the SOHO FASHION portfolio – BEVERLY HILLS POLO CLUB
SOHO Fashion continues to grow and develop in the Russian footwear market, and in 2025, the leading distributor's brand portfolio added a new one – the legendary BeverlyHills Polo Club (BHPC). This is an international brand that has become a symbol of the American way of life, freedom and style. Founded in the 1980s, it is inspired by the spirit of polo sport, which
associated with elitism, aristocracy and an active lifestyle.
Micam and Livetrend presented a selection of footwear trends for the spring-summer 2026 season
The Italian international footwear fair Micam presents the "Spring-Summer 2026 Trend Guide", developed in collaboration with Livetrend. The guide is based on the analysis of social networks, online marketplaces and fashion shows, as well as new technologies such as artificial intelligence and Big Data.
The Battle for the Sports Shoe Market
Fashion market experts and economic analysts predict a decline in sales of Nike and Adidas. The leadership positions of the unsinkable sports giants may be seriously shaken in the coming years, as they are being pushed out by young, bold and active competitors – challenger brands. Why is this happening, and what are the main reasons for such changes? Daniya Tkacheva, a fashion market expert and practitioner with 20 years of experience in sales management, and 13 years of experience in the Nike Russia team and fashion retail, shares her view on the situation on the market in the sportswear and footwear segment.
How Pareto's Law Works in a Shoe Retail Store
Analysis of the company's performance is an important quality of a manager. Many indicators in the retail business are subject to analysis, primarily - sales planning and inventory balances, KPI performance by employees, the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, the number of sellers, their work schedules and many other factors that affect the final result of the store. In this material, SR expert on increasing sales in shoe retail Evgeny Danchev, using the Pareto principle, understands the reasons why revenue and volumes of goods sold are distributed very unevenly between weekdays and weekends. The author is confident that the Pareto principle is indispensable in the systemic analysis of sales management efficiency and sales results. But it is important to apply it correctly and interpret its meaning.
Clarks: 200 years of quality, style and innovation
In 2025, the legendary British brand Clarks celebrates its 200th anniversary – an impressive milestone that demonstrates its enduring relevance, impeccable quality and global appeal.recognition of the brand. Since its foundation in 1825, the company has not only created shoes, but also set the standards for comfort and style, remaining a symbol of British craftsmanship and innovation.
The cyclicality of fashion and its impact on the financial results of the fashion business
Stylists and experts never tire of telling both professionals and ordinary consumers of goods and services in the fashion industry that fashion develops cyclically. The cyclicality of fashion has a significant impact on the financial results of the fashion business, since it dictates periods of demand and decline and determines which goods will be in demand at a certain moment. SR expert in assortment planning and management Emina Ponyatova talks about which aspects of the cyclicality of fashion should be taken into account by shoe retailers in their work, and how they affect the financial performance of the business.
PETER KAISER - the best brand of 2025!
"CAPRICE Schuhproduktion GmbH has received a certificate for awarding PETER KAISER the title of "Top Brand 2025".
Shoe educational program: what shoe soles are made of
“What is the difference between TEP and EVA? What does tunit promise me? Is PVC glue? What is the sole of these shoes made of? ”- the modern buyer wants to know everything. In order not to smash his face in front of him and be able to explain whether such a sole suits him in soles, carefully read this article. In it, process engineer Igor Okorokov tells what materials the soles of shoes are made of and what makes each of them so good.
How to set prices that will earn
Some businessmen still confuse the concept of margin with the concept of trade margins and set prices for their goods, guided solely by the example of competitors. No wonder they go broke! Analyst at the Academy of Retail Technologies Maxim Gorshkov gives several tips and formulas with which you can set not only ruinous, but also profitable prices.
Sales of shoes and accessories: effective techniques for business rhetoric
Which speech modules are effective in communicating with potential and current customers of shoe stores, and which are not, Anna Bocharova, a business consultant, knows.
We form the salary of sellers: expert advice
“How do you charge your consultants for personal or general sales?” Is one of the most popular questions causing a lot of controversy and gossip on the online forums of retail business owners. Indeed, how to properly form the earnings of sellers? But what about bonuses, where to get a sales plan from, do employees allow them to buy goods at discounted stores? In search of truth, the Shoes Report turned to a dozen shoe retailers, but no company wanted to disclose its motivation system - the process of its development was too complicated and individual. Then we asked four business consultants, and finally became convinced that the topic of seller motivation is very complex, because even our experts could not come to a common opinion.
The whole truth about Bayer. Who is he and how to become one?
Bayer is no longer a new, but still a popular and sought-after profession. It’s fashionable to be a buyer. Buyers are at the origins of the emergence and development of trends. If the designer offers his vision of fashion in the season, then the buyer selects the most interesting commercial ideas. It is on buyers that the policy of sales of stores and what, in the end, the buyer will wear depends on. This profession is surrounded by a magical fleur, often associated with a lack of understanding of what exactly is the work of a buyer.
Technology Selling Issues
There is nothing worse than meeting the buyer with the words “Hello, can I help you with something?”, Because the seller works in the store just to help. Criticizing this well-established pattern of communication with the buyer, Andrei Chirkarev, business coach for effective sales and the founder of the New Economy project, shares the technology of truly selling issues with readers of Shoes Report.
Fur, and not only: types of lining
In the production of winter footwear, various materials are used that are designed to retain heat and meet the requirements of consumers: natural sheepleather, artificial fur, artificial fur from natural wool and others. All types of lining fur have their own advantages and disadvantages. Let's consider the properties of each of them.
The best models of Czech shoes of the past
In Soviet times, for shoes from Czechoslovakia sold under the Cebo brand, customers stood in line for four hours and did not regret it, because Czech shoes were considered to be of high quality, comfortable and fashionable. Shoe designer Juraj Shushka shared a photo archive of his collection with Shoes Report magazine, which contains the most interesting Cebo models from the 1940's to the 1980's.
Retail Arithmetic
Before you begin to solve specific problems, you need to find out how accurately all the leaders of your company understand the basic terminology of retail.
How to fire a worker without tears, scandal and trial
Sooner or later, any manager is faced with the need to part with an employee. Properly and on time the dismissal procedure will save the company money, and the boss himself - nerves and time. But why sometimes, knowing that a break in relations is inevitable, we put off the decision for months?
