Women's shoe specialist, Hotter Comfort Concept, heralds 2010 with retail expansion

12 Jan 2010

Hotter Comfort Concept, women's comfortable shoe brand, announces plans to open three new high street stores in 2010.

Making and selling womens shoes and mens shoes from its Lancashire headquarters the innovative comfort shoe brand has announced plans to open new Hotter Comfort Concept stores in Chichester, Eastbourne and Bromley in Spring 2010. Bucking retail trends, Hotter shoes, which marks its year end in January, is forecasting around 20% growth in difficult high street trading conditions.

"Following considerable research and targeting of prime 'Hotter' locations, these three new stores are the first steps in a roll-out retail expansion which utilises our existing, successful, retail blueprint," commented Marketing Director Lisa McCarten, "and is just one of several exciting ventures we plan to reveal in 2010.

"Our innovative approach to the women's shoes market has helped us stand out in a competitive market," she added, "we enjoy hands-on control of product development because we design and make 1.3 million pairs of shoes in our Lancashire factory every year. We also enjoy a fantastic relationship with our customers because we speak with them every day - in our five existing stores, via our 100 seater call centre and online through the website."

In the past 12 months Hotter has implemented a successful TV trial, re-launched the Hotter Shoes website with a more user friendly, transactional interface and refocused its direct marketing business, boosting its in-house team.

"As we enter the final month of our financial year we are heading into what we expect to be a buoyant sales period," added McCarten. This is sure to be helped by the start of the Hotter Comfort Concept end of year sale.

About Hotter Comfort Concept:
As one of the last bastions of shoe manufacturing in the UK, the 380 staff of Hotter Comfort Concept are flying the flag for home-grown footwear talent with an innovative strategy which includes selling its extra wide shoes, womens boots and comfy men's and women's shoes direct to its customers via its on-site 100-seater-call centre, five branded stores and selling through 200 independent UK retailers including garden centres.

Hotter Comfort Concept targets the active, mature market with a range of women's shoes, women's boots and women's sandals which are designed to provide casual shoe options through to trend-lead shoe styles - building comfort into every pair. Hotter's men's shoes, men's boots and men's sandals are designed to be rugged and functional to give options for office wear, as well as for travel, hobbies and leisure.