After bad times, good times also follow for forward-looking companies
Should the basic timing of order and sales rhythms be reconsidered and adapted to the real purchasing behavior of consumers?
We find ourselves in a very extraordinary and unprecedented situation that poses significant challenges for the entire footwear industry. The unexpected Corona crisis demands great flexibility from all of us. Certainly some customers will be able to retrieve the goods later. Nevertheless, it must be said that the order rhythms have largely proven successful in the past. Due to the procurement problems, these should be retained. It will not be possible to change the order and sales cycle of an entire industry.
How are you dealing with the current Corona crisis? What developments do you expect?
Last week, Caprice, together with the sister companies of the Wortmann Group, presented a multi-million dollar Corona support package for their trading partners. This package is intended to help underline the many years of trusting cooperation with our trading partners. We have been in a crisis-tested and experienced industry for many years. That's why we believe very strongly in the creativity and improvisational skills of our partners. After bad times, good times also follow for forward-looking companies.
There are the first suppliers who are completely foregoing a new S/S 2021 collection. What is your opinion on this?
In order to make progress in stormy times, the sails must be set correctly. You definitely cannot go into a new season with an existing “old” collection. We are a fashion company. Fashion is a snapshot of a process of continuous change. This means adapting to the latest trends. That's why redesigning the collections is very important, even existential, even in uncertain times.
You are currently not receiving feedback from sales for the current S/S collection. Does this change or complicate your planning for the S/S 2021 collection?
Caprice is a Wortmann Group company. We receive our information and suggestions from the most important fashion metropolises in the world. The shutdowns have certainly made obtaining information a little more difficult. Nevertheless, we can always rely on an extensive pool of new fashion impulses. The development of our new spring-summer 2021 collection has already been completed. Sample production is currently underway in our production facilities. The shoe trade can once again look forward to a new, diverse and fresh collection.
Are your supply chains currently interrupted? If so, what impact does this have on production?
Of course, supply chains are disrupted worldwide due to the health crisis. However, we have many years of in-depth experience in supply chain management. Thanks to very close and constructive cooperation with our production partners, problems were solved very quickly. The course was set early on in a network between factories, procurement and logistics in order to be able to respond flexibly to existing disruptions. This has so far helped us greatly to avoid significant production downtimes. According to the current status, we will deliver the goods ordered by our customers on time and properly.
