ten dollars september 2007 - FMMG.com

shoes
REPORTED BY DEENA CAMPBELL AND LIBBY DOWD
ruby+ed shows lux slippers
London-based, Ruby+Ed introduced its luxury
line of slippers to Lingerie Americas for the first
time at last month’s New York show. The fouryear-old
company boasts a broad array of styles
in 100 percent silk and satin.
Ruby+Ed offers three ranges of styles that fit
every woman’s personality. For the “stylista,” as
advertised by the company, who finds comfort in
ballerina styles, there is the Boho or the Stunner,
which both feature paisley swirls and beaded
details. For a bolder look, the second range
includes cupcake and doughnut accents, polka
dots and button embellishments. Finally, the
company offers a line for the “flirty” personality,
which features lace trim and satin details. A few
of the more glamorous styles come with matching
silk eye-masks.
For more information on the company and
where to buy visit www.rubyanded.com. — L.D.
snaz75.com shows style for all
Over the past few years the sexy industry has
been widening in borders. Retailers have found
that the sexy shoes and lingerie they sold to
exotic dancers are now appealing to a much
broader audience.
Ryan Conklin, owner of Snaz75.com has been
running the online retail site since 1998. In
those 9 years, Conklin has witnessed some major
changes in his customer base. “When we first
started, our ‘typical’ customer was an 18 to 24year-old
girl—many were exotic dancers,” he
said. “Over the years our products have become
more mainstream. We now have many high
school girls wearing our funky Demonia shoes
and boots from Pleaser USA and businesswomen
wanting to add some flair to the office
are wearing many of our 4 and 5-inch styles.”
Additionally, Conklin has sold sexy styles from
Ellie and Tony Shoes to bridal parties and performance
dance teams. Recently, Snaz75.com
has seen a rise in popularity for gothic and punk
styles such as platform Maryjanes and theme
related Halloween styles. However, the hottest
styles remain the Tip Jar collection and the UV
collection from Pleaser USA.
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Shoppers visiting Snaz75.com can browse an
array of products from Pleaser USA, Ellie Shoes,
Body Zone, Leg Avenue, Shirley of Hollywood
and Elegant Moments. The site carries up to
2,000 styles of sexy shoes and boots, a thousand
lingerie styles and one hundred unique
dancewear outfits as well as hosiery and sexy
costumes.
Of the many shoes styles available, Conklin
has dedicated a small portion of sales to domestic
manufacturers. Snaz75.com carries a small
collection from Pleaser USA called “Lucious”
that is handmade in the U.S. Also, a number of
Tony Shoes are manufactured domestically.
“However, the majority of our shoes are manufactured
overseas,” he said.
Average prices for shoes range between $20 and
$80, and boots between $35 and $200. — L.D.
bedhead slides into slippers
Stemming from a dress and outerwear background,
BedHead is an offshoot of the various
design projects Renee Claire has launched over
the past 10 years. But new for spring 2008,
Bedhead, in its first foray into the slipper sector,
presents The Slide and The Kitten Heel slippers.
The Slide slippers are lambswool lined and are
available in daring patterns and names such as
black pineapple, chocolate bombay and wild
thing. The Kitten heel is a 1-inch rabbit fur slipper
available in black/white, chocolate/hot pink
and many others.
The new Bedhead slippers range in sizes XS-
XL and are wholesaled from $37 to $62 per pair.
For more information or to order visit
www.bedheadpjs.com. — D.C.
highest heel’s new pump
The Highest Heel has put a twist on its classic
pump. The 4-inch heel so well received by customers
will be joined by a 3-inch version.
The new look, is geared towards the working
women providing a comfortable shoe that can be
worn at work and at night. The new pump started
shipping in August.
The company added several other styles to
their line of erotic footwear, which also began
shipping last month.
“We have increased our erotic section and
added some really fresh round toe pumps in
heavy plaid material,” said company president
Scott Gidlow.
The Highest Heel expects their new line of
costume-oriented shoes to be well received. The
company has added a Santa Claus boot for the
holiday season and a sexy Victorian ankle boot
in purple, brown and black suede.
Gidlow plans to incorporate genuine satin and
suede materials into the line. — L.D.
ellie shows versatile style
This holiday season, Ellie Shoes is sparkling
with a new array of styles perfect for party hopping.
“One thing about holiday it seems is that everything
has a sparkle to it—something with rhinestones
and color that incorporate the holiday such
as red, black and silver,”
said Bridget Silvestri,
director of public relations.
New for 2007, and a
perfect match for the
popular little black dress
is the Bethany. This
Bridget Silvestri holiday shoe comes in
silver and gold crinkle
foil and features a black ruffle around the heel and
across the front strap.
Also dazzling is Tin, a sequined boot in silver,
gold and black. The boot features a 5-inch heel
and has become a customer favorite because of its
versatility. “Depending on your personality you
can have the boot peek out of a pant suit or if you
are a more outrageous personality, you can wear it
with a dress or tailored short that showcases the
whole boot,” said Silvestri.
Other holiday hits include Mercedes, Kelly and
Joey from the Penthouse collection. Each style
screams holiday party with rhinestone details and
the signature Penthouse key charm.
The new looks for Ellie Shoes represent a shift
towards a more versatile footwear product. The
non-platform looks and the lower heels cater to a
much larger market than the past, bringing Ellie
Shoes to a whole new demographic. B — L.D.
finance BY
rosenthal hires new attorney
Factoring and finance company, Rosenthal &
Rosenthal, Inc., has hired Michael Wenger, 37, as
its newest in-house attorney in its law department.
Wenger graduated from Columbia Law School
in 2000 and then went to work at the law firm of
Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP, in its bank
finance and mergers and acquisitions groups.
Wenger will report directly to Rosenthal’s general
counsel, with responsibilities including negotiation
and documentation of transactions, oversight
of outside attorneys, and general
corporate matters.
“To be part of a team like
Rosenthal & Rosenthal and the
contribution I can make here,
excites and motivates me,” said
Wenger.
Factoring is a significant financing
tool in the apparel and textile
industries, which allows companies
to access cash through the sale of
their accounts receivable. — D.M.
maidenform up in 2q
Maidenform Brands, Inc. reported second-quarter
earnings that beat analysts’
estimates, while backing th company’s
own full-year earnings predictions.
The company, earned $9.5 million
for the second quarter—compared
with $9.4 million a year ago—and
net sales rose 1.6 percent to $119.0
million.
Maidenform said that it continues
to expect earnings-per-share growth
of 15 to 18 percent for the year.
The company cut the lower end of
its 2007 net sales growth range, citing
decreased sales expectations in its retail outlet
segment.
Maidenform expects net sales growth between
5 and 7 percent for 2007. — D.C.
gildan earns 52.4m for 3q
Gildan Activewear Inc. announced its financial
results for its third quarter, which ended July 1,
2007. It reported third-quarter net earnings of
$52.4 million after recording a restructuring
DEENA CAMPBELL, LIBBY DOWD AND DERRICK MITCHAM
charge in the quarter of $4.6 million after-taxes.
The charge was primarily related to a previously
announced restructuring of the company’s manufacturing
facilities.
Before the restructuring charge, adjusted net
earnings and adjusted diluted EPS for the third
quarter of fiscal year 2007 amounted to $57.0
million, which was up 34.3 percent from third
quarter 2006 net earnings of $42.8 million. After
the adjustment, earnings for third quarter 2007
were up only 33.2 percent over 2006.
Gildan Activewear claims the growth in EPS
compared to last year was due to higher gross
margins for activewear.
Sales in the third quarter amounted to $291.6
million, up 24.7 percent from $233.9 million in
the third quarter of last year. The increase in sales
revenues was due to $30.5 million of stock sales
pursuant to the acquisition of Kentucky Derby
Hosiery and an 11.6 percent increase in unit sales
volumes for activewear, partially offset by a slight
reduction in unit selling prices for activewear of
approximately 0.5 percent compared to last year.
— D.C.
delta apparel up in 4q
Delta Apparel, Inc. reported financial results for its
fourth fiscal quarter and fiscal year ended
June 30, 2007.
The company reported that net sales increased
11.3 percent to a record $91.8 million compared
to $82.5 million in the prior year’s fourth quarter.
Gross margins for the fiscal fourth
quarter were 20.6 percent compared
to 28.7 percent in the prior year’s
fourth quarter, principally as a result
of $5.4 million in restructuring
related charges.
The company also incurred a $1.5
million non-cash asset impairment
charge in its fiscal fourth quarter
2007 related to the reduction of its
U.S. textile operations. Net income
was $0.7 million in the fiscal fourth
quarter of 2007 compared to the
previous year’s level of $6.3 million.
— D.C.
delta galil down in 2q
Delta Galil Industries Ltd., the
global provider of private label
ladies’ intimate apparel, socks, men’s
underwear and leisurewear, reported
results for the second quarter, which
ended June 30, 2007.
Second quarter 2007 revenues
were $149.8 million, compared to
$176.5 million reported for the second
quarter of 2006—a decrease of
15.1 percent. First half revenues
were $309.2 million compared to $348.5 million
reported in the first half of 2006—a decrease of
11.3 percent.
Second quarter net loss was $3.4 million, compared
to a net income of $0.5 million in the second
quarter of 2006. First-half net loss in
2007was $16.6 million compared to a loss of $0.5
million in the first half of 2006.
Additionally, net loss before restructuring
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