steve madden-shops opened!
Transcription
steve madden-shops opened!
2 Macinform EDITION MAY 2011 FIRST EUROPEAN SHOPS IN THE BENELUX Flemish actress/singer Nathalie Meskens STEVE MADDEN-SHOPS OPENED! 4 Scapino opens small format shops 7 National Postcode Lottery once again chooses Halfords 12 Macintosh Retail Group member Clean Shipping Network 13 Special offers in 445 shops For many a fashionista, the month of April was a memorable one. After all, this is when Macintosh Retail Group opened the first European Steve Madden shops in Antwerp, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Maastricht. Steve Madden shoes have been extremely popular in the U.S. for many years. So it was high time that European feet also had the pleasure of being adorned with shoes by this American brand! 16 Welcome, Jones Bootmaker Versatile To describe Steve Madden in one word is impossible. He began his own shoe brand in 1990 with only 1,100 dollars in the bank, and is perhaps even more versatile than the collections that carry his name. Celebrities have also discovered this unique man. Kate Moss, Heidi Klum, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus... are all among his army of fans. Steve Madden shoes are the second most popular shoe brand (after Nike) in the U.S. The new Steve Madden shops aptly reflect the versatility of the brand. Not only do you find extensive collections of women’s shoes, from stilettos and platform shoes to sandals and boots, but also plenty of sneakers continued on page 2 Excerpts from the 2010 Annual Report 6 and boots for the guys. Accessories like jewellery, sunglasses and handbags complete the range. Fresh talent The Steve Madden link to the music world is also clearly tangible in the shops. Using an online music platform, Steve Madden tracks down talent and helps these budding artists reach the top. They are ONLINE SHOPPING IS ALSO AN OPTION, OF COURSE: WWW.STEVEMADDEN.NL WWW.STEVEMADDEN.BE Steve Madden shop in Antwerp. given the opportunity to perform in the shops or during Steve Madden Music concerts. The two best known examples are without a doubt Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. There will also be a stage in the new Steve Madden shops in the Netherlands and Belgium, where fresh talent can strut their stuff. There’s more to come... Shops are now open in Antwerp, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Maastricht. It goes without saying that the plan is to open even more shops… Above: Hostess An Lemmens, the ‘face’ of Steve Madden in Belgium, and Flemish actress/singer Nathalie Meskens. HOME SHOPPING AWARD FOR HOME FURNISHINGS 2011 KWANTUM RANKS AMONG TOP 3 IN THE NETHERLANDS Kwantum bbeat out the websites for Leen Bakker, V&D and many others in tthe race for the Home Shopping Award 2011. Together with the B Badkamermarkt and Wehkamp sites, Kwantum ranked among the th top 3 in the Home Furnishings category. Kwantum is extremely proud of being among the best websites in the extre Netherlands in the Home Furnishings category. Nether Home Shopping Foundation Awards Home H The National Home Shopping Foundation Awards is an initiative of Thuiswinkel.org, the lobby group for companies that sell products and/or Thu services to consumers remotely. The Foundation’s goal with the Awards s r se is i to positively contribute to self-awareness in the sector. That is why it targets companies that sell remotely to consumers and consumers who t ta shop remotely. s 2 BRANTANO BELUX AND As part of International Women’s Day on 8 March, Belgian TV station VijfTV was looking for a partner to help treat women to a little extra pampering. Brantano Belux turned out to be the best match and the collaboration between the two resulted in the organisation of a special ‘Shoe Days’ campaign. PAMPER WOMEN Ladies first During the three week campaign, VijfTV and VT4 aired TV commercials that focussed on women’s shoe obsession and announced the special Shoes Days campaign from Brantano. The P.I.U.R.E. collection from Brantano was among those collections highlighted in the commercials. Women could register as a VIP through the VijfTV website and receive a discount voucher worth €12.50 to spend at the Brantano shop of their choice. Large numbers of Flemish women took advantage of the offer and treated themselves to shoes at a discount from Brantano. P.I.U.R.E., A BRANTANO BELUX LABEL: MUST-HAVES FOR EVERY WOMAN Witt the launching of the new P.I.U.R.E With shoe shoo label, Brantano Belux has given itss shoe range an added dimension. The Th P.I.U.R.E. collection is made of T 100% quality leather. Not only is the 110 new Brantano Belux label surprisingly affordable, n but bbu also elegant and comfortable. For F ladies and gents The Th new P.I.U.R.E. women’s collection has someT thing th hing for everyone, from pumps (closed and with open heel) to canvas sneakers that go together perfectly with jeans, and ballerina slippers in a wide range of timeless shades and fashionable colours. The P.I.U.R.E. E. collection is versatility at its best, yet surprisingly risingly affordable. Due to the success of the hee women’s collection, Brantano has now w also launched a P.I.U.R.E. collection n for men. 3 EXCERPTS FROM THE 2010 ANNUAL REPORT As a professional retailer, we, too, face the challenge of making our mark in difficult markets. The fantastic results of 2010 once again proved that we are more than capable of tackling this challenge. This would not be possible without our employees. We have also been able to make our strategy concrete by making an acquisition in early 2011 in the UK, the third country in which we aim to grow in the Fashion segment. We are pleased to see how the dynamics in Fashion lead to all kinds of initiatives that we can profit from in the future. One example is the introduction in the Benelux of American shoe brand Steve Madden, the perfect fit for the ultra-fashionable side of our shoe brands. Another example is the development by Nea of high-quality innersoles for sale in our shoe shops. The other sectors are also once again off and running and are sure to make 2011 a memorable year. Thanks to the right combination of a good operating result and strong financial position, we can concentrate further on our growth strategy and develop even more initiatives that will generate customer loyalty. Frank De Moor (CEO), Eric Coorens (COO), Theo Strijbos (CFO) From left to right: Fr Frank De Moor, Eric Coorens and Theo Strijbos. Turnover Highlights 2010 Macintosh Retail Group • T Turnover 1.3% up under continuing difficult market conditions. • EBIT climbs 25.1 % to € 55.9 million (2009: € 44.7 million) thanks to Fashion. • Net profit on continuing operations 37.3% higher at € 40.1 million (2009: € 29.2 million). • Dividend: € 0.67 (2009: € 0.55), either in cash or in the form of shares at the option of the shareholder. • Refinancing completed successfully. • Acquisition of Jones Bootmaker. Fashion • Turnover up 4.5%; increase at all shoe formats. • Market and supplier approach produces higher gross margin. • EBIT climbs 59,9% to € 44.3 million (2009: € 27.7 million). • Higher EBIT for all shoe formats. • Brantano realises EBIT margin of 6%. • Exclusive agreement with Steve Madden: four stores in 2011. • Various CSR initiatives. Living • Minor drop in turnover in a home decoration market that was again very tough. • Gross margin increases. • EBIT € 4.5 million (2009: € 6.3 million). • Higher EBIT at Kwantum; decline at GP Décors. • Six GP Décors stores close down as part of restructuring Automotive & Telecom • Higher turnover at BelCompany and telefoonkopen.nl; Halfords unchanged. • Sector turnover drops marginally owing to fewer stores. • Gross margin down because of different turnover mix. • Sector EBIT of € 15.5 million (2009: € 18.2 million). • Telecom EBIT down; Halfords slightly below 2009 level. • BelCompany once again Netherlands’ best telecom store. Amounts in € millions Full year Second half 2010 2009 % +/- 2010 2009 % +/- 2010 2009 % +/- 607.7 581.6 + 4.5 274.8 273.0 + 0.6 332.9 308.6 + 7.9 Living 236.1 245.6 - 3.9 121.5 127.6 - 4.8 114.6 118.0 - 2.9 Automotive & Telecom 287.1 289.4 - 0.8 134.6 136.0 - 1.0 152.5 153.4 - 0.6 1,130.9 1,116.6 + 1.3 530.9 536.6 - 1.1 600.0 580.0 + 3.4 Fashion Total 1 1 Excludes exchange rate effects: increase of 3.6% in turnover of Fashion. 4 First half Operating result Net profit Amounts in € millions Full year First half Second half 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 44.3 27.7 8.6 3.4 35.7 24.3 4.5 6.3 2.0 4.6 2.5 1.7 Automotive & Telecom 15.5 18.2 4.8 8.0 10.7 10.2 Other1, 2 - 8.4 - 7.5 - 3.1 - 3.8 - 5.3 - 3.7 Total 55.9 44.7 12.3 12.2 43.6 32.5 Fashion 1 Living 1 Depreciation trade names as from 2010 under ‘Other’. Comparable figures have been adjusted. 2 The item “Other” includes all corporate expenses that cannot be directly allocated to sectors. The amounts for 2010 include acquisition expenses (€ 0.7 million). Amounts in € millions Continuing operations Discontinued operations1 Total Full year First half Second half 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 40.1 29.2 6.9 6.1 33.2 23.1 0 2.2 0 2.0 0 0.2 40.1 31.4 6.9 8.1 33.2 23.3 1 Relates to the activities of BelCompany Belgium sold per June 30, 2009. Fashion Turnover: € 607.7 mln Operating result: € 44.3 mln Number of stores: .743 Retail floor space: 386,200 m2 Number of employees: 7,876 Living Turnover: € 236.1 mln Operating result: € 4.5 mln Number of stores: .144 Retail floor space: 272,300 m2 Number of employees: 1,896 Automotive & Telecom Turnover: € 287.1 mln Operating result: €15.5 mln Number of stores: .359 Retail floor space: 53,300 m2 Number of employees: 2,056 If you want to read the complete annual report: www.macintosh.nl or request it at Marjon Geuns: [email protected] or call +31 43 3280728 5 FOCUS ON CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BRANTANO UK ‘NEW FOR OLD’ CAMPAIGN 31 ' ,# New life for old shoes Tommy’s strive to give babies the best possible chancee of a healthy birth by funding and pioneering invaluable research into to the causes of miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth. The unwanted nted old shoes could be delivered directly to African traders who will repair, clean and polish the shoes back to their best. The shoes can then hen be sold locally for an amount, which although modest, helps maintain and strengthen this essential cottage industry. '!#1 ', *# 2 !2 131 Throughout March and April Brantano UK will be running a nationwide campaign, New for Old’, which ch emphasises Brantano UK’s corporate social responn-sibility. Not only does this campaign introduce the he fabulous new Spring/Summer range of footwear forr all the family, New for Old gives customers the chance to receive a £10 off voucher when they spend £40 or more by bringing in their old d shoes into their local Brantano store. In addition to this, for each and every pair of shoes that are handed in, Brantano will donate 20 pence ence towards Tommy’s, The UK National Baby Charity. 11 .0 Eye catching Brantano UK have been promoting the New for Old campaign since 2008, and this is the 4th campaign up to date. So far, we have raised ised a grand total of £77,000 for Tommy’s The Baby Charity which hich includes fund raising weekends that staff have run in-stores nationonwide. We are hoping to raise an amazing £25,000 for this particular ular New for Old campaign. The event goes live with eye catching point of sale items in store, re, a national radio campaign, and three million copies of brochures to local households. With celebrity endorsement from Nell McAndrew, ew, a famous UK model and mother, Brantano UK are hoping this will bee th the best New for Old event as yet! Famous UK model and mother Nell McAndrew NOW WITHIN EASY REACH OF EVEN MORE CUSTOMERS SCAPINO OPENS SMALL FORMAT SHOPS Scapino, the largest shoe retailer in the Netherlands, sells shoes, sports and casual clothing for the entire family. Its high-quality and up-to-date product range is offered at highly affordable prices under the motto: Choosing Scapino pays off! The launching of a new, smaller shop concept means that, starting in April, Scapino can now offer its affordable product range to customers in smaller towns. 200th shop On 20 April, the 200th Scapino shop opened its doors in the Netherlands. This new shop in Nieuwleusen Overijssel is also new for Scapino in a different respect, namely, the new, smaller 350 m2 shop concept. 6 Good heavens, that’s a tough bicycle! THIRD TIME’S A CHARM NATIONAL POSTCODE LOTTERY ONCE AGAIN CHOOSES HALFORDS ...a lorry appeared with a removable container completely filled with bicycles for the entire street… ...We had to put two bikes on the back seat of a convertible… It’s going to be hard to find my bike among all the others parked outside the supermarket… Success continued. The neighbourhood looks For the third year in a row, the National a lot livelier now thanks Postcode Lottery has chosen to work to all these great-looking together with Halfords. All winners in the bicycles… postcode drawn who purchased a lottery ticket from the National Postcode Lottery receive a unique Postcode Lottery Union bicycle via Halfords. The National PostI’ll take 16, thank you! code Lottery is extremely pleased with its collaboration with Halfords and will make sure that thousands of bicycles once again are presented to their new owners via Halfords. Other Scapino shops in the Netherlands and Belgium all have an average surface area of around 800 m2. The core range in the new, smaller shops will be the same as in the larger Scapino shops, but a number of product groups will be available with fewer choices. Thanks to its flexible shop layout, Scapino can switch product groups frequently in keeping with the seasons. This allows Scapino to meet customer needs even more effectively. Smaller, yet bigger After the opening in Nieuwleusen, this spring will see another three small concept Scapino shops opening their doors in Hoek van Holland, Rijen and Road show Halfords is taking a lorry and special party tent to village squares around the country to personally present the lucky winners with the unique Postcode Lottery bicycles. Every lottery ticket entitles the winner to one bicycle. Last year, one winner had 26 lottery tickets and received 26 bicycles as a result. From Groningen to Goes and from Heerlen to Haarlem, 20,000 bicycles reached their final destination - the happy winners - via Halfords. Not only that, but every new bicycle owner receives one free servicI had to call in the help of the ing of their new bike from their local entire family just to get all the Halfords shop! bikes home Ulft. This new shop concept is allowing Scapino to increase its expansion possibilities. These openings are also in keeping with Macintosh Retail Group’s strategy to meet demands in the shoe market with a larger number of differently positioned shop formulas. Eric Coorens, COO Macintosh Retail Group: “I believe that this development is very positive for Scapino, as well as for Dutch consumers. Scapino should have shops in all relevant Dutch shopping areas. This allows us to also serve consumers, who would like to buy their shoes in their own town or village. It is an excellent initiative, in my opinion.” The team of the new Scapino small format shop. 7 NEW SALES METHODOLOGY FOR EMPLOYEES HALFORDS HELPS By combining theory, experience and input from employees, Halfords has formulated practical guidelines for every ‘shop site’. This handy tool is intended to make sales more successful for everyone in the shop. Greater sales through greater expertise Marcel Hoogendoorn, Sales Manager at Halfords, is enthusiastic about the new sales methodology, referred to as ‘Sales 2012’. “Naturally Halfords is happy to help its customers, but this takes time. But once you know exactly what people need and how Halfords can meet this need, it increases your chances of a better sale. Our shops are divided into three zones. According to the current sales approach ‘The Acceleration’, we’ve figured how for all three areas how sales personnel can best behave and what the customer is looking for. The guidelines also explain how to approach the workplace in a more commercial manner, the best warehouse layout, how to organise effectively, and, for example, what kind of items should be found in the office areas. This further underscores our motto of ‘Halfords is so easy!’.” Special training Halfords is working together with two external agencies to train employees in the new sales methodology. New Halfords employees will also be trained at specially selected branches in the region. These branches will all focus on one aspect of the training. After three weeks, the new employee is then ‘delivered’ to his or her new branch ready for action. LF ‘V E R K O O N OVER ENDOOR VAN HA EELSBLAD ON S HET PERS INS&OUT P 2012’ , M DOET A E T S L J A JETHET F“EAE LSS TJE!” EEN FEES MARCEL HOOG Teamwork “Success depends on teamwork. Every day starts with a ‘morning talk’ in which the agreements and goals for the day are discussed. This gets everyone on the same page. The moment you enter a shop, you can immediately feel it: the atmosphere is inviting and there’s a sense of celebration in the air. And, don’t forget, the customer feels the same thing!” explains Marcel. “The initial results are already in. The ‘Who scores the most bargains’ competition started spontaneously. Thanks to the new sales methodology, Halfords employees are becoming real experts. This is clear from, for example, the sale of extra items: a customer comes in for polish and leaves the shop with polish, a polishing cloth and the bargain of the week. Fantastic, isn’t it?” IS HET Vice versa All head office employees are also going to spend two weeks in the shop before setting to work in Veenendaal. After all is said and done, every employee of the head office should also be well versed in how things are done on the sales floor. Halfords has also started a special programme with guest instructors from the head office that give sales employees an introduction to the various disciplines in the head office. oogendo Marcel H l t het uitrol 8 SHICK* LAUNCHES ‘I LOVE FASHION NEWS PUMP’ From left to right: Annic van Wonderen, Asha Ramdhan and Bastiaan van Schaik. Shoe label Shick* has teamed amed up with Annic van Wonderen, founder of ILoveFashionNews. com, to design the ultimate te party pump. As a stylist, fashionista and founder ounder of the fastest growing online fashion platform atform in the Netherlands, Annic is always up-to-date -to-date on the latest must-haves and trends. That is why Shick* gave her a free hand with the pump design. The result is sparkling & ultra-feminine! -feminine! Perfect fashion match Within no time, Shick* has the latest catwalk trends in its collection llection and ILoveFashionNews.com, or ILFN for short, keeps fashion-loving Holland informed daily about the latest fashion and lifestyle news... So Shick* and Annic are nothing short of the perfect fashion match! Annic aims to make fashion accessible to all through her ILFN website and Shick* fits in perfectly with that ambition, mbition, since Shick* shoes are always affordable. Irresistible Top model Sylvia Geersen was presented with the first ILFN pumps by Shick* Director Henk Sieders and Annic van Wonderen. The pump ump is easy to combine with any style and the perfect match for any party y outfit. Would you prefer this irresistible shoe in black? No problem! Shick* hick* has just what you need. For a price of only €29.99 you will find nd these pumps impossible to resist. Naturally Shick* shoes can also o be bought online at www.shick-shoes.com. During the well-attended party, Shick* Director Henk Sieders and Annic van Wonderen launched the new I Love Fashion News pump. The first pair was presented to model Sylvia Geersen n and DJ MayDay. Shick* treated 100 customers to golden pumps! In celebration of the one-year anniversary of Shick*, a large crowd of mostly young women gathered in front of the shop on Kalverstraat in Amsterdam on 19 February wearing their best ‘golden’ outfit. The first hundred ‘golden girls’ were treated to a free pair of Shick* ‘I Love Fashion News’ pumps. Best dressed ‘golden girl’ Ultra stylist Bastiaan van Schaik not only entertained customers with swinging music, but also judged their ‘golden’ outfits. Bastiaan and Annic van Wonderen presented best-dressed ‘golden girl’ Asha Ramdhan with a cheque for an entire year of free Shick* shoes. 9 Following the huge success of the new concept of PRO @ Kalverstraat in Amsterdam, the following five PRO shops were given a facelift this spring through collaboration with young people. With this new positioning, arranged for, by and with young people, PRO can now engage with its target audience even more directly. Strong brand PRO offers a unique collection of different brands, as well as exclusive models available solely at PRO. The urban/ street collection features the latest trends from the two store brands Mazu and Ossom, but also includes brand names like Vans, Adidas, Converse, Nike, Puma and Hub. Get your patta sneakers at PRO for the perfect finishing touch to your outfit! Opening events PRO stands for street, awareness, open, hip, innovative and, above all, genuine. These brand values are clearly expressed in the huge wall murals, the result of designs, drawings, illustrations and tags contributed by young people. Visitors to becomeapro.nl could vote on the best designs. A jury then ENERGY-SAVING LIGHTING IN ALL SCAPINO SHOPS ', *# 2 31 LONG-LASTING LIGHTING 131 OPENING OF 5 RESTYLED SHOPS SUCCESSFUL REVAMPED PRO THA ,# ' All Scapino shops in the Netherlands have been fitted with low-energy Philips TLD Eco fluorescent lights that offer energy savings of 15%. A total of 57,500 enerergy-saving TLD lights were installed in the 200 Scapino shops. Together, these lights will result in an annual savings of around 1.4 million kWh and around 600 tonnes of CO2. By way of illustration: 30,000 trees have to grow for 1 year to remove this amount of CO2 from the atmosphere. 10 11 .0 ANKS TO YOUTH INPUT determined the final winners. The winning designs give a whole new look to the five restyled PRO shops in Rotterdam Lijnbaan, Leiden, Amsterdam Nieuwendijk, Breda and Eindhoven. By involving young people in the PRO organisation, collections, shop décor, and even the music played in the shops, the PRO atmosphere and experience takes on a personal and genuine character. This was also clearly tangible at the spectacular opening events for the five revamped PRO shops. More PRO restylings are likely to follow this fall. FOLLOW US ON: WWW.PRO-SHOES.NL WWW.BECOMEAPRO.NL KIKA BENEFITS Dolcis, Invito, Manfield, PRO and Scapino together organised a large-scale ‘old shoe trade-in campaign’ for the Dutch charity KiKa (Kinderen Kankervrij) that supports research into childhood cancers. The campaign was a huge success and KiKa ultimately reaped the benefits. Recycle your old shoes for charity During the campaign weeks, all those old sneakers, boots, high heel shoes and loafers were actually worth money - money that is sorely needed in the battle against childhood cancer. Extra money means more research can be conducted, new therapies can become available more quickly, and better treatment and higher recovery rates from childhood cancer can be achieved. Dolcis, Invito, Manfield, PRO and Scapino donated €0.20 to KiKa for every pair of shoes received. Total donation of more than €50,000 Every good deed deserves another, so all those who donated their old shoes at Dolcis, Invito, Manfield, PRO and Scapino received a discount voucher worth €10 for every pair. The voucher could then be used to purchase a new pair of shoes at any of the participating shops. In other words, the more old shoes donated, the greater the benefits for KiKa and the customer! A total of more than €50,000 was ultimately donated to KiKa. As you can see, one person’s junk is another ne p person’s treasure… #1 '! 11 *# 12', 13 31',# .0!2 '!#1 Foto: Eric van Santen ©2011 !2 DOING GOOD WITH YOUR OLD SHOES Recycling Every week until mid-June, three containers, each holding 1,000 old fluorescent tubes, are delivered to certified processing companies for proper recycling. The ‘Scapino project’ is in perfect keeping with Macintosh Retail Group’s policy of corporate social responsibility. For years Macintosh Retail Group has been investing in energy savings, not only to reduce the impact on the planet and its raw materials, but also to cut costs. Left photo: Frank van der Vloed, General Manager at Philips (l), shakes the hand of Rob Oremans, General Director of Scapino. 11 #1 '! 1 11 # Corporate social responsibility has always been more than just a convenient claim for Macintosh Retail Group. In recent years, a variety of initiatives has been launched to further underscore the role of Macintosh Retail Group as a socially responsible organisation. Macintosh Retail Group is convinced that a successful and sustainable future is only possible by combining good business practices with socially responsible behaviour. Joining the ‘Clean Shipping Network’ was therefore a logical step. 31', MACINTOSH RETAIL GROUP JOINS THE CLEAN SHIPPING NETWORK *# EXTRA STIMULUS FOR SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES 2', 31 .0!2 Improving the environmental performance of the shipping industry Shipping is an efficient manner of goods transport and more and more technical solutions are available to reduce the environmental impact of shipping traffic. To direct more focus on the environmental aspects of the shipping industry, the collaborative ‘Clean Shipping Project’ was established with the support of the European Union. One of the most important results of this collaboration is the development of the ‘Clean Shipping Index’. This index provides details on all emissions from ships, such as CO2, NOx and SOx, as well as possible contamination by substances used on board. Depending on the criteria entered by the user, individual ships and shipping companies are clearly ranked in order. As a member of the ‘Clean Shipping Network’, Macintosh Retail Group can access this valuable information and, in this way, easily compare shipping companies in order to make the most environmentally sound choices. 3D SCREENS ON MOBILE PHONES Interest in 3D began in the film world with the successful film Avatar. This was quickly followed by other applications, including television and game computers. The telecom sector now also offers 3D options and, at the end of June, the first mobile phone with a 3D screen will be available from BelCompany in the Netherlands. There’s no stopping it now… Extra dimensions A 3D screen on a mobile phone not only makes it possible to view 3D pictures or films, but gaming in 3D is also a reality now. The 3D application in mobile phones will also result in explosive growth in the online availability. The built-in 3D camera makes it possible to upload homemade 3D pictures and videos and will give video calling an extra dimension. No more glasses! At the end of 2010, a mobile phone became available in Japan with an autostereoscopic 3D screen, making it possible to see 3D images without glasses. The LG Optimus 3D will 12 most likely be available at BelCompany in the Netherlands by the end of June. This 3D phone has an autostereoscopic screen and two 5-megapixel lenses. These two lenses make it possible to take 3D films and pictures. Lots more mobile phones with 3D capabilities are sure to follow and BelCompany will naturally be among the first to offer them... WEEKLY TV SHOW ‘MTV WAS HERE’ MTV RELIES ON BELCOMPANY EXPERTISE ‘MTV Was Here’ is a weekly show that inspires and informs young people about fashion, events, dubbing, gadgets and games. The gadgets are discussed by the ‘BelCompany Expert’. This ‘Expert’ was chosen from a number of shop employees who volunteered their services. Each of the BelCompany employees submitted a flashy presentation in the form of a short film. Ten candidates were selected from this group, who were then invited to a ‘BelCompany Expert’ Romano (left) special casting session at MTV. Romano, who works at the BelCompany branch in Amsterdam (Bijenkorf), was ultimately chosen. The programme ‘MTV Was Here’ was shot at various locations, including the 3GSM trade fair in Barcelona and in Rotterdam. During the episodes, the latest devices and gadgets are presented and discussed, such as the LG Optimus 2x Speed and Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY. ‘MTV Was Here’ is aired every Saturday at 18:35 hours on MTV. AT DOLCIS, INVITO, MANFIELD,, PRO AND SCAPINO SPECIAL OFFERS IN 445 SHOPS This April, Dolcis, Invito, Manfield, PRO and Scapino apppino once again spared no expenses in organising the biggest gggest shoe event of the year, the 6-Day Shoe Event! Fashion n and price savvy consumers could take advantage of fantastic taas asti ticc discounts both in the shops and online. New discounts ntts on shoes plus the chance to win a free year of shoes were w offered daily. The 6-Day Shoe Event - the greatest shoe-shopping week w we of the year – was once again a tremendous success! €5 59,99 IInnvviito to o 13 € 89, 99 Invito INTENT TO SELL BELCOMPANY TO VODAFONE ANNOUNCED A few weeks ago, the Managing Board announced the signing of an intention agreement with Vodafone Libertel in which Macintosh Retail Group declared its willingness to sell BelCompany shares. BelCompany has 176 shops at prime locations in the Netherlands, nearly 1,000 employees, and 34 telefoonkopen.nl shops with around 150 employees. According to Frank De Moor (CEO), “We were approached by Vodafone a while back. The timing was good, since we had concluded together with the Supervisory Board in 2010 that the future of Macintosh Retail Group lies in the Fashion and Living sectors. And, considering the good price offered and the fact that BelCompany will become part of one of the largest telecom companies in the world, the decision was an easy one.” De Moor adds that a shift is taking place in the Telecom sector within the subscription market from new subscriptions to the renewal of existing subscriptions. “The latter is less profitable for BelCompany and, not only that, but the telecom operators have a greater direct influence on this market. Also, there are only a limited number of growth opportunities in the Netherlands in Telecom for Macintosh Retail Group and international expansion is not an option. Although we have profitable and extremely solid market positions in the Netherlands with BelCompany and telefoonkopen.nl, we have decided nonetheless to leave the Telecom sector. In spite of the knowledge that the sale is strategically and financially advantageous, the sale of BelCompany is not completely painless for Frank De Moor. “It’s a fantastic company that we have built from the ground up since 1996 and that has grown to become the most successful telecom retailer in the Netherlands. Not only that, but BelCompany contributes considerably to our operating result. On the other hand, we are pleased with the affiliation of BelCompany with telecom operator Vodafone, which considers this takeover a strategically important 14 move. Vodafone aims to expand and strengthen its position in the Dutch retail market. With the addition of the BelCompany shops and retail knowledge, Vodafone can achieve this. So I am extremely confident of a great future for BelCompany.” The Managing Board has announced that the sales proceeds will be used for investments in Fashion and Living. Frank De Moor adds, “These sectors are prioritised from a strategic viewpoint and the sales proceeds of around €120 million will be used to further expand activities in these sectors. This will be accomplished through takeovers, introductions of new shop and product brands, as well as autonomous growth.” In conclusion, De Moor comments on the effect of such a transaction on Macintosh Retail Group. “Allow me to start by saying that the transaction is not final until the works councils and NMA have had their say. But if this transaction goes through, the operating result and net profit of Macintosh Retail Group will be lower. On the other hand, a sale will yield a net transaction result of between €85 and €90 million” TOM DECALUWE, MACINTOSH RETAIL GROUP EMPLOYEE HONOURED BY MICROSOFT© Tom Decaluwe, an employee of Macintosh Retail Group, received the Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award 1/1/2011 - 1/1/2012 by Microsoft early this year. Microsoft presents the annual MVP Award to people who make a unique contribution worldwide to society with their technical knowledge and actively share this knowledge with other people and with Microsoft. After all, sharing is caring… Select group Rich Kaplan, Corporate Vice President of the Microsoft Corporation: “Tom’s unique qualities COLUMN THE NEWEST FASHION TRENDS ARE YOU READY FOR THE SUMMER? Do you prefer lots of colour and a feminine silhouette or are you more of the ‘rough look’ type, who wears leather biker jackets, tops and shorts? Or perhaps neither? Then there is yet another fashionable option for you: the ‘heritage’ or ‘retro’ look. If you’re the type who hates to throw out old clothes, now’s the perfect time to start wearing Dessert Boot those classics again. Simply take a look at the back of your wardrobe and dig out a few classic pieces. The newest silhouette for the ladies is a voluminous jacket or top combined with a pair of shorts, skirt and leggings (yes, they’re still in fashion) or a body-hugging dress, so you can hit the streets looking hip. To complete the look, add a pair of wedges. Not only do they look great, but they’re comfortable, too! Brogue always has Kleenex on hand to comfort her friends in crisis. An adventurous activity like bungee jumping is not an option with this friend. The stiletto type Evenings on the town with this girlfriend are legendary. She brings the best out in her friends and makes clear that all worries can be forgotten on the dance floor. However, compassion is not her strongest suit, so this friend is not a good choice for crisis management. Ladies, these stiletto pumps can easily be found at our new Steve Madden formula (www.stevemadden.nl). The gents can leave home for work wearing a closely tailored suit. A crisp white shirt and a pair of simple lace-up shoes or brogue shoes (with punched holes) complete the look. For casual occasions, a Chino or cargo trousers combined with a jeans shirt and a pair of comfortable desert boots or deck shoes are the way to go. But don’t tuck in that jeans shirt, lads! The more daring among you can roll up your trouser legs. The brogue type This type is often encountered on holiday or during work projects. It clicks immediately with this type, but don’t make any long-term plans because this girlfriend prefers to live from day to day. Odds are that, after a few months, you won’t be hearing much from her and can only keep up with the events of her life through her Facebook page, with more than five hundred friends, 99 percent of whom she has never seen in real life. The last issue of Macinform talked about which shoes are a must for this year’s summer wardrobe. Perhaps clinical psychologist Cecilia D’Felice can help you this summer with making a choice? According to this writer, women can identify a girlfriend by her choice of shoes. You don’t even have to leave home to find all these great-looking shoes. Simply visit the online shops for Brantano, Dolcis, Invito, Jones Bootmaker, Manfield, PRO, Scapino, Shick* and Steve Madden. Or, if you prefer, you can visit the shops personally. The choice is yours. Are you a ballerina wearer or more of the stiletto type? The ballerina type The ballerina type knows her girlfriends best and is always ready to give advice. She is a good listener and were immediately apparent, so it is only reasonable that Microsoft express it appreciation by presenting the MVP Award. A total of only 5,000 people around the world were honoured by Microsoft with an MVP Award. Together these MVPs represent a highly select group of experts that reflect the diversity of our technically oriented society. In spite of this diversity, however, all MVPs share the conviction that society benefits from knowledge sharing.” Problem-solving The MVPs are spread across 90 countries, more than 30 languages and more than 90 Microsoft technologies. They all share a passion for technology, the willingness to help and community involvement. These are the qualities that make MVPs exceptional community leaders and trendsetters. Rich Kaplan continues, “MVP efforts enhance people’s lives and contribute to the industry’s success in many ways. By sharing their knowledge and experiences, and providing objective feedback, they help people solve problems and discover Heritage+Wedge Ballerina Kirsten Dunst Brogue Coco Summer new capabilities every day. MVPs are the ‘avant-garde’, as it were, of our technological society and we are proud to have Tom Decaluwe from Macintosh Retail Group as one of them.” The very first MVPs can consult with Microsoft experts worldwide. They can also participate in special one-on-one relationship events and actively contribute to new technical developments. MVPs are also among the first to receive access to new software applications from Microsoft, so they are always the first to be informed about new developments. Having received the Microsoft MVP Award, Tom Decaluwe belongs to a select group of people, who can lend a hand to others around the world and share their technical knowledge and experience. This enables more people to contribute positively to society. 15 TAKEOVER OF REPUTABLE SHOE RETAILER IN UK WELCOME, JONES BOOTMAKER The history of Jones Bootmaker goes back more than 150 years to its year of establishment in 1857. Since that time, the chain has grown to more than 90 shops at prime locations, particularly in and around London and southeastern England. The shops combine heritage with a modern image and excellent customer service. The Which? Magazine Customer Survey voted Jones Bootmaker one of the best overall retailers in the UK and best shoe retailer in 2010. The acquisition of Jones Bootmaker fits in perfectly with Macintosh Retail Group’s strategy targeting a country’s shoe market with multiple, distinctive formulas. Complementary Our CEO, Frank De Moor, has the following to say about the acquisition: “In addition to the Netherlands and Belgium/Luxembourg, the United Kingdom is the third country in which Macintosh Retail Group can and will grow in the Fashion segment. The Jones Bootmaker brand formula primarily targets the higher market segment, operating high street shops and stores at locations in retail centres. The formula perfectly prime lo complements our Brantano UK shoe store chain that complem entire family with an attractively priced prodserves thee en This acquisition has made us the third largest uct range.. T specialist in the United Kingdom.” shoe specia a volume, More volum m better conditions takeover The takeov ve not only benefits Jones Bootmaker, but also the current shoe formulas of Macintosh h Retail Group. Higher purchasing volumes and more opportunities for further collaboration with brand suppliers will result. This should lead to exclusive agreements on products and countries. The existing shoe formulas can also benefit from the considerable brand expertise of Jones Bootmaker. Further growth expected The Jones Bootmaker range of shoes, boots, ts, bags and accessories is contemporary, attracac-tive, comfortable and stylish. Its target customom mers are predominantly professional men an and nd women between the ages of 20 to 50 lookingg for f high-quality products in shops that provide ovide excellent service and a wide range of goods. Jones Jo ones Bootmaker aligns perfectly with its target gr group roup through its locations and product ranges. With more than 1,600 employees, Jones Bootmaker sells around 2 million pairs of shoes each year. Jones Bootmaker expects to open around 15 new shops in the UK over the next 2 to 3 years. Moreover, there are opportunities to open around 40 additional shops. An increase in online sales is also on the agenda, with a completely new website launched in 2011 and a separate distribution centre to be opened shortly. COLOFON: Editor: Redactie: Postal address: Redactieadres: Realisatie: Production: Druk: Printing: Mr. P.T.A. Hünen Mr. P.T.A. Hünen Macintosh Retail Group Macintosh Retail Group PO box 5770, 6202 MH Maastricht Postbus 5770, 6202 MH Maastricht The Netherlands Caris & Sak, Heerlen Caris & Sak, Heerlen Drukkerij Schrijen-Lippertz Drukkerij Schrijen-Lippertz Voerendaal/Stein Voerendaal/Stein DezeMacinform Macinformisisprinted gedrukt This op FSC©gecertificeerd papier. on certified paper. 16 16 Should different interpretations arise between the Dutch and the English language version, the Dutch language version prevails. www.jonesbootmaker.com