Footwear Plus Announces 2008 Plus Awards Nominees in Recognition of Design Excellence

Footwear Plus magazine has announced the nominees for its 10th annual Plus Awards in recognition of design excellence in 2008. The Plus Awards are the footwear industry’s only awards determined by the votes of thousands of retailers nationwide.

(Vocus) December 2, 2008 -- Footwear Plus magazine has announced the nominees for its 10th annual Plus Awards in recognition of design excellence in 2008. The Plus Awards are the footwear industry’s only awards determined by the votes of thousands of retailers nationwide.

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Congratulations to all 2008 Plus Award nominees

Winners will be selected by retail voters in more than 20 categories spanning the breadth of the footwear market, including athletic, comfort, dress, outdoor, children’s, work, wellness and street shoes. New categories on this year’s ballot include “Rain Boots,” “Outdoor Lifestyle” and “Pre-Walkers,” three areas of burgeoning interest within the footwear world.

The coveted “Brand of the Year” honor will be decided between Frye, Sam Edelman, Hunter and Ugg, while the nominees vying for “Company of the Year” are Skechers, Deckers Outdoor, Nike, Camuto Group and Brown Shoe. In addition, the Green Award, presented by LITE Leather, will recognize groundbreaking innovations in eco-friendly design.

“While 2008 has been a tough year at the checkout counter, designers continued to push the creative envelope,” said Greg Dutter, editorial director of Footwear Plus. “In step with consumers’ desire for versatility, it’s no surprise that utilitarian fashion brands have made a strong showing among the 2008 Plus Awards nominees.”

“Congratulations to all 2008 Plus Award nominees,” Footwear Plus publisher Caroline Diaco said. “The ballot represents the best and brightest our industry has to offer and I commend them for their hard work and tremendous creativity.”

The 2008 Plus Awards ballot appears inside the December issue of Footwear Plus. Retailers can also vote online at www.footwearplusmagazine.com. The 2008 Plus Award winners will be announced at an exclusive engagement on Feb. 4th in New York.

The Plus Awards are co-sponsored by ISA Tan-Tec, makers of low environmental impact LITE Leather; The Atlanta Shoe Market and Wings Logistics.

Entering its 19th year, Footwear Plus is the leading business-to-business fashion magazine covering the footwear industry. For more information, visit www.footwearplusmagazine.com.

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