Birmingham retailer Cloggs.co.uk is predicting a rapid sell-out of the new range of FitFlop products this winter.

It may be the middle of summer but Cloggs.co.uk, which has a store next to Selfridges in the Bullring, has spent more than £1.7 million on new FitFlop boots  and FitFlop shoes in anticipation of high demand from September onwards.

This substantial order represents more than 30 per cent of the store’s intake for Autumn/Winter 2010.

FitFlop sandals proved very popular this summer as thousands of shoppers invested in the thigh toning footwear after Cloggs.co.uk organised demonstrations of the shoes at the Bullring.

FitFlop shoes use biomechanical engineering to help wearers improve their posture and burn more calories than they would walking normally. They feature specially designed soles that destabilise the feet, making the muscles in the lower body work harder when the wearer is walking around.

Nick Thomas, managing director at Cloggs.co.uk, said he was expecting high demand for the FitFlop winter boots and FitFlop shoes this year.

“FitFlop footwear has been popular since its arrival in the shops in 2007, when the shoes sold out quickly all over the world,” he said.

“People love the concept of being able to get in shape without being shackled to the gym and this is the case regardless of what season it may be.

“Buying a pair of FitFlop boots or FitFlop shoes will mean people can continue the good work they started in the summer with their FitFlop sandals.”

The new winter range of FitFlop boots and shoes will be available from Cloggs.co.uk as well as the Cloggs store in the Bullring. Prices are expected to start from £64.99.

The team behind Cloggs.co.uk has more than 35 years’ experience of trading on the high street and began operating online over ten years ago. Cloggs.co.uk now stocks more than 20,000 items across specialised departments covering: womens shoes, womens boots, womens sandals; mens shoes, mens boots, mens sandals; as well as boys shoes and girls shoes. Other popular brands include: UGG boots, Converse, Birkenstock, Crocs and Timberland. The Cloggs Bullring store also recently won ‘Best New Store’ at the Drapers Footwear Awards 2010.

Flamingo Gifts, the online novelty and unique gift retailer launch their answer to the age old gift buying problem.

Simply click on the “randomize” button on www.flamingogifts.co.uk and let Flamingo do all the hard work. Great when stuck for what to buy for the Secret Santa at work, the gift randomizer will give you ideas and pluck random products from the Flamingo gift collection.

The economic climate has meant tightening of budgets for gifts for many people but they still want to be able to give a gift that is personal, suitable and more often now, fun.

“We’re really excited about this new function which will hopefully help customers choose gifts or just give inspiration.” Says Laura Carradice, founder of Flamingo Gifts.

“Our mission is simple, to provide amazing gifts to you at a great price and quickly, we are always on the lookout for new and interesting novelty gifts, birthday gifts and totally unique gifts to add to our Aladdin’s cave of treasures. We search everywhere to find the best gifts for the best budget! Whoever you’re looking to spoil, or for whatever occasion may it be Birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, Valentines Gifts or Christening gifts. We are sure you’ll find something you love! ”

Flamingo Gifts stock unique gifts for men, women, babies and children, for the home also personalised gifts and cards all with the emphasis on “unique”, “special”, “novelty”. To browse their collection and solve all your gift problems, visit http://www.flamingogifts.co.uk.

A new online gift retailer, Flamingo Gifts, was launched yesterday.

Operating from beautiful Kendal in Cumbria, Flamingo Gifts is an online shop stocking everything gift related. Unique and novelty gifts are what set Flamingo Gifts apart from the rest with items sourced worldwide. Having been 2 years in development, Flamingo Gifts are now ready to take the gift industry by storm after thoroughly investigating the market. Through being an online retailer, they are able to stock a huge range of goods. Their ecommerce website is easy to use and even enables customers to get gift ideas in the form of the Flamingo Gifts Randomizer function.

The brainchild behind Flamingo Gifts, Laura Carradice explains their concept “Our mission is simple, to provide amazing gifts to you at a great price and quickly, we are always on the lookout for new and interesting novelty gifts, birthday gifts and totally unique gifts to add to our Aladdin’s cave of treasures. We search everywhere to find the best gifts for the best budget! Whoever you’re looking to spoil, or for whatever occasion may it be Birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, Valentines Gifts or Christening gifts. We are sure you’ll find something you love! ”

According to the Giftware Association, the gift industry is worth an estimated £10 billion per year. This is made up of various sectors such as traditional gifts, design led gifts and cards and gift wrap. Something out of the ordinary, something with just that little bit more thought is becoming increasingly more difficult to find. The days of large, expensive gifts have had their day. A smaller quirky, original and unique item carries far more sentiment.

Flamingo Gifts stock gifts for men, women, babies and children, for the home and personalised gifts and cards all with the emphasis on “unique”. To browse their stock and solve all your gift problems, visit http://www.flamingogifts.co.uk.

Birmingham retailer Cloggs has picked up the prize for Best New Store at the Drapers Footwear Awards.

The 2000 sq ft Cloggs.co.uk store next to Selfridges in the Bullring opened in September 2009 and features touch screen internet terminals, which can display the full range of available stock.

The store fought off competition from fellow category contenders The Natural Shoe Store in London, Gerry McGuire’s in Ireland, Lily T in Buckinghamshire, Shoefair in Northern Ireland and SoleLution in Bristol.

Cloggs.co.uk is run by local brothers Nick and Chris Thomas, with business partner Damian Scarlett. It began life as an online retailer ten years ago and now stocks more than 20,000 items, including big brands such as FitFlop, Birkenstock, Converse and Crocs.

Nick Thomas, managing director of Cloggs.co.uk, said it was an honour to win the award.

“We’re ecstatic that the Bullring store has won this coveted award,” he said.

“The Drapers Footwear Awards are the most prestigious for our industry so winning the Best New Store category really means a lot to us.

“The last 12 months have been tough for a lot of companies in the footwear market but there has been substantial consolidation in the sector, which has helped to lift sales, particularly for specialists like us.

“We have deliberately made our store different by incorporating many of the features of our online shop, such as free next day delivery and all the same deals and discounts.

“Our focus is going to remain on providing a full selection of seasonal footwear supported by great customer service and competitive prices.”

The Drapers Footwear Awards, organised by weekly fashion trade magazine Drapers Record, recognise the best of the high street and independent footwear retailers across the country, as well as up and coming design talent. This year’s winners included Ugg, River Island and The Golden Boot, with the Lifetime Achievement Award going to iconic shoe designer Terry De Havilland.