Comfort Club Autumn 2009

Autumn 2009

club Train travel

- like you’ve never imagined!

Say hello to the Red Hatters Hococo goes global!

See our Autumn style guide and lots, lots more...

r r ou e t En

ivtietions s u l xc ompe..

eader cinside.

re

York shoppers step into the

Comfort Z one Footsore shoppers in York were treated to soothing foot treatments and head and shoulder massages when Hotter’s York store celebrated its opening in the city.

A team of therapists were hired to pamper pedestrians and calm customers – and even the city’s Master of Cordwainers James Webster got in on the act, removing his shoes for reflexologist Andrea Heels to treat his feet. (Pictured with York store Assistant Manager Charlotte Smith).

Welcome W

ith Autumn just around the corner it’s time for a new Hotter collection – and what a selection we have for you! Joining Hotter favourites are some newcomers who look sharper, smarter and more sophisticated than ever - but rest assured we’ve crammed as much Hotter comfort into each pair as possible!

We’re so confident of the fashion credentials of our smart heels and shoe boots that we’ve asked several fashion editors their opinions (see opposite page) and Yours Lifestyle Editor Rebecca Speechley gives you some ideas of how to wear these new styles. Our summer competition winners, including our makeover competition, hadn’t been selected at the time we went to press with this edition, sorry if you are sitting with bated breath! Please do contact us for a list and you’ll be meeting our lucky makeover winner in the next edition.

In the meantime I hope you enjoy our stories and competitions, I’m delighted to welcome back Hococo (page 8) and I’m hoping to publish even more stories and photos about him at www.hotter.com Finally, to encourage you to have a look around our new website, and give you a chance to win some warm Autumn shoes, email weloveshoes@ hotter.com if you can tell us the names of two of our lady designers who are helping Stewart check the fitting of Elba online!

Enjoy our shoes, keep in contact and see yyou soon.

Melanie Killilea.

Editor - Hotter Comfort Club

2

Me (3rd left) with Hotter team and the Calendar Girls

Cordwainer James Webster with reflexologist Andrea Heels

“We always like to mark the opening of our Hotter stores with an event to welcome customers,” said Retail Operations Manager Ian Laws, “and setting up a Comfort Zone really helps us underline the health and well being credentials of our footwear.”

The Calendar Girls, who live locally and who are Hotter shoes aficionados, came along to join in the celebrations and sign their special 10th anniversary calendars.

Hotter designers

If you’re wearing an Enchant, Engage or Enshrine this Autumn then you’re stepping out in Carolyn.

immortalised in footwear When you love your shoes as much as our customers love their Hotters, then you soon get to know the names of your favourite friends - Abbey or Etna for example or Melody and Susan. But did you know that the soles of our shoes have names too?

Our team of lady designers, who’ve been working hard to bring you some very exciting styles this season, have decided to make their mark on our footwear forever, by having special soles named after them.

And they tell Comfort Club there is no truth to the rumour that the heels were selected to reflect their respective heights!

Enchant - Brown Croc

The melodious sounding Mozart, Puccini and Verdi are all on Amanda’s.

Mozart - Black

Brand new Beethoven, Embrace and Entreat are all on our Suzy heels.

Na me a shoe!

Calling all Hotter enthusiasts - here’s Beethoven - Black Suede/Patent your chance for an exclusive treat, we’d like you to name a Hotter shoe. You can suggest your name, a friend’s name or something that makes you smile – we’d just like to know your reasons why. The name we select will be used for a forthcoming shoe, boot or sandal style, and our winning entrant will receive a pair for themselves (and a pair from our latest Autumn collection).

Don ’t ta ke ou r word for it!

‘hotter’ than ever This season our shoes and boots are asked three leading e we’v it, for d – but don’t take our wor fashion editors for their opinions: Sally-Ann Carroll, Fashion Editor, Lynette Peck-Bateman, Prima Baby Fashion & Beauty Director, Saga “ Hotter shoe s are mad e to the

“ Great shoes if you are looking for both comfort and style.”

high est qua lity, style s are extreme ly comforta ble, yet very cont emporary. Wh ethe r you choo se a pair of shoe s or a bag, you will be in for a treat.”

Angela Kennedy, Fashion Director, Woman and Home

“ Take one look at a Hotter shoe, and you know you“re in for comfort, they will fit where it matters. I defy anyone not to be able to stride stylishly in our favourite slip“ons Retro, carefully crafted for casual weekends.“ 3

Fair to you too!

Fairtrade wine...

By Graham Gendall Norton

Y

ou’ll have noticed that, partly due to the downward dip in the value of the Pound against the Euro, the price of wines from Europe have gone up. When so many are feeling the pinch, there’s all the more reason for a cheering glass from a bottle costing around what it did last year, sourced from South Africa, Argentina and Chile.

The wines in this edition also have the bonus of a “do good, feel good” factor because they are all certified by the Fairtrade Foundation, set up by such charities as Oxfam and Christian Aid. Fairtrade works with co-operatives and small-scale farmers, directly helping the families who tend the vineyards in developing countries. As well as getting a fair price for their grapes, money is provided for social projects, like crèches, health projects, craft centres and schools.

Our wines are from the Co-op, which has the largest Fairtrade wines selection of any retailer. From September 9th-29th, the Co-Op will be running a general Fairtrade promotion in their stores which covers 200 of these products, including chocolate, coffee, pineapples and bananas.

Our first wine is a bubbling beauty, the Co-op’s own Fairtrade Sparkling Brut NV (£5.99*). The Co-op’s sixbottle prize for our winner will include two bottles of this splendid “fizz” at my special request

4

because it was served at a friend’s birthday recently and everybody loved it! This 100% Chardonnay came close to a Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut. Made from grapes sourced from small family farms in South Africa’s Western Cape, the inviting foam quickly cleared to reveal just the right frequency in what we call the ‘bubbles’, and the French call the ‘pearls’. On the nose there were rich biscuity aromas followed by a developing complexity, dry yet warm lemony notes included, with a slight touch of oak leading to a fine finish.

Next, our prize wines include an Argentinean white Fairtrade blend of Torrontes and Chardonnay (£3.75*) which is light and fresh and dry, with rich ripe flavours at first sip. There’s more than a hint of grapefruit, lemon too. I simply love fish and chips, and it would be great with that, with shrimps, crab or just drunk by itself as a refreshing aperitif.

Argentine Torrontes Chardonnay £3.75

Chiliean Carmenère £3.99

Our red is from Chile, made from a single Carmènere grape which has emerged as rather a ‘signature’.

Attractively different, if you’ve not tried this grape before, it is the colour of deep blackberry juice in the glass, and you might find hints of that fruit, of damsons too, on your palate. Smooth, dry, with a quite an assertive finish, serve with roasts, peppers, chicken, pork and with strong cheeses. (£3.99*)

* these prices will be current during the Co-Op promotion

Competitibottleon will be s above, the Co-op r In addition to the fou irtrade bottles from its latest Fa ” ise rpr “su o tw g addin r winner. ou ard rew selection to me, address answer with your na ss.

To enter, send your dre ad l ua us r ou er to and telephone numb s are grown ica’s Fairtrade wine rist Question: South Afr tou d an y cit s st famou quite near to its mo it. destination: name

ALL SHOES FEATURED ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.HOTTER.COM

Amy’s going for

Gold S tore Assistant Amy Truesdale has high-kicked her way to sporting success and become a favourite with the local media. A celebrity both in her home city of Chester and nearby Stoke on Trent, as well as in Hotter’s Chester store, Amy has won a bronze medal in this year’s world tae kwon-do championships.

Black belt Amy represented Great Britain in the first tae kwon-do world championships for disabled people. Born with the lower part of her left arm missing, the energetic 20-year-old has always competed against, and beaten, able-bodied opponents.

“I had never competed against anyone with the same disability as me” said Amy. “I’ve practiced tae kwon-do for 12 years and I train four times a week, so it was amazing to be chosen to compete for my country”.

With the world championship under her black belt, Amy

hopes the Olympic committee chiefs will decide to introduce tae kwon-do into the Paralympics’ line up for London 2012. “They’re going to announce their decision in September” said Amy. “It will be the first time a martial art has been included in the Paralympic games.

If it’s good news then I’m determined to go for gold”.

With the full support of her family and friends Amy’s hopes for an Olympic dream began at a young age. “I started tae kwon-do when I was eight. I think dad thought it was a good idea for his daughters to be able to defend themselves if they needed to. I loved the sport and achieved my black belt at 12.

I’m now a third degree black belt and my younger sister Chloe is a second degree”.

Rob rides coast to coast!

Cycling up to 40 miles for 4 days was a real test for the mind, body and spirit. “The route was quite hilly, and our map reading skills aren’t the best. On the first day we took a wrong turn which left us stranded as the sun was setting. Luckily a friendly passer-by pointed us in the right direction!”

After facing altitudes of up to 2000 feet and typical British sunshine and showers, Rob wants to do it all again and plans to cycle 160 miles from North to South Wales.

What’s more, Amy can boast the title of Stoke on Trent’s Female Sports Personality of the Year for two years running. Amy’s boss and Hotter’s Chester Store Manager Richard Lower couldn’t be happier about her bronze medal triumph.

“We’re all so proud of Amy. Many of our customers have come in especially to congratulate her. She’s an inspiration and a fantastic asset to our team”.

*

The sisters share no less then five trophy cabinets between them, and are running out of room to display all their sporting achievements.

From Whitehaven to Tynemouth by bicycle is 141 miles, so when Hotter’s IT Support Analyst Rob Hamer and 4 friends decided to ride from coast to coast it seemed like a mad idea.

Photo courtesy of British Tae kwon-do Control Board

Kelly tackles malaria

Bubbly HR Administrator Kelly Duncan inspired staff to club together to buy anti-malaria nets for families in Africa.

Kelly, who supports the UN’s “Nothing But Nets” campaign and buys a life-saving net every month, championed a “dress down day” to raise more cash.

“I saw heartbreaking images of African children losing their lives because they didn’t have a net to sleep under at night”, said Kelly.

“As a mother myself I had to try to help” So what’s next for Kelly? “I’m going to try ‘zorbing’ this year – that’s rolling down a hill inside a big plastic ball! That’s got to be worth a few more pennies from my colleagues!”

5

New Cha Cha

Autumn fashion!

hotter style!

C

ome on girls, admit it, Autumn is the season we love – it’s that wardrobe changeover time of year when we can sink our feet into lovely snugly boots, hide our legs in warm tights and worry no longer about matching varnish for our tootsies.

Our latest collection has been inspired by some of the hottest high street looks, but rest assured that we’ve added a generous sprinkling of that special ‘comfort concept’ pixie dust into every pair so you’ll feel a spring

6

ALL SHOES FEATURED ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.HOTTER.COM

in your step and a smile on your face with every step you take.

We all adore the smart sophistication of shoe-boots (or shoots as they are often tagged). Our Broadway and Cha-Cha will look so flattering with trousers or skirts, but there’s no need to take our word for it because we’ve asked Yours Lifestyle Editor Rebecca Speechley to answer your Autumn style questions.

Ask the expert...

Yours Lifestyle Editor Rebecca Speechley exclusively answers your Hotter fashion questions about this season’s latest trends. look. Try pairing them with a simple pencil skirt or a straight cut knee length dress and a pair of thick opaque tights. The tights will help to slim your leg and the bonus of a great pair of shoots is that they do wonders for your ankles, making them appear slender and neat.

Shoots are a great alternative to high boots. They can be worn with skirts and dresses, but you don’t need to worry about fitting them around your calves. Look for a pair with a slight heel to add extra length to you leg.

like to try a pair of Q I’d‘shoots’ but what should I wear with them?

A. Shoots – or shoeboots are half way between a shoe and a boot – which makes them really versatile and a great Autumn/Winter wardrobe staple.

They look great worn with jeans or trousers everyday. But they really come into their own if you’re after a smarter or more fashion led

New Broadway £65, available in Black, Bordeaux and Brown Metallic - they will co-ordinate with whatever you already have in your wardrobe

for a Q I’mpairlooking of comfy shoes to wear out shopping or on day trips when I need to do a lot of walking. Everything I’ve seen so far is boring and lace up – any suggestions?

A. There’s nothing worse than uncomfortable shoes when you’re trying to shop or sightseeing and this definitely isn’t a moment for heels or court shoes. What you need is a supportive boot that will not only look after your feet, but that looks great too.

For boots that tick all the boxes try Biba £59, which come in some lovely autumny colours such as Lichen, Loganberry and Chocolate.

They’re also available in Black – in case you decide you need a boot that will go with everything in your wardrobe.

They look New Biba £59 stylish with jeans in rich autumy colo urs and trousers and they’re far from boring with their soft suede look and decorative tassles around the ankle. The side zip makes them easy to get on and off when you’re trying on clothes (always handy) and they’re so comfortable that you won’t feel as if you’ve been on your feet all day.

Exclusive Hotter 50th Birthday Offer Yours is Britain’s leading magazine for the over-50s. It’s a friendly community where you can share stories and laughter, and find all kinds of useful advice for your life today.

3Fascinating real life stories 3Health & Beauty 3Fashion

3Nostalgia 3News

3Puzzles 3Celebrity Interviews

Yours for six months - just £14.99 Save over 17% on UK Guarantee your fortnightly rendezvous with Yours - subscribe now shop prices Lo-Call 0845 601 1356 and quote ref: GTHT or visit www.greatmagazines.co.uk/hottershoes 7 ORDER NOW!

Lemurs at

large

Hococo the lemur is travelling the world as hundreds of international knitters are making the little fellow and selling or raffling him in aid of two charity projects in Madagascar.

He’s even being made in Madagascar by the girls he was designed to help.

Catch up with the latest Hococo news at www.hotter.com where you’ll soon be able to download the pattern yourself, but in the meantime have a look at the cosmopolitan lemur fraternity we’ve established around the world.

Fra nce Linda Maizeret in the south of France enjoyed her knitting project.

En g la nrad Ca rt e r’ s Ba rba loo k s kin d o f le m u r ct u a l in int e lle ri dg e Ca m b

Finla nd Kirsti Halla maa in F inland has made a Hococo with a very long tail.

A u st ra licao m ic fe llow s T h e s e by H eat h e r m a d e a re e njoyin g G ri e g u st ra li a n s u n the A

California This is the first attempt of Tess Christenson in California – she’s making more!

win

8

a sca r M a d a gf ro m Hococo s d Fu n a re h e lp in g s a le s kid s, o rp h a n s st re et ou n g m u m s a n d y d a g a s ca r. in M a

New Z eala nd Amy Schulz’s Hococo is pictured in front of the Pohutukawa tree, New Z ealand’s native Christmas tree

Val Nathan’s Hococo and his friend Hot Cocoa are the inspiration for our caption competition – get your thinking caps on and send us your humorous captions to this photo. The winning entry will receive any pair of Hotter shoes from our catalogue.

All aboard!

SAVE 25%

comfort club exclusive

With Ben La Vay

Be guided round the world for less

“Britain’s railways are too fast” says the author of Bradt travel guide to Britain from the Rails, Benedict le Vay. “That might seem like an odd complaint, and if you’re travelling from London to Glasgow for business, and not in the least bit interested in your surroundings, fast is good”

that train travel is “romantic, fun, comfortable, civilised, sociable, fascinating, and doesn’t damage the wonderful places you go to”.

His passion for rail travel began with his mother’s romantic stories of her childhood living on the private carriage of a train, while his grandfather carried out work as chief inspector of the Indian railways.

Ben’s advice is to take your time enjoy the journey as well as the destination. “You can whiz through places at 125mph and have no idea where it was because you can’t possibly read the signs, nor take in much of the countryside or the architecture flashing past”. He suggests, for example, that you don't always hurtle up the main line from Euston to Glasgow but take the spectacular Settle & Carlisle route or the fascinating Cumbrian Coast Line.

Or, going to Norwich, why not go via Cambridge and Ely and back via Lowestoft to see some truly wonderful scenery rather than rushing up and down the main line from London?

Described as “the Wainwright of the rails”, Ben lives in Hampshire with his wife and has 2 children who are both at university. “My family don’t come with me on my research trips” says Ben, “but they do know a lot about railways – they can’t avoid it!”

Aiming to appeal to everyone, from tourists to homegrown holiday makers and British day trippers, Britain from the Rails, A Window Gazer’s Guide is “for people who love Britain, with its unrivalled countryside, heritage and quirky customs, and want to know what to look out for from their armchair on the rails”.

In his spare time Ben likes to be outdoors as much as possible, whether it be walking, cycling or playing tennis. “I think a day spent indoors is a day wasted, and what better way to get there than by train”

*

As Sub-Editor at the Daily Mail, which he refers to as his “night job”, Ben, 56, managed to find the time to make 70 train trips and conduct 2-3 years of research for his book which details the best British rail journeys.

The Fleet Street journalist declares

With a wealth of worldwide destinations to discover – from Africa to Zanzibar, Bradt guides offer something a little different – and now you can sample their guides with a 25% discount. Simply visit www.bradtguides.com and enter the code HOTTER in the basket when you’ve decided on your destination.

win For your chance to win a copy of Ben’s book Britain from the Rails please answer this simple question and send it to the usual address.

Q: What “spectacular” alternative route can you take instead of travelling on the main line from Euston to Glasgow?

Ben’s Top Tips:

Don’t always be in a hurry to take the fastest trains. You could be missing out on some superb views.

Do plan ahead. During 70 train trips only one train was late, but it’s worth doing your research particularly at weekends when engineering work is carried out.

Don’t always take the most direct route - you’re in danger of missing out on far more interesting journeys.

Do book in advance for longdistance journeys. You’ll get a guaranteed seat and a discount on your fare.

9

24hr Podiaty Race Hotter tea m takes to the saddle

P

art time ironman and tri-athlete Anthony Waddington, is a podiatric surgeon who likes a challenge.

His latest endeavour was cycling around the Top Gear racetrack at Dunsfold Park in Surrey with a team of NHS colleagues for 24 hours!

Wearing Hotter colours because, as he told Comfort Club: “They offer comfort 24 hours a day!”, Anthony’s team took it in turns to cycle around the gruelling two mile track as many times as they could in a single day.

“We raced an hour per person, against 23 other teams from all over the UK, including groups of friends and teams from the likes of Sky and Barclays Bank,” said the 36-year-old surgeon who trained as a podiatrist at Salford University and was Hotter’s first podiatry advisor. “The whole team cycle to work each day – diaries permitting – and we are team cyclists with Hereford Wheelers, which meant that when our team leader Steven

10

Anthony Waddington

had the idea of taking part in this event three weeks before it was due to happen, we were all pretty fit and game for a challenge.”

The team, from Hereford Primary Care Trust, raised nearly £1000 for Action Medical Research during their race, which saw them placed third overall.

Team members Steven Fortey, Bryn North, Sarah Lloyd-Stephens and Anthony – who won an individual medal for the fastest lap – are now looking forward to taking part in the challenge next year.

cal Research The team raised £1000 for action Medi ll overa third d and they place

In the meantime Anthony, an avid fan of Hotter shoes, plans to take place in the Ironman UK* and Ironman Monaco events over the

summer – let’s hope he’s wearing comfy shoes that don’t wear out!

* Ironman events include a two and a half mile swim, 112 mile cycle race followed by a marathon.

Sue Avison with son Miles

Beyond social networking

Britain's over 50s finding not just virtual friends!

H

ow about a week in Tenerife with 12 others from across the country? Or dinner and a theatre production with a handful of new local friends?

Arranging such activities is not always straightforward. But now it just takes a few clicks online to find new friends to meet up with at real venues and have a really great time!

The term “social networking” puts a lot of people off using the Internet to find friends. Facebook, with its thousands of applications, complications and strange terminology is not so popular among the over 50s (although this demographic is the most rapidly-growing user-base on that particular site), and Myspace seems to be a self-promotion jungle. There are plenty of “silver dating” sites, and have been for years, but there are few dedicated ”social network” sites for UK over fifties, where people can meet in

groups, without just talking about it and without the pressure of "dating".

Sue Avison is 60 and lives with her husband Avo in a village in the Midlands. Sue is self-employed and has always filled her life with an array of activities. But 3 years ago she identified a need. She could see plenty of people around her who had relocated, divorced, been widowed, or otherwise gone though changes in their lives that meant that they lacked a real social circle, or, at least, needed to expand it.

Together with her son Miles, Sue started a Web site called OverFiftiesFriends.

This was not an easy project; Miles lives in Sweden and neither of them had any experience in the field! However, both are

entrepreneurial and Sue knew the market, so they gave it a go.

OverFiftiesFriends does just what it says on the tin; it helps Internet-savvy over fifties to find friends. Sue and Miles launched the site with the aim of providing this section of society with a means to find each other online, but meet offline. And that's exactly what they do.

OverFiftiesFrie nds

OverFiftiesFrie nds is a membe r-run online commun ity... a social ne twork for the 50s. Th e members or ganise the activities, star t the clubs, cr eate the discussions an d chat late into evening. And th the e ac take place at pu tivities they arrange bs, parks, picn ic areas or palisades ac ross the countr y.

www.overfiftie sfriends.com 11

Crimson tide sweeps UK

H

ave you spotted a Red Hatter?

You could come across them at the fair, the shops, in a restaurant. And when you do spot them what you’ll notice most of all is they’ll be laughing, smiling, having fun – oh and they’ll be wearing purple!

The British Red Hat Society came to the UK just four years ago, and already boasts over 100 chapters.

These ladies groups are maybe not what you’d expect – there’s no craftmaking and cake baking involved – these over 50-year-olds are driven more by a sense of irreverence and fun and they first started in a heartwarming way.

“Red Hatters were set up in the US by our ‘Queen Mother’ Sue Ellen who gave a friend a framed poem called Warning by Jenny Joseph along with a red hat,” explains Tina Cooke, aka Queen Choccy, who runs www.britishredhatters.ik.com the online hub of Red Hat information. “The spirit of the poem really hit a chord, it is all about a woman looking forward to reaching a stage in life where she has been supportive to her husband, her family and her work and is ready to have fun for herself with her friends.”

The gift of poem and hat passed from friend to friend as the women were inspired by the words and soon small groups or chapters

formed and word spread around the US and beyond.

Wh en I am an old wom I sha ll wea r purple with a red hat that doe sn'tan, go, and sn't suit me.

I sha ll go out in my slippers indoe and pick the flowers in oth er peo the rain ple's gardens and learn to spit.

But now we mu st pay our rent and not swear in the stre et and set a good exa mple for the But ma ybe I ought practice a children. little now?

So people who know me are to not too shocked and surprised Wh en suddenly I am old, and start to wea r purple.

An

Each chapter has its own Queen, who takes her name from extract from a poem written by Jenn y Jose ph things she loves, hence you will find Queen Shopalloten and Queen Tripalot heading groups such as the Crimson Crackers, the Titfer Tats and the Red Hot Chilli Hatters. The only guidelines are that members should be ladies over 50, who must be polite and treat fellow red hatters with respect and that they should wear red hats and purple clothing whenever and wherever Tina Cooke - aka Queen Choccy they meet to have fun and make friends – some have even invested in red swimming hats should the need arise!

“Ladies under 50 can join chapters, but they wear pink hats and lilac clothing until their REDuation,” added Queen Choccy, who has 11 members in her chapter which formed in January. “We’ve organised eating out and shopping trips, even a trip to the funfair with a fish and chip supper. The great thing about Red Hatters is that lots of ladies join on their own to make friends or come along to events because they know they’ll get a warm welcome.” So next time you see some of these fun loving ladies – why not go over and give them a Hotter hello!

Closing date for competitions is 3oth Sept 2009 To find out who won our Summer competitions please contact Melanie Killilea.

Red Hatters with the Lord Mayor of Belfa st

Cream Tea at Branwell Castle

Hotter Comfort Concept Shoes, 2 Peel Road, West Pimbo, Skelmersdale, Lancashire. WN8 9PT Customer Service: 0800 525 893 Personal Shoppers: 0800 083 3083 Melanie Killilea:01695 712 720 Email: m.killilea@hotter.com Web: www.hotter.com