29 Random Things About Bata

Posted on February 29, 2012 by BataKenya

To celebrate this year’s leap day we went and got you 29 random things about Bata. Some are things you know , while others will surprise or inform you.

Read along…

Bata Shoe Company was registered in 1894 by three siblings : Tomas, Anna and Antonin Bata, in Zlin, Czechoslovakia (now known as The Czech republic).
In 1895 Antonin left the company to join the army and Anna got married, leaving, Tomáš Bata to manage the company alone.
In 1932 Tomáš died in a plane crash at the age of 56 at the Zlín Airport while attempting to take off under bad weather conditions.
Tomáš Bata has a Universiy in Zlin named after him, “in recognition of the outstanding role he played in the transformation of the life and inhabitants of the town of Zlín as well as the whole Czech Republic and its economy. “
It was the founder, Tomáš’ ,son Thomas J. Bata who grew the organization significantly making it an international company and earning himself the title shoemaker to the world.
Thomas J. Bata passed on in 2008, at the age of 93.
It was Thomas J. Bata’s wife and business partner who founded the Bata shoe Museum, in Toronto , Canada.
Bata is in present in 5 continents.
Bata runs 27 production facilities across 20 countries.
Monica Pignal Bata , grand daughter to Bata founder, speaks with Production manager Michael Rutto , during a recent visit to the Limuru factory
Bata operates in over 70 countries
Bata has over 5000 stores worldwide.
Bata employs over 50,000 employees worldwide.
Bata serves over 1 million customers everyday, worldwide.
Bata has over 20 in-house brands including the Safari boot which has remained a best seller throughout the decades .
There is a Bata nursery school in Limuru where children of Bata employees attend free of charge.
The Bata Children’s program was launched in 2010 to be the umbrella body under which Bata CSR activities are carried out.
Bata came to Kenya in 1939 and set up a plant at Limuru. The Limuru factory has grown over the years and currently has the capacity to produce 60000 pairs of shoes in a day.
Bata Kenya has 111 retail outlets.
All over the world, Bata stores are classified into four i.e. Flagship, City, Family and Factory outlets and all have the exact store design irrespective of the country they are located.
Bata sizes are in English (UK)scale.
You get a 15% discount when you buy shoes at the Bata shop in Limuru.
Bata Kenya is one of the 15 Bata countries who sell shoes online. Our online shop which targets customers outside Kenya, has sold hundreds of shoes since 2005 when it was opened.
Bata gift vouchers are available in 4 denominations 300,500,1000 and 2000 and they can be redeemed in any Bata retail shop in the country.
Bata International headquarters are currently located in Lausanne ,Switzerland.
Thomas G. Bata, who is Tomáš Bata’s grandson, is the reigning Chairman of Bata Shoe Company.
Bata’s strength lies in its worldwide presence. While local companies are self-governing, each one benefits from its link to the international organization for back-office systems, product innovations and sourcing.
Bata operations in the world are managed through four commercial Business Units (CBUs). Of the four , Bata Kenya lies under Bata Emerging Markets.
Bata Kenya , sells on average, 30million pairs of shoes in a year.
Thomas J. Bata is said to have fired a salesman who was sent to Africa and came back with the gloomy assessment that there was no market for shoes in Africa, as everyone walked barefoot!

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Old School is back with Northstar : What do you remember?

Posted on February 23, 2012 by BataKenya

Remember back in the day when clubs were called Discos?

When the typewriter was still a brilliant piece of technology ;

and phone booths were functional.

When T.V. sets were in black and white ;

When Rambo, Commando and Walker Texas Ranger were our heroes;

Even way before Windows 95..

Northstar was there! And it has stood the test of time. Our new Northstar collection brings

back the memories.

What do you remember?

How Ladies Should Dress For An Interview

Posted on February 22, 2012 by BataKenya

The first thing someone notices about you is how you are dressed. This is particularly crucial during an interview where you not only want to impress, but to stand out as the most impressive and overall, the best candidate for the job.

In as much as your conduct, your interpersonal skills and your ability to articulate intelligent and well thought out responses to questions are the most important elements, appropriate attire supports your image as a person who takes the interview process seriously and understands the nature of the industry in which you are trying to become employed.

Photo from getajobtips.com

The shoes

The appropriate shoes will be dress shoes – flats or heels of around 3″ or less. They’ll have closed toes, be clean, sharp-looking, and will complement your outfit, but won’t overpower it. The ideal shoes will be free of metallic finishes, overdone embellishments, and excessively high heels. Make certain you can walk comfortably in your shoes; hobbling in uncomfortable shoes does not convey a professional appearance.

Peeptoes are a no-no. And so are white shoes. Never wear white shoes to an interview. The only exception here is if it is for a nursing position.

Stockings Should be plainly styled (no patterns), sheer is most conservative (not opaque), and in neutral colors complementing your suit. Avoid high contrast between your suit and hosiery color.

Dress up!

Even if you are aware that employees of an organization dress casually on the job, dress up for the interview unless you are specifically told otherwise by the interviewer. And even then, use this as the rule of thumb : If you would wear it to a club, you probably shouldn’t wear it in a business environment.

Watch that hem

Much of what you see on television shows that masquerades for professional attire are actually inappropriate for a work environment. Your skirt should cover your thighs when you are seated. Showing a lot of thigh makes you look naive at best, foolish at worst. You should sit in the skirt facing a mirror so that you can see how you actually look in it because that’s what your interviewer will see.

Colours

When it comes to shoes and your overall attire, navy, dark gray, brown and black are safe. Other color trends may come and go; avoid the extremes. Women generally have more options with suit color than men. Underneath the suit jacket, wear a blouse that coordinates nicely with your suit. Don’t show cleavage. Again, remember that television shows are trying to attract viewers, and don’t represent reality of the professional environment.

Your handbag/purse

If you carry a purse, keep it small and simple. Purse color should coordinate with your shoes. You may choose to carry a small briefcase in place of a purse.

What about makeup?

Keep makeup conservative. A little is usually better than none for a polished look. Nails should be clean and well groomed. Avoid extremes of nail length and polish color, especially in conservative industries.

Get the right fit

Your attire should be noticed as being appropriate and well-fitting, but it should not take center stage. If you are primarily remembered for your interview attire, this is probably because you made an error in judgment.

Source: career.vt.edu

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Bata Miss World Kenya Collection

Posted on February 15, 2012 by BataKenya

Introducing the Bata Miss World Kenya Collection 2012! This collection comprises of existing and newly introduced designs of ladies sandals for today’s woman.

[Read about the colorful Miss World Kenya cocktail launch at Laico Recency]

Made from upgraded PVC material, they are light as well as durable. These Bata value-added sandals provide style, value and comfort, and what’s more? They come in a wide variety of exciting colors. They are :

1. GLORIA

Launched in 2011. Open heeled sandals, with a comfortable sole available in FOUR colours: black, beige, brown and red brush off colors.

2. ALYSSA

This newly-launched thong sandal comes with an attractive and comfortable V-strap. Alyssa is available in FOUR Colours: black, red brush off, beige/brown and beige colour.

Alyssa is for the ladies. For the men, there is Alyssta. Same design. Just broader.

3. CRYSTAL

Comes with a comfortable woven strap and is available in SIX attractive colours: Black, silver, bronze, brown,beige and brush off.

4. CAROLINA

Available in FOUR metallic colors of silver, gold, bronze and black.

5. HAZEL

Best selling article ; Hazel is now available in FOUR exciting colours: black, brown, navy and brush off. Hazel is unisex.

6. ROSE

Simply slip Rose on and go! Rose is available in red brush off and brown colours and is as durable as they come.

7. JULIANA

Introducing new JULIANA! These are closed with a comfortable printed insole, airily due to the added perforations and come in a range of exciting colours.

Bata Miss world Kenya collection also includes the MARIE CLAIRE collection which are shoes for the modern, confident , forward-looking woman.

Last Minute Ideas For Valentines Day Gifts

Posted on February 14, 2012 by BataKenya

Forget money. It is love that makes the world go round. Author, George Sand rightly put it when she said , ‎”There is only one happiness in life: to love and be loved.”

Here are some last minute ideas to make valentines day special :

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Her :

Your thoughtfulness – Think beyond chocolate and flowers. A music CD by her favourite artiste shows you are interested in her enough to know her preferences and that you value her happiness.

Shopping vouchers – You know what they say; whoever said money can’t buy happiness simply didn’t know where to go shopping. Give her a voucher to shop for what she wants.

Your time – When it comes to showing love , nothing beats your attention and affection. What she wants the most on this Valentine’s Day is you by her side, your palms clutched in hers and some love dripping from your eyes.

Shoes!(*hint hint ) – Take advantage of the Bata valentine s day offer and get her a pair of shoes or this red hot bag from our Marie Claire selection.

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Him :

Get him something he can display in the office –something personalized, or something he has wanted to buy.

Remember, you can tell what gift would impress your man, by looking at the shoes he wears! For example if he loves adventure surprise him by scheduling a fun event for the weekend.

Your family :

Call them up and tell them you love them. Remember , ”Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do… but how much love we put in that action.” – Mother Teresa.

Have yourself a happy valentines day!!!

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Bata Miss World Kenya Collection Launch [PHOTOS]

Posted on February 13, 2012 by BataKenya

It was colourful. And exciting. And pompous! The Bata Miss world collection was launched at a cocktail at the Laico Regency on the 9th of February 2012 (read article on our website). Here are some photos from the event :

Mr. Nasir Rafique, Bata MD makes his speech.

: On the catwalk : Kenya’s reigning beauty queen Ms. Susan Anyango does the catwalk

Model Samuel Ndambiri on the catwalk showing off Tanga men's sandals

Enjoying the catwalk : Bata MD Mr. Nasir Rafique , H.E Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka and Bata Kenya Director Mr. Ojiambo

Customers place their orders with Bata sales staff

A pair of Safari boots for you your excellency : Mr Rafique presents Bata's signature shoe, the Safari boot to the chief guest

Retail and Merchandising manager Ms. Agnes Murila explains the features of the Bata industrial boots on display to the VP.

Ms. Susan Anyango modelling Marie Claire shoes and bag

From left , Bata MD Mr. Nasir Rafique , Miss world Kenya 2011 Ms. Susan Anyango , H.E Mr. Kalonzo Musyoka , Miss world Kenya 2011 1st runners up, Ms. Precious

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For more about the Miss world Kenya collection, follow the updates of Miss World Kenya, Susan Anyango on Facebook or on Twitter

What You Can Tell From A Woman’s Shoes

Posted on February 2, 2012 by BataKenya

The shoes a woman has on, tell a lot about her, from her outlook on life, to the way she feels about herself, from her occupation, to her evening destination. You see, shoes take us where we want to go and tell the secrets of where we have been…

Stilettos : She’s a girl with confidence in the way she looks and with some considerable fashion sense. Graciousness paired with finesse, is this woman’s source of power. She is not intimidated to be bold, be seen and heard, is equally unfazed by standing out in the crowd. She is uninhibited, as announced by her entrance, which is lead by her shoes, often with the poise of an experienced model. A woman who takes risks in life and business, takes risks in her personal wardrobe as well. Without calculated risks, there are no gains. She is on a mission to gain the world’s wonders each and every day.

Peep toes - Psychologists say peep toe shoes are worn by those girls who believe in feminine dressing. These girls are also modern, stable, elegant but still wana take it easy without being too daring and bold.

Wedges - Women who wear wedge shoes are usually straightforward, confident and love power. In relationships they seek for reliability and trust.

Ballet Shoes: Straight up, this girl thinks she’s a princess and most probably a daddy’s girl. She still sees herself as the precious little child that her dad told her she was. High maintenance to the power of 50. Take our word for it; this girl still has teddy bears, crochet cushions and childhood photos in her bedroom.

Loafers: Not the most fashion conscious girl in the neighbourhood, the loafer-wearer is all about comfort-over-style. She’ll be low maintenance as well.

Flip-flops: Signify a carefree spirit and woman on the go.

The condition of a woman’s shoes also tells a lot about her. The way she takes care of her shoes is the same way she will take care of her man. Old, worn out shoes also say that she is thrifty and will be more willing to spend money on the people she loves than on herself. If the shoe is almost new but is scratched all over, then this woman may have no time to keep her shoes spic and span. She probably won’t have time for you either. There are several conclusions you can make just from looking at the condition of the shoe.

You can also judge a woman by her shoes depending on how trendy they are. If she is up to date, then fashion is probably very important to her. She will probably have a portion of her earnings dedicated to fashionable clothes.

So, what kinds of shoes do female gold diggers wear? “Female gold diggers put a man’s attention before themselves. That’s why they usually wear what look like highly painful shoes. They usually have lots of bangles and bobbles to attract attention.” , says shoe expert Donna Sozio.

What kind of shoes does a low-maintenance girl wear? “Low-maintenance girls don’t look for a man to take care of them. That’s why they are low-maintenance. For the most part, they already have it together and look at relationships from more of a sharing standpoint than needing someone else to make them happy. Low maintenance women wear all sorts of shoes but the one thing they have in common is a level of comfort. Even if they are wearing high heels, their shoes might be platforms (less of an actual heel) or a wedge to reduce wobbling. They go for looks and comfort to take good care of their feet while feeling beautiful through their choice in shoes.” – Donna Sozio.

What else?

You can judge a girl by how expensive her shoes are, and you would be surprisingly accurate. The more expensive the shoe, the richer the babe you are looking at. It could also mean that this girl works hard to afford shoes like this. This means less time for you.

Sources: Lifewise.canoe.ca , How to do things , Ask men.com

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What you can tell from a man’s shoes

Do leave a comment below and let us know how much you agree or not agree with the above

What You Can Tell From A Man’s Shoes

Posted on February 2, 2012 by BataKenya

A dating expert claims you can tell everything you need to know about a potential date by the type of shoes they are wearing.

What do shoes have to do with romantic relationships? ”Everything” , says shoe guru Donna Sozio, author of Never Trust a Man in Alligator Loafers.

Sozio says that a person’s shoes can tell you all you need to know — before you ever go out on a date, share a plate of linguine or even meet dear old Mom: questions such as who is he? How does he feel about himself? And what can you expect from him in the relationship?

Whether he’s aware of it or not, a man’s footwear choice communicates more about him and his preferences. The main thing that most guys look at while choosing shoes is comfort. If one does not feel comfortable in the shoes, he will think twice before getting it. Most men buy a particular pair of shoes only if they find it to be both fashionable or practical (based on what they are inclined to) and comfortable. It is however important to note that these conclusions are not scientifically formulated and may not hold true in all circumstances, but they will give you a hint or hints as to what kind of a man it is that you are dealing with.

What material are his shoes made of? Sozio says, “Material is a sign of his ‘outer skin.’ Is the material of his shoes dull, shined, or ‘distressed?’ Is it soft, flexible or easily scuffed? Or is it hard and rigid? The qualities that the material of his shoes expresses are a sign of what to expect from him in the relationship — especially when you see a pattern. Perhaps he only has soft, easily scuffed suede shoes. That would indicate that he has a high level of sensitivity and he’s easily hurt.”

How clean does he keep his shoes? – A man’s shoes get more frequent wear than other pieces of his wardrobe. How he takes care of his shoes says a lot about him. If the shoes are clean enough, then it is quite evident that the person is well mannered and takes immense care of himself and the place he lives in. If you are a woman trying to judge a man by his shoes, you can rest assured that a man with clean shoes will take care of you as well.

How is his casual wear? During informal occasions, a shoe that is full of colour and intricate design will mostly be worn by men who are more extrovert than others. These people will be more outspoken and vibrant – thus matching their shoes. A plain colour displays the fact that the wearer is slightly more laid back and introvert.

A man who wears expensive athletic shoes, whether he’s a competitive athlete or simply a man who likes pricey trainers, a guy with funds to spend on sport shoes is a man with cash enough to buy you a drink, dinner, and maybe much more. These kinds of men are mostly game-centric and perhaps athletic too. Their whole life revolves around playing a particular or a set of games. People like them like to enjoy their own space and are likely to be self oriented, only exception being any activity related to sports.

What is he likes oversize sports shoes? Big shoes are a sign of protection. Don’t force him to leave his friends. Going out in groups will make him most comfortable. Also, if you don’t like having the group tag along, don’t date him.

If he likes cowboy boots it means he’s an independent adventurer. Don’t try to cage him. “If he wants to go on a motorcycle trip, let him go,” Sozio says. “He’ll come back.”

Men who prefer wearing sandals are generally free birds who would like to be out of bound. They are whimsical and wish to do things that are supported by their heart and not mind. He would love to travel outdoors, be it the mountain or the sea. Surprise him by planning an outdoor fun activity.

“Watch out for long and skinny flip-tip loafers! Those are player shoes, especially, when he’s sporting exotic leather. White loafers without socks are also very player-esque!” , Sozio says

So, what kind of shoes is a guy with great husband potential wearing?

“Great relationships, especially marriages, need compatibility. Make a list of the qualities you want to find in a husband. Then while out dating, take note of the qualities that his shoes express about him. Are they a match? Miles apart? Or is there some wiggle room? Be honest with yourself so you don’t end up dating a (shoe) frog when you are really looking for a husband.

“The shoes that have ‘husband potential’ are the ones that express the very same qualities that you are looking for in a man. This is not a ‘one size fits all’ situation. You need to find the right fit for you. When it comes to relationships, the wrong fit hurts more than ‘just a little.’”

So what is it about alligator loafers anyway?

“Alligator-skin shoes mean he’s a solitary creature who just may bite.Handle him with caution.” – Sozio

Source : Lifewise.canoe.ca