Footwear News back issues from December 2003:
FORMER DR. MARTENS EXEC LAUNCHES COMFORT BRAND.(Greg Van Gasse creates Oh!)
Dec 01, 2003; ... Industry veteran Greg Van Gasse is hoping to chart new territory in the comfort footwear market. The former president of Dr. Martens' U.S. division has launched a new company, Oh!, which will debut its first comfort collections at the Rihga Royal hotel during next week's FFANY ...
FURLA EYES U.S. EXPANSION.
Dec 01, 2003; ... NEW YORK -- It may be more than 1,000 square feet, but to Furla executives, the brand's new flagship on Madison Avenue is a stepping stone -- albeit a strategic one. According to Tonya Hawkes, Furla's creative director, and Michele Furlanetto, general manager of shoes and ...
MANOLO DOES 'SEX'...CLASSIC KICKS 'ELF...H'WOULD AD.(includes multiple briefs)(Column)
Dec 01, 2003; ... LAST SHOUT: Insider hears Manolo Blahnik will appear in the highly anticipated series finale of "Sex and the City." As reported, shoedom's favorite TV show will air its final episodes starting in January. (HBO has yet to announce the premiere date.) Sources close to the matter said Sir ...
WOLVERINE TAPS MOERGEN FOR SEBAGO.(Wolverine World Wide Inc., Stephen Moergen, vice president of sales, Sebago Inc.)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... NEW YORK -- Wolverine World Wide has tapped an industry veteran to grow its just-acquired Sebago business. Stephen Moergen, most recently president of Havana Joe footwear, has joined Rockford, Mich.-based Sebago as vice president of sales. He will report to Scott Sible, vice ...
RETAILERS SHARPEN GROWING ONLINE STRATEGIES; AS THE WEB'S RETAIL AUDIENCE INCREASES, SUCCESSFUL FOOTWEAR MERCHANTS SAY IT'S ALL ABOUT MAKING NEW AND REPEAT CUSTOMERS COMFORTABLE WITH WEB BUYING.
Dec 01, 2003; ... NEW YORK -- Selling footwear online is all about comfort -- not only with fit, but also with the buying experience itself. That's why as the relatively small online market continues to expand rapidly, Web retailers are getting more and more savvy with how they market their ...
HOME DESIGN FIRM PLATFORM SUES KATE SPADE.(Platform L.L.C., Kate Spade L.L.C.)
Dec 01, 2003; ... NEW YORK -- Kate Spade LLC has been hit with a lawsuit from Platform LLC, a design firm Spade hired two years ago to help it enter the home category, alleging breach of contract among other associated charges. Platform is represented by the firm of Barry Slotnick, the ...
OCTOBER FOOTWEAR RETAIL PRICES FALL 1 PERCENT ON DISCOUNTS.
Dec 01, 2003; ... WASHINGTON -- Retail prices for footwear fell a seasonally adjusted 0.1 percent during October, the Labor Department reported in its Consumer Price Index. Compared with October 2002, footwear prices fell 1 percent. Footwear prices in the month continued a pattern of declines ...
OPENING CEREMONIES: MICHELLE K OPENS SHOP...UGG'S CELEBRITY AUCTION..."SEX AND THE CITY" AT BARNEYS...FRYE GIVES BACK...RODDICK HOLDS COURT.(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... The Nov. 19 opening party for the first Michelle K flagship, in Los Angeles, was a festive affair, complete with sole readings (palm readings for the feet), a "Valet of the Dolls" parking service and the usual potpourri of beautiful people and VIPs. Back on the East Coast, ...
EUROPEAN EYE; FROM ANNIVERSARY PARTIES TO INGENIUS FOOTWEAR DEBUTS, DECEMBER IS AN ACTION-PACKED MONTH ACROSS THE POND.
Dec 01, 2003; ... Growing Up This year has been a busy one for Italian label Fratelli Rossetti. First up, 2003 marks the brand's 50th anniversary, and in celebration, the design house is launching a limited-edition collection of hand-polished leather loafers for men and women. Only 300 ...
BACKLESS WONDERS.(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003 ... While dressy sandals for men are gaining popularity, not all consumers will be ready to sport the look this spring. Masculine mules will serve as the perfect alternative, with their sophisticated, yet nonchalant, way. Mules for men first appeared several seasons ago as a sporty ...
FORGET ABOUT FALL '04 FOR NOW. RETAILERS PLAN TO ORDER THOSE LAST-MINUTE PRODUCTS TO MEET CURRENT DEMAND.
Dec 01, 2003 ... FFANY, held Dec. 8-10 in New York, will offer retailers a first glimpse of fall '04 product, but most buyers told Footwear News that they still have spring '04 -- and even winter '03 -- on their lists. They definitely plan to peruse the new lines for fall '04, but say they'll most ...
STAR-STUDDED: MANUEL'S LAVISHLY DESIGNED WESTERN BOOTS ARE FINALLY AVAILABLE IN STORES -- AFTER 50 YEARS.
Dec 01, 2003; ... In Hollywood, fashion couturier Manuel is well known by just his first name. Since he moved to the United States in 1953, the Mexican-born designer has become a legend by dressing high-powered celebrities -- James Dean and Mick Jagger are just two of his clients -- in custom-designed ...
VENDORS BRACE FOR SHIPPING RATE HIKE; AS NEW CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS LOOM, SOME TRANSPORTATION EXPERTS FORESEE RATE JUMPS AS HIGH AS $600 PER CONTAINER.
Dec 01, 2003; ... LOS ANGELES -- Ocean freight is about to get more expensive, once again. After seeing shipping rates double in some cases this year, shoe vendors told Footwear News last week that they are preparing for additional increases this spring when contracts are renewed. How much ...
ITALIAN BRANDS GATHER TO PRESS CASE FOR LOWER-PRICED FOOTWEAR.(Italian Fashion Mart, footwear trade show )
Dec 01, 2003; ... FLORENCE -- A last-minute footwear trade show put on by a group of Italian trade and government associations attracted some 200 buyers last month, thanks in large part to an offer to pay most of their travel costs. The first Italian Fashion Mart, held here Nov. 11-13, was an ...
FOOTNOTES: E.S. ORINGINALS SIGNS CARIBBEAN JOE APPAREL...NAOT DONATES TO DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIMS...SPORTING GOODS INDUCT NEW HALL OF FAMERS.
Dec 01, 2003 ... E.S. Originals Signs Caribbean Joe Apparel Holdings Group, New York, has signed a licensing agreement with New York-based E.S. Originals to manufacture, sell and distribute men's and women's footwear under the Caribbean Joe brand. The new lines will be available in leading ...
U.S. FOOTWEAR IMPORTS INCREASE 4.7 PERCENT.
Dec 01, 2003; ... WASHINGTON -- U.S. footwear imports rose 4.7 percent in the first nine months of the year, to 1.5 billion pairs, compared with the same period in 2002, according to U.S. Department of Commerce figures. The value of footwear imports increased 2.8 percent during the same period, ...
TRADE OFFICIALS SIGN DECLARATION.(Free Trade Area of the Americas)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... WASHINGTON -- Top trade officials from 34 countries agreed on a blueprint in Miami late last month that appears to scale back the scope of a hemispheric trade zone and make its long-term future uncertain. Trade ministers signed off on a declaration that set parameters and ...
PONY, K-SWISS TAP ITOCHU IN JAPAN.(subsidiary Pony Japan Inc., K-Swiss Inc., Itochu Corp.)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... TOKYO -- Itochu Corp. has signed a licensing deal to import and market Pony footwear and apparel in Japan following an apparel and accessories agreement signed earlier this month with K-Swiss. The Pony deal, signed late last month with company parent Global Brand Marketing ...
THE FN LIST: DIAMOND DISTRICTS: THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE RETAIL ZONES; SIZE MATTERS, BUT LOCATION MEANS EVERYTHING FOR A FOOTWEAR RETAILER. FROM MANHATTAN'S FIFTH AVENUE TO HONG KONG'S CAUSEWAY BAY, SHOE MERCHANTS PAY BIG BUCKS FOR PRIME SPOTS.
Dec 01, 2003 ... STREET: RENT/SQUARE FOOT* 1. Fifth Avenue, New York: $850 per square foot As Ol' Blue Eyes once sang, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. And if you're a footwear store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, you've made it. Luxe retailers such as Ferragamo, ...
HOT WIRED.(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003 ... Color is red-hot for spring '04 and a few designers have kicked it up a notch with eye-catching neon hues. Here, a white ...
MEDIA BANK: BIG PUSH...RISING STAR...GAME TIME.
Dec 01, 2003; ... BIG PUSH: Adidas is keeping mum about its upcoming global brand push, set to hit in 2004, but industry sources expect the marketing campaign -- Adidas' biggest in the United States in five years -- to break in the lead-up to the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. During the ...
SKECHERS' ECKO PLAN TO FOCUS ON ONE RETAIL CHAIN TO START.(Skechers U.S.A. Inc., Mark Ecko)
Dec 01, 2003; ... LOS ANGELES -- Skechers is growing new urban roots. As a result of a recently signed footwear licensing deal with hot urban fashion player Mark Ecko, the Manhattan Beach, Calif.-based firm now plans to create a separate division, consisting of 14 designers and marketing and ...
OBITUARY: JANE EVANS, 59.(Obituary)
Dec 01, 2003 ... Jane Evans, a former footwear executive and most recently CEO of Monet Jewelers, died Nov. 16 while on a trip to Buenos Aires. She was 59. The cause of death was a bacterial infection that overwhelmed her immune system, which might have been weakened by her arthritis ...
KEEPING TRACK.(management changes)
Dec 01, 2003 ... Mephisto, Franklin, Tenn., has appointed Mark Diehl vice president of U.S. sales. Diehl will report directly to Mephisto U.S. President Louis Dubrow. Most recently, Diehl served as national sales manager for Ecco Sport and held posts at Rockport and Kenneth Cole. Adidas, ...
OBITUARY: BERNARD KAZON, 79.(Obituary)
Dec 01, 2003 ... Bernard `Bernie' Kazon, executive vice president and principal at Eastland Shoe Corp., died Nov. 12 at his home in Portland, Maine, following a battle with leukemia. He was 79. "Bernie was known as a warm, gentle and loving man who inspired and was loved by all who knew him," ...
ANDREA PFISTER'S HAPPY NEW HOME.(Calzaturificio Mafra S.R.L.)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... MILAN -- Even after more than 20 years designing shoes, Andrea Pfister is still just as excited as any young, upcoming designer -- even more so now that his company has a new owner. Pfister's relationship with Calzaturificio Mafra Srl, controlled by Mariella Burani Fashion ...
THE WILD ONES.(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003 ... A powerful blast of neon hues adds a colorful edge to some of the sexiest spring '04 looks. Not for the bashful, these eye-popping ...
COLOR IT PINK.
Dec 01, 2003; ... It's time to "Banish black" as fashionistas are viewing the world through pink-colored glasses. About 20 years ago, I had a young British girl as an assistant. After a few years, she went back to England and found a job with a fashion publication that sent her overseas on ...
SHOP TALK: THE LATEST WORD ON RETAIL OPENINGS, CLOSINGS AND REDESIGNS.
Dec 01, 2003; ... Sixty Hits Los Angeles On Nov. 22, Italian company Sixty SpA debuted its first store in Los Angeles. The 3,500-sq.-ft. unit, dedicated to both its Miss Sixty and Energie labels, is located at 8074 Melrose Ave., directly across from Fred Segal. "It's an amazing location -- both ...
GETTING A LEG UP.(socks)
Dec 01, 2003; ... For independent retailers attempting to play hardball with department stores, it's often the little things that count. And with legwear one of the hottest categories around, putting more socks in the merchandise mix could not only generate add-on accessories business, but help sell shoes, ...
LUXE SALES IMPROVE, BUT FULL RECOVERY NOT DUE UNTIL 2005.(luxury goods, Milan Fashion Global Summit)
Dec 01, 2003; ... MILAN -- The luxury market might be improving, but don't expect a full recovery until 2005. That was the view of representatives from luxury goods firms who met here for round-table discussions on Nov. 13-14 during the Milan Fashion Global Summit. Executives said the ...
PROMOTIONS FUEL EARLY HOLIDAY SALES; DESPITE EARLIER HOPES TO AVOID THEM, MARKDOWNS RETURN IN FULL FORCE AS SHOPPERS GO HUNTING FOR SEASONAL BARGAINS.
Dec 08, 2003; ... LOS ANGELES -- Footwear retailers filled up this Thanksgiving with a healthy serving of markdowns. During the first week of the holiday shopping season, footwear retailers polled by Footwear News said customer traffic and sales were brisk, though many consumers were still ...
SPORT BRANDS SEEKS NEW PRESIDENT, CEO AS EPSTEIN RESIGNS.(Jon Epstein resigns from Fila)(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2003; ... NEW YORK -- Fila is now on the hunt for a new leader to take the brand into its next era. Jon Epstein, 48, who led Fila through its acquisition by Sport Brands International this summer and its divestiture of Enyce this fall, stepped down from the firm, effective Dec. 1, ...
PERFECT VISION.(Killick Datta is recognized as Person of the Year by Footwear News)(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2003 ... FN's Person of the Year Killick Datta joins a highly distinguished group of award winners -- including Manolo Blahnik, Brown Shoe, Finish Line, Neiman Marcus, Louis ...
SIBLEYS SHOES SET TO CLOSE 29 UNITS AFTER 83 YEARS.
Dec 08, 2003; ... NEW YORK -- Sibleys Shoes, an 83-year-old Midwestern footwear chain, is preparing to close its doors for good. The Holly, Mich.-based retailer, which has 29 units located throughout Michigan and Ohio, said in a statement just prior to Thanksgiving that it will be "pursuing a ...
FOOTNOTES: BRUNO MAGLI HIRES NEW CEO...ASICS EXTENDS NYC MARATHON PARTNERSHIP...GRENDHA TO BOW MELISSA SANDAL AT FFANY.(includes multiple news briefs)(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2003 ... Bruno Magli Hires New CEO Bruno Magli, Bologna, Italy, has tapped Luca Ramella as its new CEO. Ramella, a professor at Milan's Bocconi University and a former managing director at Giorgio Armani's jeans manufacturer, Simint, replaces Eugenio Morselli. Sources told Footwear News ...
BRUNO BORDESE SIGNS KOKOSALAKI LICENSE.(Bruno Bordese, Sophia Kokosalaki agree to licensing deal)(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2003; ... MILAN -- Bruno Bordese, designer and owner of shoe brands Clone, "C" and Bruno Bordese has signed a licensing agreement to produce footwear for London-based designer Sophia Kokosalaki's collection. Bordese, whose collections totaled revenues of 3 million euros ($3.61 million ...
AEROSOLES GOES `DESIGNER' WITH NEW LINE SET TO SHOW AT FFANY.(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2003; ... NEW YORK -- Aerosoles is putting a face as well as a name to its new line of better-priced footwear set to hit stores in spring '04. The fashion-comfort brand chose Luca Bizzo, its vice president of design, to work on AS, a series of looks meant to target a more sophisticated, ...
AIRWALK FACES SECOND LAWSUIT.(Airwalk Internatoinal faces legal action from ASE Industries, Suzhou Hae Kang Shoes, Mikeda Sports Commodities Co)
Dec 08, 2003; ... LOS ANGELES -- The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Denver is expected to deliver a ruling today on an involuntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy case involving Golden, Colo.-based Airwalk International. The case stems from a breach of contract suit filed on Nov. 13 by a Korean factory agent, ...
INSIDER: HARRY'S BACK...STUART & TRISTA...BROWN SHOE SAILS.(Harry's of London; Brown Shoe Company Inc.)
Dec 08, 2003; ... REBOOT: Once more, with feeling! It seems this time Matthew Mellon is more serious about that shoe line of his, now called Harry's of London. Readers will recall that news of Mellon's shoe line (then called Harry's Rubber Soles) broke in Insider, way back in March 2002. On Dec. 1, Mellon ...
EURO'S INCREASING POWER WREAKS TRADE HAVOC; THE DOLLAR'S WEAKENED EXCHANGE RATE IS PUTTING THE SQUEEZE ON MARGINS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC AS AMERICAN BUYING POWER DROPS.
Dec 08, 2003; ... MILAN -- A strong euro and weak dollar are creating trans-Atlantic trauma, hammering European balance sheets and threatening Americans' abilities to purchase European goods. European companies are taking the swings -- a function of both economic and political uncertainty -- ...
PRINCE CHARMING; SOME 30 YEARS AFTER HIS FIRST DESIGN, MANOLO BLAHNIK IS SITTING PRETTY ATOP FOOTWEAR'S HIGHEST THRONE.
Dec 08, 2003; ... In 2003, Manolo Blahnik officially moved beyond the upper echelons of fashion to the mainstream ranks of soccer moms -- all without altering a smidgen of his signature style. It was a year in which the designer hit a new level of fame and acclaim in a long and illustrious career. Over ...
SHEAR THRILL; FROM LOS ANGELES TO NEW YORK AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN, UGGS ARE AS HOT AS IT GETS.(Ugg Australia)
Dec 08, 2003; ... Those who haven't heard of Uggs by now might as well be living under a rock. The cozy shearling boots from Down Under have been on every trendsetter's must-have list this year. You're lucky if you already own a pair, because they're practically sold out at stores across the country. ...
COLE POSITION; AS IT ZOOMED PAST THE 20-YEAR MARK, KENNETH COLE FLEXED SOME SERIOUS MARKETING MUSCLE.(Kenneth Cole Productions Inc.)
Dec 08, 2003; ... It's been a banner year for Kenneth Cole Productions. Celebrating its 20th anniversary with much fanfare, the company added a few more licenses (men's tailored pants, women's swimwear and a new sunglasses deal), picked up the Bongo shoe license and launched a second fragrance. Along the ...
UNCANNY TANNERY; THE HASSANS HAVE CRAFTED A PAIR OF STORES WHERE COOL KIDS SHOP AND VENDORS FIGHT FOR FLOOR SPACE.
Dec 08, 2003; ... The year was 1973, and Sam Hassan had just moved to Boston. He had only $500 to his name -- and a haphazard plan to open a shoe store. "I had no idea what I was doing," he recalled. "I didn't come from a background of shoes. I didn't go to school to be in retail. I had never worked in a ...
PARIS MATCH; LOUIS VUITTON HAS USED A POTENT MIX OF OLD AND NEW TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE FASHION FIELD.
Dec 08, 2003; ... It was hard to look through a magazine this year -- or walk down any city street for that matter -- without seeing Louis Vuitton's latest must-have bags and shoes, bedecked with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami's colorful re-working of the classic LV logo. That logo redesign ...
MEDIUM WELL; UTILIZING A THINK-TANK APPROACH, THE NEW SHOE LABEL IS TAKING MEN ON A HIGH-STYLE RIDE.
Dec 08, 2003; ... Medium wants the designer to take center stage. With most footwear brands, the name on a shoe does not necessarily correlate with the actual person behind its design. But every style in the newly launched Medium men's collection bears the name of its creator. And as an added ...
FRENCH CONNECT; ESPADRILLE KING ANDRE ASSOUS TURNED A CLASSIC FRENCH FOOTNOTE INTO AN AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY.
Dec 08, 2003; ... Whenever Jan Friedman, buyer for Cedarhurst, N.Y.-based Jildor Shoes, thinks espadrilles, he thinks Andre Assous -- and he's not alone. Assous, who has been the reigning king of espadrilles for nearly 25 years, has done business with high-profile retailers from Nordstrom to Boca Raton, ...
SOUL PROVIDER; TINKER HATFIELD PIONEERED THE ART OF INFUSING A SNEAKER'S DESIGN WITH AN ATHLETE'S SPIRIT.
Dec 08, 2003; ... The most powerful partnership in sports marketing was in danger of falling apart. It was 1987, and the fate of the still-young endorsement deal between Michael Jordan and Nike hung in the balance. At a meeting attended by Jordan, his parents and top Nike executives including Phil Knight, ...
DREAM WEAVER; RETIRED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN, STEPHANE KELIAN IS STILL RECOGNIZED FOR HIS INNOVATIVE CRAFTSMANSHIP.
Dec 08, 2003; ... It's been 25 years since Stephane Kelian launched his first women's shoe collection -- a line of colorful woven shoes that were destined to make a lasting impression on the footwear industry. The designer's signature look, featuring a wedged heel and a clever marriage of comfort and ...
CLAIM TO FAME; OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, FN HAS INDUCTED MORE THAN 80 INDIVIDUALS INTO ITS HALL OF FAME. HERE, A LOOK AT PAST HONOREES.(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2003 ... FN Achievement Awards 2003 Hall of Fame Inductees 2003 Andre Assous Geoffrey Bloom Beverly Feldman Tinker Hatfield Stephane Kelian 2002 Bob Campbell Jim Davis Anne Davis ...
THE BIG SPRINT; THE FINISH LINE TOOK OPPORTUNITY AND TURNED IT INTO TRIUMPH FOR ITSELF, ITS VENDORS -- AND CONSUMERS.
Dec 08, 2003; ... When Nike decided to reorganize its U.S. distribution plan last year, Alan Cohen, chairman and CEO of Indianapolis-based The Finish Line, saw not one opportunity for his company, but two. Cohen, along with Glenn Lyon, president, and Steven Schneider, COO and senior executive ...
SPORTS AUTHORITY MAY MERGE SELF- AND FULL-SERVICE SHOES.
Dec 08, 2003; ... NEW YORK -- Having trouble choosing between the full-service and self-service shoe routes, The Sports Authority said last week that it may opt for both. In the retailer's first quarterly conference call as a merged company last week, Sports Authority Vice Chairman and CEO Doug ...
GOOD LUXE; DESPITE THE WOES THAT HAVE BESET OTHER HIGH-END RETAILERS, NEIMAN MARCUS HAS LANDED FEET FIRST.
Dec 08, 2003; ... In an economic climate that caused many retailers to err on the side of conservatism, Neiman Marcus has stood its ground and remained focused on fashion and luxury. Clearly, that focus has benefited the specialty retailer, as it is now ideally positioned for what analysts are deeming the ...
KEEN IDEA; THREE FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY VETERANS JOINED FORCES TO SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCH A BREAK-OUT BRAND.
Dec 08, 2003; ... Keen might be fresh out of the gate, but the team behind the brand boasts decades of footwear experience. Identifying an untapped niche in the sport market, Martin Keen, founder and designer, created the new footwear line to meet specific needs. "I'm a competitive sailor and I ...
BLOOM'S BOUNTY; WOLVERINE CHAIRMAN GEOFFREY BLOOM LED HIS COMPANY TO A HUGE TURNAROUND IN THE 1990S.(Wolverine World Wide Inc.)
Dec 08, 2003; ... Anyone who has worked alongside Wolverine World Wide Chairman Geoffrey Bloom over his 16 years at the company would agree that his passion for product is rivaled only by his passion for people. It's this combination that helped the company navigate an unprecedented turnaround in the early ...
FELDMAN'S FORTE; AFTER 35 YEARS OF DOING IT HER WAY, BEVERLY FELDMAN HAS NO PLANS TO CHANGE HER UNIQUE STYLE.
Dec 08, 2003; ... Designer Beverly Feldman has sashayed down the road of life with wit, intelligence and a will of iron. It hasn't always been an easy path, but she has drawn on an inner strength that often allowed her to rebound with grace from the ills of fortune. Right now, the pretty woman ...
FINISH LINE CONTINUES WIN STREAK.(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2003; ... NEW YORK -- Clearly, there is no stopping The Finish Line in 2003. After a very impressive first half, the Indianapolis-based athletic specialty retailer said last week that its strong sales momentum continued into the third quarter ended Nov. 29. Overall sales were up 37 ...
RETAILERS POST SLUGGISH RESULTS AS BOOT SALES WEAKEN COMPS.
Dec 08, 2003; ... NEW YORK -- Blame it on the boots. Three major footwear retailers -- Famous Footwear, Payless ShoeSource and Shoe Carnival -- all reported weak November sales results last week as seasonal shoes -- especially boots -- failed to lure consumers into their stores. ...
RFID MAKES FIRST RETAIL WAVES; WAL-MART AND THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT TO REQUIRE THE RADIO FREQUENCY-BASED TECHNOLOGY IN 2005.(Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology )
Dec 08, 2003; ... NEW YORK -- Little chips might spell big changes for the footwear industry. In recent months, both mega-retailer Wal-Mart and the U.S. Department of Defense have detailed plans for major suppliers to begin marking shipments with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology ...
KEEPING TRACK.(Phoenix Footwear appointed Tom Konecki vice president and brand manager of company's H.S. Trask and Ducks Unlimited footwear brands; notes other news)
Dec 08, 2003 ... Phoenix Footwear, Carlsbad, Calif., has appointed Tom Konecki vice president and brand manager of the company's H.S. Trask and Ducks Unlimited footwear brands. In his new position, Konecki will take over responsibility for brand positioning, sales, marketing and general ...
THE FN LIST: MONEY MAKERS: FOOTWEAR'S MOST PROFITABLE VENDORS.
Dec 08, 2003 ... Despite the tough economy, these public footwear firms continued to bring in big bucks during the first nine months of 2003, led as usual by giants Nike and Reebok. Rank Company 9-Month Earnings 2003 (in millions) 9-Month Earnings 2002 (in ...
WINNING CREATIVITY; FN SALUTES THE PLAYERS WHO HAVE MADE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON THE INDUSTRY IN A VERY DIFFICULT YEAR. ALONG WITH FIVE HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES, THIS DISTINGUISHED GROUP OF 2003 ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNERS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF IMAGINATION AND INNOVATION.
Dec 08, 2003 ... In difficult times, creativity is the only currency of lasting value. Besieged by economic upheaval, consumer malaise and a depressed retail environment, the footwear industry's most successful players fought back in 2003 with innovation and imagination. When many retailers and ...
GLOBAL FORCE; BY BETTING ON GROWTH, KILLICK DATA SCORED BING IN '03, AND HE'S NOT ABOUT TO SLOW DOWN ANYTIME SOON.(Chairman and CEO of Global Brand Marketing Inc is discussed)
Dec 08, 2003 ... Killick Datta sure knows how to shake things up. During a year when many footwear executives remained content with the status quo, the chairman and CEO of Global Brand Marketing Inc. favored a much bolder course of action. By now, he has clearly become one of the ...
POWER HOUSE; FROM BRAND BUILDING TO RETAIL PARTNERSHIPS, BROWN SHOE'S DEDICATION IS PAYING OFF BIG TIME.
Dec 08, 2003; ... Brown Shoe is a fast-moving giant that has certainly hit its stride this year. Home to such major brands as Naturalizer and LifeStride, top retailer Famous Footwear and a powerhouse wholesale unit that serves discounters like Wal-Mart, Target and Payless, the St. Louis-based ...