Footwear News articles from July 1989

Footwear News archives from July 1989

Shoe Doctor's Davis becomes global Mr. Fix-it. (Rick Davis; Shoe Doctor Inc.)
July 31, 1989... Shoe Doctor's Davis becomes global Mr. Fix-it DOVER, N.H. -- Rick Davis serves as a Statue of Liberty of sorts for the shoe industry. Send him your listless leather shoes, your downtrodden heels, your huddled masses of broken-down boots. ...

Canada qtr. footwear output off 10.2% from '88.
July 31, 1989... Canada qtr. footwear output off 10.2% from '88 TORONTO (FNS) -- First-quarter Canadian footwear production and imports fell 10.2 and 6.9 percent below year-earlier levels, respectively, according to the Shoe Manufacturers Association of...

WSRA to focus on membership under Sutherland. (Western Shoe Retailers Association, Ralph Sutherland)
July 31, 1989... WSRA to focus on membership under Sutherland LOS ANGELES -- When Western Shoe Retailers Association (WSRA) president Jack Evans retires on Sept. 1, he will pass the baton on to Ralph Sutherland, most recently vice president and national sales...

Show-bound men's firms sanguine. (men's footwear manufacturers)
July 31, 1989... Show-bound men's firms sanguine NEW YORK -- As they readied themselves for the upcoming national shoe shows here, men's footwear resources said they hoped continuing strong fall sales would carry over into spring. James Katz, president...

Fall buoys women's at show week. (women's footwear manufacturers, NY footwear exhibitions)
July 31, 1989... Fall buoys women's at show week NEW YORK -- Women's footwear resources expressed confidence about the prospects for their businesses as they pointed to the fresh 1990 spring styles they will exhibit at the upcoming national shoe shows here,...

Reebok Int'l decreases 10.3% in 2nd quarter. (athletic shoe manufacturer)
July 31, 1989... Reebok Int'l net decreases 10.3% in 2d quarter STOUGHTON, Mass. -- Reebok International Ltd. reported second-quarter earnings fell 10.3 percent, on a 6.6 percent decline in sales. Income for the quarter ended June 30 totaled $40,752,000...

Short sellers are found crying in their L.A. Gear. (athletic shoe industry stocks, L.A. Gear Inc.)
July 31, 1989... Short sellers are found crying in their L.A. Gear NEW YORK -- Short sellers more than anyone might believe assertions made by executives at L.A. Gear Inc., Los Angeles, that the company's growth will be as steep as that of Reebok...

N.Y. shows curtain to rise on colorful kids sandals. (children's footwear manufacturer's survey)
July 31, 1989... N. Y. shows curtain to rise on colorful kids sandals NEW YORK -- Entering a new fashion decade that begins with a late Easter, children's footwear importers and manufacturers are presenting a new generation of little people with an array of...

China shoe output seems unaffected by massacre. (1989 Beijing student massacres, China Democracy movement, footwear industry)
July 31, 1989... China shoe output seems unaffected by massacre NEW YORK -- The student massacre in China may have foreshadowed trouble for the footwear industry several weeks ago, but at least in the fashion segment of the market it appears again to be...

E.S. Originals acquires Gloria Vanderbilt's name. (women's footwear manufacturer)
July 31, 1989... E.S. Originals acquires Gloria Vanderbilt's name NEW YORK -- E.S. Originals, continuing its diversification into better-grade branded footwear, last week said it has acquired the footwear license for the Gloria Vanderbilt name. "We have...

Caribbean Basin Initiative bill affixed to urgent budget, health-care measure. (CBI footwear tariff reduction bill affixed to catastrophic health care bill)
July 31, 1989... Caribbean Basin Initiative bill affixed to urgent budget, health-care measure WASHINGTON (FNS) -- Sponsors of a committee-approved bill that would slash duties on rubber and plastic footwear from the Caribbean have attached the legislation...

Carib pact extension seen helping U.S. producers. (Caribbean Basin Initiative, footwear tariff reduction)
July 31, 1989... Carib pact extension seen helping U.S. producers SAN PEDRO de MACORIS, Dominican Republic -- The expansion and extension of the Caribbean Basin Initiative would act as an incentive for American footwear manufacturers to increase and diversify...

Saks, Field's appealing to Dillard. (Saks Fifth Avenue and Marshall Field department stores up for bid, Dillard Department Store Inc. possible buyer)
July 31, 1989... Saks, Field's appealing to Dillard NEW YORK (FNS) -- The May Department Stores Co. and Dillard Department Stores Inc. are the early-line favorites to buy Saks Fifth Avenue and Marshall Field if the two B.A.T.-owned retailers are put on the...

Kaye gives up his ceo post at Shoe-Town. (George Kaye)
July 31, 1989... Kaye gives up his ceo post at Shoe-Town TOTOWA, N.J. -- After 21 years with Shoe-Town Inc., George Kaye will step down from his position as chief executive officer (ceo), effective Aug. 1. Edward Solomon, a retail consultant, will succeed...

Imported footwear prices up 0.6% in second quarter.
July 31, 1989... Imported footwear prices up 0.6% in second quarter WASHINGTON (FNS) -- Prices for imported footwear increased 0.6 percent in the second quarter of this year, but they were down 1.2 percent for the year ending in June 1989, the Labor...

Borg, partners disagree; Europe operation folds. (Bjorn Borg Design Group)
July 31, 1989... Borg, partners disagree; Europe operation folds NEW YORK -- A disagreement over much-needed financing between former tennis star Bjorn Borg and his partners led to the closing and planned asset liquidation of Stockholm-based Bjorn Borg Design...

WWW qtr. net rises 12.1% as sales inch up 1.6%. (Wolverine World Wide Inc., footwear manufacturer)
July 31, 1989... WWW qtr. net rises 12.1% as sales inch up 1.6% ROCKFORD, Mich. (FNS) -- Wolverine World Wide Inc., reported second-quarter earnings advanced 12.1 percent as sales edged up 1.6 percent. In the quarter ended June 17, net earnings increased...

Weyenberg qtr. net climbs 5.5%. (footwear manufacturer)
July 31, 1989... Weyenberg qtr. net climbs 5.5% MILWAUKEE (FNS) -- Weyenberg Shoe Manufacturing Co. reported earnings increased 5.5 percent on a 2.6 percent sales gain for its first quarter ended March 31. The company said that wholesale shipments were...

TJX predicts $2.3 billion year. (TJX Cos., apparel stores)
July 31, 1989... TJX predicts $2.3 billion year BOSTON (FNS) -- Freed from Zayre discount stores' drag on profits, TJX Cos. made its debut with a prediction of a $2.3 billion year and plans to open 100 apparel specialty stores a year. After the sale of...

Leaner Italy industry held vital U.S. source again. (footwear industry)
July 31, 1989... Leaner Italy industry held vital U.S. source again FLORENCE -- Italy is re-emerging as an important manufacturing center for U.S. footwear companies, and the reason can be found in the important changes that have been taking place within the...

Jourdan to focus on the making of luxury shoes. (Charles Jourdan)
July 31, 1989... Jourdan to focus on the making of luxury shoes PARIS -- Charles Jourdan did not have a very good year in 1988, its chairman Fritz Ammann freely admits. Like many luxury goods companies in France, it devoted a lot of energy this decade to...

Global trade gives marine insurance new meaning. (marine insurance for footwear shipments)
July 31, 1989... Global trade gives marine insurance new meaning NEW YORK -- Perhaps the most misunderstood of all forms of insurance in the footwear industry is marine insurance. Fire and liability are self-defining. The least sophisticated buyer knows what...

June wholesale shoe prices up 4.6% from
July 31, 1989... June wholesale shoe prices up 4.6% from '88 level WASHINGTON (FNS) -- Wholesale footwear prices in June increased 0.3 percent from May prices, while overall wholesale prices declined 0.1 percent last month, the Labor Department reported...

May retail shoe sales up 12.7% from
July 31, 1989... May retail shoe sales up 12.7% from '88 period WASHINGTON (FNS) -- Retail sales of shoes increased 0.8 percent in May from April and 12.7 percent over the same period last year, the government reported recently. The Commerce Department's...

New York City Shoes files chapter 11 petition.
July 31, 1989... New York City Shoes files Chapter 11 petition PHILADELPHIA (FNS) -- Listing more than $2.5 million in tax liabilities and debts to its 20 largest unsecured creditors, the new owners of New York City Shoes Inc. (NYCS), Springfield, have filed...

Fashion athletics may sweep NSF, FFANY. (National Shoe Fair, Fashion Footwear Association of New York exhibitions)
July 31, 1989... Fashion-athletics may sweep NSF, FFANY NEW YORK -- Fashion-athletic styling -- with an accent on washable leathers, brightly colored canvas uppers and bold prints -- should capture the spotlight at next week's National Shoe Fair (NSF) and...

Nike, Reebok win NE kudos. (What's selling in Northeastern shoe retailers survey)
July 31, 1989... Nike, Reebok win NE kudos In FN's first athletics "What's Selling," North-eastern retailers were canvassed to find out which brands, categories and styles are taking the region by storm. Most retailers cited Nike and Reebok as the most...

Claim Sirolime process cuts tannery pollution. (tanning process developed by Australian researchers)
July 31, 1989... Claim Sirolime process cuts tannery pollution SYDNEY, Australia (FNS) -- An Australian-developed tanning process designed to remove hair rapidly from cattle hides and reduce pollution flowing from tanneries has shown promise of success, in...

Study: it's 2 athletics in every closet. (average American over 12-yrs. owns 2 pairs of athletic shoes, Design Center Inc. survey)
July 24, 1989... Study: It's 2 athletics in every closet NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The average American over age 12 owns at least two pairs of athletic shoes -- one of them is probably white -- wears them for both casual and fitness activities, and is more...

'88 imports grow in value despite flat unit sales. (footwear import-export trade)
July 24, 1989... `88 imports grow in value despite flat unit sales NEW YORK -- The value of U.S. footwear imports increased 10.9 percent in 1988, despite unit sales which -- at 1.1 billion pairs -- were flat compared with 1987 figures. The year-end...

Hill proposals to MFN for China opposed. (Congress proposes withdrawing most-favored-nation trade status)
July 24, 1989... Hill proposals to end MFN for China opposed WASHINGTON (FNS) -- Proposals in Congress that would remove China's most- favored-nation trade status in reaction to the brutal crackdown on students and workers protesting for democracy have met with...

Timberland's Stephen Turner, vp of product development, departs. (footwear manufacturer)
July 24, 1989... Timberland's Stephen Turner, vp of product development, departs HAMPTON, N.H. - Stephen Turner, Timberland's vice president of product development, has departed from the company, said president Sidney Swartz last week. "Steve has left the...

Puma AG comes out red with a 1st half profit. (athletic shoe manufacturer)
July 24, 1989... Puma AG comes out of red with a 1st half profit PARIS -- Puma AG last week said it posted a group net profit of 2 million marks ($1.047 million) in the first half of 1989, indicating the West German athletic footwear company may finally be...

Sobel Bernstein seeking protection under chap. 11. (women's shoe manufacturer, Sober Bernstein & Greene Co.)
July 24, 1989... Sobel Bernstein seeking protection under Chap. 11 LOS ANGELES -- Sobel Bernstein & Greene Co., one of a dwindling number of better women's domestic shoe manufacturers, has filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. ...

Rubber, fabric imports gain 32.3% during May. (footwear import trade)
July 24, 1989... Rubber, fabric imports gain 32.3% during May WASHINGTON (FNS) -- Imports of rubber and fabric shoes shot up 32.3 percent in May, reflecting a continuing consumer shift away from nonrubber footwear imports, as well as the continuing popularity...

Phoenix Integrated forms new division to fuel growth. (Phoenix Integrated Inc., footwear industry)
July 24, 1989... Phoenix Integrated forms new division to fuel growth PORT CHESTER, N.Y. -- Phoenix Integrated Inc. has set up a new division to oversee all of its distribution and licensing abroad, in a move designed to fuel worldwide growth. Gustave...

3-4% sales rise seen at Allied, Federated units. (department stores)
July 24, 1989... 3-4% sales rise seen at Allied, Federated units TORONTO (FNS) -- Allied and Federated comparable store sales are projected to increase 3-4 percent this year, and total department store sales growth is projected to increase at a 6-7 percent...

Elect D. Larry Sherman chairman of NSRA. (National Shoe Retailers Association)
July 24, 1989... Elect D. Larry Sherman chairman of the NSRA COLUMBIA, Md. -- D. Larry Sherman has been elected chairman of the National Shoe Retailers Association (NSRA). He succeeds William Douglas. Sherman, who will begin his term on Oct. 1, is...

Rizzo's selloff will stop at 30. (Rizzo and Rizzo Shoes Ltd., shoe store chain bankruptcy)
July 24, 1989... Rizzo's selloff will stop at 30 TORONTO (FNS) -- With 30 of the 215 Rizzo & Rizzo Shoes Ltd. stores sold, or in the process of being sold, there will be no attempt to sell any more stores, said the bankrupt company's receiver Peat Marwick Ltd....

FIA panel airs possible new scenarios for NSF. (Footwear Industries of America, National Shoe Fair)
July 24, 1989... FIA panel airs possible new scenarios for NSF WASHINGTON (FNS) -- Footwear Industries of America's (FIA) marketing steering committee and certain other industry members, in an effort to make the National Shoe Fair (NSF) "the show to come to,"...

Japanese look to Brazil for their footwear needs.
July 24, 1989... Japanese look to Brazil for their footwear needs RIO DE JANEIRO (FNS) -- Brazilian and Japanese shoe industry representatives in recent months have been shuttling between the two countries, in an unprecedented attempt to begin exporting...

Korea may act on shoe makers' exodus. (footwear outsourcing shifting to Southeast Asia)
July 24, 1989... Korea may act on shoe makers' exodus HONG KONG (FNS) -- The South Korean government may attempt to stem the flow of footwear manufacturers shifting production to low-labor-cost Southeast Asian countries. South Korean firms are moving...

Investor Bill Bates 'comes home' with Mile 1933. (Mile 1933 International Ltd., footwear manufacturer)
July 24, 1989... Investor Bill Bates `comes home' with Mile 1933 BOSTON -- The assets of Mile 1933 International Ltd. were purchased last week by William (Bill) Bates, an original investor of the company, for an undisclosed amount. Bates said he purchased...

Converse to put NBA on kids' line. (athletic shoe manufacturer)
July 24, 1989... Converse to put NBA on kids' line NO. READING, Mass. -- As part of it effort to provide performance product in its children's line, Converse will introduce leather basketball shoes that feature NBA logos and colors. The collection, dubbed...

Fidelity fund buying of WWW stock appears to be for investment only. (Wolverine Worldwide Inc., footwear manufacturer)
July 24, 1989... Fidelity fund buying of WWW stock appears to be for investment only WASHINGTON (FNS) -- A money management fund's most recent acquisition of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (WWW), stock appears to be for investment purposes only and poses no concern...

Teetering Jumping-Jacks is exploring its options. (Jumping-Jacks Shoes Inc. children's shoe maker plans selloff)
July 24, 1989... Teetering Jumping-Jacks is exploring its options MONETT, Mo. -- Jumping-Jacks Shoes Inc. recently disclosed it is not ruling out the possibility the company could be sold. In comments accompanying a recent report that the children's...

Dropping of shoe duties between U.S., Canada being put on the front burner.
July 24, 1989... Dropping of shoe duties between U.S., Canada being put on the front burner WASHINGTON (FNS) -- Elimination or reduction of import duties on footwear and footwear components traded between the U.S. and Canada may happen as soon as Jan. 1, if...

Bristol Group swinging behind Tetratex program. (waterproof lining, footwear manufacturer)
July 24, 1989... Bristol Group swinging behing Tetratex program BRISTOL, Pa. -- In a move to build the higher-revenue-producing segments of its businesses, Bristol Group Ltd., has switched gears to focus on its Tetratex brand waterproof lining and on volume,...

Many retailers are looking to unload dead wood divisions if price is right. (department stores, shoe and apparel stores)
July 24, 1989... Many retailers are looking to unload dead wood division if price is right NEW YORK (FNS) -- Disversification, once a popular way to fortify profits and sales, has put some retailers in a bind. These retailers are looking to unload divisions...

'Gentler' Bush team has yet to tackle the tough footwear issues. (home labor, imports issues not getting enough attention from President's staff)
July 24, 1989... `Gentler' Bush team has yet to tackle the tough footwear issues WASHINGTON (FNS) -- Midway through his first year in office, President Bush and his staff have largely sidestepped thorny trade and economic issues that preoccupied the footwear...

Nike hits record athletic footwear net at end of second decade of business. (athletic shoe manufacturer)
July 17, 1989... Nike hits record athletic footwear net at end of second decade of business NEW YORK -- Nike Inc. ended a second decade of business by setting a year-end earnings record in the athletic footwear industry with net income of $167 million or...

Athletic shoe stocks pace market in half. (FN special report: footwear industry securities)
July 17, 1989... Athletic shoe stocks pace market in half NEW YORK (FNS) -- Footwear stocks outperformed the overall market in the first half of 1989 as takeover and leveraged buyout speculation abounded, but according to industry analysts there are still...

Analysts see future belonging to athletics firms, top
July 17, 1989... Analysts see footwear future belonging to athletics firms, top '88 performers NEW YORK (FNS) -- Following a disappointing 1988 for many dress and casual shoe manufacturers, a number of industry analysts think the future of the footwear...

Brazil makers blame gov't for export price hikes. (footwear industry)
July 17, 1989... Brazil makers blame gov't for export price hikes RIO DE JANEIRO (FNS) -- Brazilian shoe manufacturers continue to blame the government's anti-inflation reforms for undercutting the competitiveness of their footwear exports in the world...

Interco footwear volume declines in first quarter. (Interco Inc.)
July 17, 1989... Interco footwear volume declines in first quarter NEW YORK (FNS) -- First-quarter footwear sales declined at Interco Inc., which last week reported a companywide loss from continuing operations in the period, on a 4.4 percent falloff in...

Cohn becomes president of Georgia Boot. (Gerald M. Cohn, boot manufacturer)
July 17, 1989... Cohn becomes president of Georgia Boot FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- Gerald M. Cohn, a 16-year veteran of Freeman Shoe Co., Beloit, Wis., has been named president of Georgia Boot Inc. Cohn succeeds Peter A. Hillier who was named executive vice...

Joe Famolare, U.S. Shoe agree to end license pact. (footwear designer, U.S. Shoe Corp.)
July 17, 1989... Joe Famolare, U.S. Shoe agree to end license pact BRATTLEBORO, Vt. -- Joe Famolare, the designer who rode his wavy-soled shoes to fame and fortune in the '70s, and U.S. Shoe, have mutually agreed to terminate the agreement under which...

Cherokee Group sees quarter profit doubling. (footwear-clothing manufacturer)
July 17, 1989... Cherokee Group sees quarter profit doubling SUNLAND, Calif. (FNS) -- The Cherokee Group, parent of Cherokee Shoe, last week said it expects operating earinings to more than double -- moving ahead by 134.8 percent -- on a 12.5 percent...

See signs of the times, says crisis expert. (crisis management in footwear industry, Abraham Geztler)
July 17, 1989... See signs of the times, says crisis expert NEW YORK -- "Footwear companies are no different than any other company." So said Abraham Getzler, president of the crisis management firm A.E. Getzler & Co., Inc., here, whose experience...

B.A.T. axes $40 mil. Eurobonds. (B.A.T. Industries, retail trade group, cancels bond issues)
July 17, 1989... B.A.T. axes $400 mil. Eurobonds LONDON (FNS) -- B.A.T. Industries plc experienced the first aftershock of Sir James Goldsmith's 13.2 billion pound ($21.52 billion) leveraged bid last Thursday when it and Credit Suisse First Boston were...

Ann Taylor to cut interest costs. (Ann Taylor Inc.)
July 17, 1989... Ann Taylor to cut interest costs NEW YORK (FNS) -- Following a planned public offering of junk bonds, Ann Taylor Inc. will reduce interest costs that in the third quarter converted an $8,731,000 operating profit into a loss of $6,578,000,...

Dayton Hudson may look to sell Lechmere division. (Dayton Hudson Corp.)
July 17, 1989... Dayton Hudson may look to sell Lechmere division MINNEAPOLIS (FNS) -- Dayton Hudson Corp. may be joining the ranks of retailers trying to shed underperforming divisions. Market sources said the Minneapolis-based department store chain...

Woodies names Wells executive vp. (James Wells, Woodward and Lothrop Inc. department stores)
July 17, 1989... Woodies names Wells executive vp WASHINGTON -- James Wells, former senior vice president/general merchandise manager of shoes and other categories for Woodward & Lothrop, has been appointed executive vice president, stores. The...

Nike looks to diversify via niche marketing plan. (athletic shoe manufacturer, fashion athletic footwear, clothing)
July 17, 1989... Nike looks to diversify via niche marketing plan NEW YORK -- To sustain growth without over-saturating the footwear market, Nike Inc. reported it is focusing on diversification of its business, still working to develop superior product...

Granus plans Kangaroos' agenda: fun kid's footwear. (children's footwear manufacturer, Jackie Granus)
July 17, 1989... Granus plans Kangaroos' agenda: fun kids' footwear ST. LOUIS -- How do you top a runaway success? That's the big question facing Jackie Granus, who joined Kangaroos USA in April after having scored big in the children's athletic...

Annual reports -- or learning to read between the lines. (FN special report: Dollars & Sense - footwear industry)
July 17, 1989... Annual reports -- or learning to read between the lines NEW YORK (FNS) -- With the annual report season winding down, it is a good time to look back at what management has been telling shareholders and try to figure out the real meaning of...

Ames chief sees annual earnings exceeding '88's $1.20 a share. (Ames Department Stores, Peter Hollis)
July 17, 1989... Ames chief sees annual earnings exceeding '88's $1.20 a share NEW YORK (FNS) -- Earnings at Ames Department Stores Inc. are expected to exceed last year's $1.20 a share, Peter B. Hollis, president and chief executive officer, told...

Maria Pia U.S.A. likely to go to first-cost business. (footwear manufacturer)
July 17, 1989... Maria Pia U.S.A. likely to go to first-cost business NEW YORK -- Maria Pia U.S.A. will likely be restructured as a first-cost business, said a spokesperson here for the Italian-based parent company, Maria Pia, Cavion, Italy. In prior...

Bass using computers to gain product control. (G.H. Bass and Co., shoe manufacturer)
July 17, 1989... Bass using computers to gain product control NEW YORK -- Computers often byte the hands that feed them. Testing a system that will allow the electronic transmission of shoe patterns and design has been a complex and difficult task, said...

'80's tax reforms put pension funds askew. (in retail trade)
July 17, 1989... '80s tax reforms put pension funds askew WASHINGTON (FNS) -- Congressional tax reform and deficit reduction efforts during the 1980s have made it difficult for corporate and union pension fund administrators to properly make long-term...

U.S. nonrubber footwear output up 2% as imports slip in first quarter. (footwear industry)
July 10, 1989... U.S. nonrubber footwear output up 2%, as imports slip 12% in first quarter WASHINGTON (FNS) -- U.S. nonrubber footwear production increased slightly in the first quarter, as nonrubber imports slipped 12 percent, with Taiwanese imports...

Adidas to position brands to create clearer identities. (athletic shoe manufacturer)
July 10, 1989... Adidas to position brands to create clearer identities HERZOGENAURACH, West Germany (FNS) -- The independent management study commissioned by Adidas AG to determine how to best optimize the group's diverse brands has been completed and a...

Importers flocking to Italy for hotsie '90 sandal season. (footwear industry)
July 10, 1989... Importers flocking to Italy for hotsie '90 sandal season NEW YORK -- Footwear companies are stepping up their Italian sandal production based on predictions of a strong 1990 sandal season and a comparatively attractive Italian manufacturing...

FTC allows FS Champ to buy Stride Rite stock. (FS Champ Associates, Federal Trade Commission, children's footwear manufacturer)
July 10, 1989... FTC allows FS Champ to buy Stride Rite stock WASHINGTON (FNS) -- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last week cleared the way for FS Champ Associates to buy shares of Stride Rite Corp. stock. The commission declined to disclose any...

Bloomie's N.Y. shoe dept. eyes commission plan by fall. (Bloomingdale's department store)
July 10, 1989... Bloomie's N.Y. shoe dept. eyes commission plan by fall NEW YORK -- Bloomingdale's last month signed a five-year agreement converting the entire selling staff of its 59th Street store to an incentive-based compensation program by the end of...

Shoe storage, packaging dispute ends up in court. (The Price Co. vs. Express Pac Co. case; breach of contract alleged)
July 10, 1989... Shoe storage, packaging dispute ends up in court SAN DIEGO -- Business agreements involving the storage and packaging of footwear and other products recently became the center of a legal battle here when discount retailer The Price Co....

Giant Converse plant has Batman, Joker seeing stars. (athletic shoe manufacturer, Converse Inc. plant in Lumberton, NC)
July 10, 1989... Giant Converse plant has Batman, Joker seeing stars LUMBERTON, N.C. -- While Batman and Joker battle it out on the big screen this summer, the archenemies coexist peacefully here on Converse's production line as they rise to All-Stardom in...

Big retailers average moderate June sales gains. (department and specialty stores footwear sales)
July 10, 1989... Big retailers average moderate June sales gains NEW YORK (FNS) -- Overall June sales gains for a group of the nation's leading retailers were moderate, fueled by strong apparel demand. Department stores and specialty retailers posted hefty...

Despite $ to bar diversion, the best laid plans.... (even with manufacturer's distribution control, athletic footwear can still be diverted and sold to unauthorized retailers)
July 10, 1989... Despite $ to bar diversion, the best laid plans... SAN DIEGO -- Many branded footwear companies rigorously police their distribution and retail channels to assure that the substantial investment in their brand's product development and...

U.S. leather industry hits half-bil.-$ export mark in '88.
July 10, 1989... U.S. leather industry hits half-bil.-$ export mark in '88 WASHINGTON -- The U.S. leather industry hit the half-billion-dollar mark in leather exports for 1988, about a $111 million increase over the previous year, but the growth was...

Aussie croc industry expands for luxe shoes. (crocodile skin tanneries)
July 10, 1989... Aussie croc industry expands for luxe shoes SYDNEY, Australia (FNS) -- A large expansion of the crocodile industry is being implemented to meet the demands of skin buyers for luxury footwear and handbag manufacturers. Crocodile...

Herman's to be sold if cash bid for parent succeeds. (Herman's World of Sporting Goods; Gateway Corp. takeover bid by S.G. Warburg)
July 10, 1989... Herman's to be sold if cash bid for parent succeeds LONDON (FNS) -- Herman's World of Sporting Goods would be sold if the proposed 1.7 billion pound ($2.89 billion) cash bid for its parent Gateway Corp. by a consortium led by British...

Makers highlighting two 'E's' for b-t-s. (children shoe manufacturers back to school promotion)
July 10, 1989... Makers highlighting two `E's' for b-t-s NEW YORK -- Helping students master the three R's may be the goal of every elementary school teacher, but this back-to-school (b-t-s) season, shoe manufacturers are preparing sales promotions that...

ITSC signs Ring Raiders characters. (International Seaway Trading Corp., American Greeting division's Those Characters From Cleveland license for children's footwear)
July 10, 1989... ISTC signs Ring Raiders characters CLEVELAND -- International Seaway Trading Corp. (ISTC) has signed a licensing agreement with Those Characters from Cleveland, a division of American Greetings, Cleveland. The agreement allows...