Footwear News articles from July 2008

Footwear News archives from July 2008

Survival Steps.
July 28, 2008... Five proven ideas to drive retail traffic and build consumer loyalty during lean times. It isn't easy out there. Every day, a new headline screams more bad news. It is a miracle that anyone is still shopping. Thankfully, a chunk of...

Two Giants Cut A Deal.(New Balance Inc.)(Nine West Group Inc.)
July 28, 2008... Byline: JENNIFER ERNST BEAUDRY FN EXCLUSIVE: Nine West and New Balance team up to launch a fashion-athletic collection. NEW YORK -- Nine West and New Balance are hoping that when it comes to targeting today's fashion-loving,...

News Briefs.(Survey)
July 28, 2008... ICSC: B-T-S Shoppers On the Hunt for Value A study from the International Council of Shopping Centers and UBS released last Wednesday suggests that consumers are shopping earlier and seeking discounted basics for the 2008 back-to-school...

Chinese Laundry Preps For Growth.(preparations)
July 28, 2008... Byline: WAYNE NIEMI LOS ANGELES -- Despite the challenging economy, Chinese Laundry CEO Bob Goldman is moving ahead with an aggressive growth push. Among the key elements are the rollout of a lifestyle marketing initiative, a...

Stride Rite Aims Older With New Retail Concept.
July 28, 2008... Byline: ERIN E. CLACK NEW YORK -- Stride Rite is growing up. With the recent addition of tween-targeted offerings including the Jessica Simpson collection and Airwalk signature lines by Andy Macdonald and Anastasia Ashley, the...

It's A Vans World.(Brief article)
July 28, 2008... Model Marisa Miller toasted her new collaboration with Vans during a cocktail event at the Cabanas at the Maritime Hotel in New York earlier this month. The California native, who has made a career of rocking bikinis for the likes of Sports...

Insider.(briefs)
July 28, 2008... Byline: Jennifer Ernst Beaudry and Wayne Niemi. With contributions from Meghan Cass and Lindsay E. Sammon Email jennifer_ernst@condenast.com or wayne_niemi@condenast.com Game On Despite Insider's best efforts, RG Barry EVP (and...

Uk Merger Deals Heat Up.
July 28, 2008... Byline: ELISA ANNISS LONDON -- A pair of U.K. investors are using the economic downturn to go on a shopping spree. Last week, retail entrepreneur Harold Tillman, chairman of the British Fashion Council and owner of U.K. label...

Global Feet To Bow New Lines.
July 28, 2008... Byline: WAYNE NIEMI LOS ANGELES -- Killick Datta is prepping for spring '09 with a slate of new brands, all of which will launch during this week's WSA Show. Since the collapse of his former company, Global Brand Marketing Inc.,...

Keds Inks Tracy Reese Design Deal.
July 28, 2008... Byline: CLAIR WINDSOR NEW YORK -- Amid management restructuring following the departure of President Shawn Neville, Keds is moving forward with a new design partnership. The Lexington, Mass-based Keds Corp. has teamed up with...

International Props Up Skechers Qtr.
July 28, 2008... Byline: MEREDITH DERBY NEW YORK -- Despite a 1 percent uptick in sales, Skechers USA Inc. posted last Wednesday a slight decrease in second-quarter earnings, missing analysts' earnings-per-share forecast. The Manhattan Beach,...

Bankruptcy Proceedings Begin In Shoe Pavilion Case.
July 28, 2008... Byline: MEREDITH DERBY NEW YORK -- A hearing last week in the Shoe Pavilion Inc. Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings offered few clues as to the firm's immediate future -- namely whether the retailer will be allowed to close more than...

M&A: Feeding Frenzy Ahead?(mergers and acquisitions)
July 28, 2008... Byline: MEREDITH DERBY As the stock market and company valuations move downward, experts say footwear firms have an opportunity to boost market share. NEW YORK -- The high-flying days of private, equity-led buyouts may have come...

Just Jeffrey.(dialogue with Jeffrey Kalinsky)(Interview)
July 28, 2008... Byline: CLAIR WINDSOR Jeffrey Kalinsky on his Nordstrom marriage, the challenging euro and his unconventional buying strategy. NEW YORK -- It's a Tuesday afternoon in early July, and Jeffrey New York is packed. It's tough to...

Second Act.
July 28, 2008... Byline: ELISA ANNISS Legends: Lance Clark is using his footwear expertise to aid poor villagers in South Africa, while also raising two young kids and keeping an eye on the family business. LONDON -- He might be a wealthy...

Doctor's Orders.(Company overview)
July 28, 2008... Byline: LINDSAY E. SAMMON Independent Spotlight : Facing a tough economy and fickle consumers, Dr. Jay's is working hard to stand out in the crowded New York retail environment. NEW YORK -- On a recent afternoon at Dr. Jay's...

Just For Kicks.
July 28, 2008... Byline: Jennifer Ernst Beaudry The freewheeling world of sneakerheads is all about the love of their shoes -- and getting the hottest and the latest. FN gets an inside look at the state of the game. Survey sneakerheads -- the...

The Next Step.
July 28, 2008... Byline: Elisa Anniss Once the buzz fades and the money dries up, what's a new designer to do? When British label Sumfortune launched in 2006, it immediately won over the fashion press. Then, retailers began snapping up its edgy line...

The FN List.
July 28, 2008... Sin City Shopping: The Largest Centers in Vegas Amid major economic turmoil across the country, the Las Vegas retail market has managed to stay fairly insulated -- so far. Opinions are mixed about how long Sin City can maintain its...

A New Leaf.
July 28, 2008... Byline: Jennie Bell With greater frequency, scores of retailers are publicly uncorking new environmental initiatives. Some are building stores with bamboo and recycled wood. Others are installing solar-paneled rooftops or low-flow water...

Heavy Petal.(Brief article)
July 28, 2008... Byline: Photographed by TODD NORWOOD. Designers are hosting a garden party for spring '09 with a variety of precious petal details, floral palettes and flower-inspired colors to adorn everything from geisha-like platforms to satin evening...

The Sweet Spot.(dialogue with Faryl Robin Morse)(Interview)
July 28, 2008... Byline: Jennifer Carofano Faryl Robin Morse's footwear collection is sitting pretty in the middle of the price spectrum. For Faryl Robin Morse, the key to success has been to read between the lines. Six years ago, Morse...

Beach Bling.(Antonia)
July 28, 2008... Byline: Lindsay E. Sammon After years at some of the industry's biggest firms, Debbie Johnson and Darlene Gardner are putting their own stamp on the retail scene. Best friends Debbie Johnson (far right) and Darlene Gardner, owners...

Her Turn.(dialogue with Lisa Pliner)(Interview)
July 28, 2008... Byline: Clair Windsor Lisa Pliner, wife of Donald Pliner, is making it a family affair with a new collection of her own. Lisa Pliner has had her toes in the shoe business for quite some time. Since marrying designer Donald...

Snake Charmers.
July 28, 2008... Byline: Photographed by PAVEL ANTONOV. Snakeskin is shedding its old ways for spring. With metallic and high-gloss finishes and bold colorations, the material makes a striking statement on ballerinas, platforms and gladiators. ...

Final Bow.(dialogue with designer Arsho Baghsarian )(Interview)
July 28, 2008... Byline: Clair Windsor Longtime designer Arsho Baghsarian looks back on a memorable career in the shoe business. After nearly 45 years in the footwear industry, designer Arsho Baghsarian has hung up her heels. "It still hasn't...

Women's: Buzz.(briefs)(Studio TMLS)(Pink Dice)(Brief article)
July 28, 2008... Pretty in Pink Newcomer Pink Dice is betting on the women's market. This fall, the Secaucus, N.J.-based juniors' lifestyle brand will debut a capsule collection of footwear, to be followed by a full-scale offering for spring '09....

Lack Of Luxury.
July 28, 2008... Byline: Jocelyn Anderson High-end men's is reaching a turning point as the economy continues to scare off shoppers. The effects of the stalling economy are being felt across the footwear industry. Even the high-end space, which...

Retro Rewind.
July 28, 2008... Byline: Barbara Schneider-Levy Men's brands are taking a step back in time, giving some old favorites a new point of view. This spring, the men's market is taking a few pages from the past, reinterpreting classic looks in modern...

Men's: Buzz.(Wolverine World Wide Inc. Wolverine Boots and Shoes Div.'s 125th anniversary)
July 28, 2008... Banner Year This year marks Wolverine 's 125th anniversary, and the Rockford, Mich.-based brand is celebrating the occasion with a special collection and a consumer sweepstakes. Founded in 1883 by G.A. Krause and Sons, Wolverine is...

Orange Crush.(Brief article)
July 28, 2008... Byline: Photographed by JAYME THORNTON. Orange is spring's big color story, and comfort brands are punching up their collections with a shot of citrus. The fruity hue is showing up in everything from mocs to sandals to clogs. ...

Lab Work.(Market overview)
July 28, 2008... Byline: Barbara Schneider-Levy Taking a cue from athletics, comfort brands are putting their new ideas to the test at biomechanic labs. Comfort shoes may not be required to go the distance like their athletic counterparts, but that...

Kitchen Duty.
July 28, 2008... Byline: Barbara Schneider-Levy When it comes to footwear, New York chef Dave Martin likes to blend comfort with functionality. Although the heat's always on in the kitchen, chef Dave Martin manages to keep his cool by staying...

Doubling Up.
July 28, 2008... Byline: Lorna R. Francis Mother-and-son team Wendy and Ryan Goralski are bridging the generation gap in the comfort market. When 17-year-old Ryan Goralski was suspended from high school for tardiness, his mother, Wendy Goralski,...

Comfort: Buzz.(briefs)(ExOfficio)(Spring Footwear)
July 28, 2008... Travel Channel Tukwila, Wash.-based ExOfficio is determined to make life's adventures as comfortable as possible. The brand, known for its adventure-travel apparel, is stepping into the footwear world. Catering to both men and women,...

Last Man Standing.(dialogue with Jim Kiczula of Red Wing Shoe Company Inc.)(Interview)
July 28, 2008... Byline: Jennifer Ernst Beaudry Red Wing's veteran last maker puts art into the science of molding shoes. Jim Kiczula knows lasts. As the project manager for Red Wing Shoes' outdoor division (which includes the Irish Setter and Vasque...

Little Italy.(Lelli Kelly )
July 28, 2008... Byline: Erin E. Clack Italian brand Lelli Kelly is busy expanding production and making a move into the boys' market. With three sons, Mariella Attilieni lives in a boys' world. But you'd never guess that by looking at Lelli...

Wardrobe Check.
July 28, 2008... Byline: Erin E. Clack For Rachel Fox, acting with Emmy winners is one thing, but getting to wear stylish shoes is another. Working with Wisteria Lane's well-heeled ladies has its perks: You get to deliver some of the nastiest lines...

Children's: Buzz.(briefs)(Polliwalks)(Piloti)
July 28, 2008... Animal Planet Polliwalks continues to expand its menagerie of animal-inspired shoes for kids. For holiday '08, the Newburyport, Mass.-based company will debut Guppies, molded sandals shaped like the small fish, complete with lips that...

Launch Pad.
July 28, 2008... Byline: Jennifer Ernst Beaudry Footwear News goes behind the scenes of the new Lacoste and Alife sneaker collaboration. By 11:15 on the morning of July 19 (the release date for the much-anticipated Lacoste and Alife Rivington Club...

Spin City.
July 28, 2008... Byline: Erin Curran July means the Tour de France on TV and a big cycling crowd on New York City's bike paths. Seasoned and new bikers alike escaped the clogged streets of Manhattan to soak up the summer sun and open skies along the...

Ripa On The Run.(dialogue with Kelly Ripa)(Interview)
July 28, 2008... Byline: Jennifer Ernst Beaudry Kelly Ripa is juggling work, family and a new partnership with Ryka, but she still makes time to sweat. Kelly Ripa is high-profile: She has co-hosted "Live with Regis and Kelly" since 2001 and held...

FN: FOOTWEAR NEWS Vol. 64 No. 29 WWW.FOOTWEARNEWS.COM.(Footwear News)(Brief article)
July 28, 2008... JULY 28, 2008 Jamming at Dr. Jay's Will Economic Woes Trigger Merger Fever? 10 Ways to Go Green WSA SHOW ISSUE Budding Beauty Spring '09 bursts forth with rosette embellishments and a vibrant color palette that is straight from...

Steve & Barry's Out Of Cash Could Starbury Collection Land Elsewhere?
July 14, 2008... Byline: VICKI M. YOUNG With contributions from Meredith Derby and Nicole Urbanowicz The value retailer's business model collapses under economic slump and tight margin squeeze. NEW YORK -- Steve & Barry's University Sportswear...