Footwear News articles from May 2003

Footwear News archives from May 2003

UNDER PRESSURE: VENDOR MARGINS SHRINK AS SOURCE EXPENSES SURGE.(Footwear vendors are increasingly feeling the squeeze this year )
May 26, 2003... LOS ANGELES -- Caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place, footwear vendors are increasingly feeling the squeeze this year as manufacturing costs rise and wholesale prices hold firm. From price jumps for oil and gasoline --...

HIGH GLOSS.(Patent is back in style in footwear industry)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... One of footwear's favorite treatments is back. No longer reserved for prim party shoes, patent can be found on nearly every fall '03 silhouette -- from mod boots to elegant pumps. Here, SIGERSON MORRISON's high-gloss ballerina on a...

SARS PROMPTS APLF TO CANCEL '03 EVENT.(Asia Pacific Leather Fair)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... NEW YORK -- Citing SARS, the Asia Pacific Leather Fair has opted to cancel its already-delayed June event, while two other regional leather fairs have also been postponed. Typically held each April in Hong Kong, the next APLF won't be...

WORRIED RETAILERS ASK: IS IT FALL YET? ERRATIC SPRING WEATHER PROMPTS MERCHANTS TO CUT THEIR LOSSES WITH MAJOR MARKDOWNS AS THEY TURN ATTENTION TO Q3.
May 26, 2003... NEW YORK -- Spring has come and gone as far as footwear sales are concerned. A warming trend across the country arrived too late, as many nervous footwear retailers last week had already begun cutting this season's losses with major...

HOOP STARS JAMES, ANTHONY SIGN DEALS WITH NIKE.
May 26, 2003... NEW YORK -- The LeBron James derby came down to a photo finish last week. After days of heated rumors over which shoe brand would finally sign the 18-year-old basketball phenom from Akron, Ohio, Nike pulled ahead of rivals Adidas and...

APPEARING ONLY ON FOOTWEARNEWS.COM.(Footwear industry-related financial data)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... Phillips-Van Heusen Loss Widens as Sales Improve Company says earnings of its apparel and footwear segment rose sharply on higher margins Saks Reverses Year-Earlier Loss In First Quarter Upscale retailer reported net income of...

SARS GLOOM ASIDE, COLOR ABOUNDS AT LINEAPELLE SHOW.
May 26, 2003... BOLOGNA, Italy -- Despite the somber mood SARS has cast over the leather industry, buyers and visitors to this season's Lineapelle show were buzzing over the selection of color and creativity. The three-day exhibition drew some 27,000...

JIMMY CHOO TAPS MERCIER AS COO.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... LONDON -- Jimmy Choo has hired former Charles Jourdan Worldwide CEO Emile Mercier to serve as Chief Operating Officer, a newly created position. Mercier, 45, will oversee an ongoing European retail rollout. So far, international...

THAT HUMMER MYSTIQUE; E J FOOTWEAR'S JERRY COHN TEAMS WITH JORDAN SALIMAN TO LAUNCH NEW BRANDED FOOTWEAR LINE.(Interview)
May 26, 2003... While nearly 9,000 civilians bought their own Hummer in the first quarter of 2003, it's safe to say that not everyone can afford the military-inspired vehicle's $50,000 to $100,000 price tag. For those still wanting a piece of that...

THE SHINING.(Patent is revitalized for fall '03)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... Patent has been revitalized for fall '03. No longer relegated to little girls' party shoes or men's classic evening looks, the high-gloss finish can now be found on women's silhouettes that range from chic work pumps to streamlined boots.

NOT YOUR MOTHER'S RAINBOOTS.(Trends in rainboots)
May 26, 2003... The most exciting thing to happen to rainboots during the past decade was fashion's rush to Wellies, as a chic footnote. This spring, Wellies (British shorthand for Wellingtons) have become the green rubber favorite of the in-crowd....

LONDON CALLING; HIP YOUNG BRITS KNOW THE NEXT BIG THING IN FOOTWEAR FASHION CAN BE FOUND AT CARNABY AND NEAL STREETS IN LONDON -- AND THE CLUES ARE IN PLAIN VIEW, AMONG THE PRODUCTS AND PROPS IN THE AREA'S STORE WINDOWS.
May 26, 2003... Store: Office Location: 59 Neal St. Duration: April-May Designed By: Lucy Anthony, visual merchandise manager CONCEPT: "I describe this theme as `mad for color,"' said Lucy Anthony. "I was inspired by '80s fashion,...

LIVING A LIFE OF ATHLEISURE; THIS FALL, THREE NEWCOMERS ARE BANKING ON A TREND THAT THEY HOPE ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE.
May 26, 2003... The athleisure segment -- nonperformance, athletic-inspired shoes -- is where it's at. Many vendors from the athletic or street fashion worlds have hopped on for the ride, with styles either resurrected from the design vaults or newly...

ON THE BIG SCREEN.(Women's brand KLX Designs will debut a 30-second commercial about its footwear in movie theaters )(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... Women in pursuit of their own athleisure footwear will need to pay attention to the big picture. This June, women's brand KLX Designs will debut a 30-second commercial in movie theaters across the country. Designed to appear as a movie...

TREND: KNOCK OUT.(Boxing boot is showing up on stylish women in tiny miniskirts)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... The boxing boot has left the ring. The specialty athletic shoe once seen mostly on male pugilists in shiny shorts is now showing up on stylish women in tiny miniskirts. For fall, vendors from all categories have upped the ante in the...

IN THE NEWS: MARK NASON AND MARINA DEL FORTE DEBUT, WHILE BLUNDSTONE, JIMMY CHOO, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN AND ETIENNE AIGNER EXPAND.
May 26, 2003... On Your Mark Keep a fashion eye out for Mark Nason this fall. The designer's eponymous men's footwear collection, produced under the Skechers USA umbrella, will be shown at FFANY. The line, aimed at fashion-savvy 25- to-35-year-old men,...

SEE HOW THEY RUN; RETAILERS EXPLAIN HOW THEY KEEP PACE WITH THE RUNNING-SHOE COMPONENT RACE AND USE TECH KNOWLEDGE TO STEER EACH CUSTOMER TOWARD THE BEST FIT.
May 26, 2003... As manufacturers continue to upgrade the component technology in their running shoes, retailers -- especially those catering to runners -- are faced with the task of constantly re-educating themselves and their customers on the latest...

THE NEXT BIG STEP; NOW THAT HIS HANDBAGS ARE A HIT, RAFE TOTENGCO HAS SET HIS SIGHTS ON SHOE STARDOM.(Interview)
May 26, 2003... Seated in his Noho boutique on New York's Bleecker Street, Rafe Totengco -- in jeans, a floral-motif shirt and orange Sabelt sneakers -- appears as excited as a youngster on his first day at school. And justly so. This past year has been...

MEDIA BANK.(Fashion photographer Dana Menussi handles shoot for Report's fall ad compaign; discusses other campaigns)
May 26, 2003... FALL REPORT: Report recently shot its fall ad campaign on location in Seattle, where it is based. Fashion photographer Dana Menussi did the honors for the second consecutive season. The black and white ads are set atop Queen Anne Hill in...

LASTING IMAGE.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... New York may be the fashion capital of the world, but last week's American Image Awards, held by the American Apparel & Footwear Industry, proved the depth of the city's heart and soul. More than 1,000 guests gathered at the Grand Hyatt...

THE WILD SIDE: FOOTWEAR GETS FUNKY ON MELROSE.(people shop for something different on Melrose Avenue)
May 26, 2003... LOS ANGELES -- It's an average Saturday afternoon in L.A. -- sunny, warm, perfect -- and yet, Melrose Avenue feels deserted. The boutiques, record stores and outdoor restaurants are nearly empty, even though by all accounts the street...

BROWN ADDS TO WIN STREAK IN Q1.(solid earnings reported by Brown Shoe Co.)
May 26, 2003... NEW YORK -- Despite flat first-quarter sales, Brown Shoe Co. unveiled solid earnings per share increases last week , thanks mostly to its wholesale division. The St. Louis-based firm, which also continues to benefit from several...

FEDERATED'S LUNDGREN EXPECTS ECONOMY TO IMPROVE LATER IN '03.(Federated Department Stores' CEO Terry Lundgren)
May 26, 2003... CINCINNATI -- Federated Department Stores is getting plenty of opportunities to make excuses for its poor sales performance. CEO Terry Lundgren, however, isn't using them. The war, poor economy and anemic financial markets "are all...

FOOTWEAR IMPORTS RISE 12 PERCENT.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Footwear imports jumped 12 percent to 554 million pairs in the first quarter of the year against the first quarter of 2002, according to the Commerce Department's recent trade report. The value of footwear imports rose...

TIMBERLAND: CONTINUE GLOBAL PUSH.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... STRATHAM, N.H. -- Fighting a head cold, Timberland President and CEO Jeffrey Swartz took the podium briefly at the annual shareholders meeting here on May 15 to outline how the outdoor boot brand can be a "reference for socially accountable...

HOT NUMBER.(net earnings down at Genesco)
May 26, 2003... Genesco, Nashville, said first-quarter net earnings sank to $3.3 million, or 15 cents per diluted share, from $8.2 million, or 33 cents per diluted share a year ago. Net sales were up for the period ended May 3, however, to $192.7 million...

FOOTNOTES.(various footwear industry news items)
May 26, 2003... Shoe Market Seeks Attendance Record With New Miami Venue Shoe Market of the Americas will set sail this summer for Miami's South Beach. According to show organizers, a waiting list of more than 70 exhibitors prompted the move to the...

PENNY PINCHERS: TOP SHOE VENDORS BY NET MARGIN.
May 26, 2003... RANK, COMPANY 2002 NET MARGIN 2001 NET MARGIN 1) K-Swiss 9.9% 9.8% K-Swiss' 2002 net margin, or net income as a percent of net revenues, inched up slightly last year. Part of the improvement was driven by an...

REVIVAL OF FITTEST: CLASSIC BRANDS SEE REBIRTH, BUT FOR HOW LONG?
May 19, 2003... NEW YORK -- Retailers may be welcoming back a slew of long-lost brands this season, but just how successful their returns will be remains a question. Some labels had virtually disappeared from the U.S. market, while others found an...

NEW YORK STORIES.(Brief Article)
May 19, 2003... New York City is undeniably the place where style reigns and trends are born. More than a few designers have taken inspiration from the city's residents, who, while being some of the world's most fashionable people, also manage to flaunt...

ARMANDO POLLINI MAYHAVE TO SHUTTER FIRM.(Brief Article)
May 19, 2003... MILAN -- Armando Pollini, known as the "King of Elast" for his elastic fabric footwear, may have to shut down his 22-year-old business due to a debt load of $3 million. In an interview with Footwear News, Pollini attributed the debt to...

STEVE MADDEN GRABS RIVAL CANDIE'S SHOE LICENSE.
May 19, 2003... NEW YORK -- Two long-time rivals for juniors' footwear dollars are now banking on a new partnership to drive growth for each other in a competitive retail environment. Long Island City, N.Y.-based Steve Madden Ltd. signed an exclusive...

INSIDER; JAZZY COLE HAAN...FILA'S BONDS MARKET...SHOE STARS.
May 19, 2003... STUDIO SESSION: Steve Madden has a new weapon in the style wars. The firm has added a design studio to the rear of its flagship Soho store at 540 Broadway in New York. Rob Schmertz, president of Steve Madden women's, told Insider the new...

NEW BALANCE TAKES UP LACROSSE.(Brief Article)
May 19, 2003... NEW YORK -- New Balance is hoping to score with a new sponsorship deal with Major League Lacrosse. Under the deal, the Boston-based firm will provide the league's official footwear and sideline apparel. Additionally, the brand's logo...

CORRECTIONS.(Correction Notice)
May 19, 2003... In the May 12 story, "Setting the Right Stage," about the development of ENK's trade shows, the size of ENK's Pier 94 site was misstated. The correct size is 175,000 square feet.

FANCY FEET; WEST VS. EAST: WHICH COAST HAD THE BEST BASH?(Brief Article)
May 19, 2003... The fashion crowd turned it out on both coasts recently, and celebrities and designers were there to celebrate. At the Ivar Theater in Los Angeles, Michelle K sponsored Premiere magazine's "New Power" party, where Michael Greenberg hobnobbed...

TALES OF THE CITY.
May 19, 2003... What will be the hottest styles for fall '03? Just hit the streets of New York and take a peek into the lives of some of its most stylish denizens. Here, eight fashion-savvy New Yorkers explain their style, while flaunting the latest fall...

RETAILERS SPEAK OUT ON FALL'S TOP PROSPECTS.(Brief Article)
May 19, 2003... Tarek Hassan, manager, The Tannery, Cambridge, Mass. What will rank as the top retro brands for fall? "Kangaroo. It's very cool and very different." Which brands will outlast the retro/classic trend? "We always know Nike is here to...

NEXT UP: EURO GOES RETRO WITH NEW U.S. PUSH FOR CLASSIC BRANDS.(Brief Article)
May 19, 2003... NEW YORK -- Now it's time for Europeans to show what they can do with retro. While the classics trend has been important for many American brands, it's only now that some well-established European brands have opted to bring their own...

APPEARING ONLY ON FOOTWEARNEWS.COM:.(Brief Article)
May 19, 2003... SARS Prompts Delay of Delhi International Leather Fair Previously Scheduled to run May 22-25, the even has been pushed back to Oct. 19-22 due to the outbreak. Spears, Skechers Reach Truce in Roller Skate Lawsuits But terms of the...

HOT NUMBERS.
May 19, 2003... Payless ShoeSource, Topeka, Kan., said first-quarter earnings declined 40 percent to $14.1 million, or 21 cents per share, compared with last year's earnings of $23.9 million, or 35 cents per share. Overall sales for the period, ended May 3,...

SPORTS NUT: TOP TEN PRICIEST SPORT SHOE CATEGORIES.
May 19, 2003... RANK, CATEGORY 2002 AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE PER PAIR; 1997 AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE PER PAIR; 5-YEAR PERCENTAGE CHANGE 1. Hunting $64.79; $58.46; 10.8% Hunting boots carried the highest price tag of all sports footwear in 2002,...

THE NEW SCHOOL: NAME DESIGNERS RUSH TO REVITALIZE STAGNANT BRANDS.
May 12, 2003... NEW YORK -- If there were ever a course on how to make a stodgy, predictable brand more spontaneous, stylish and lucrative, Reed Krakoff would make a fine professor. But finding time to teach would be difficult for Krakoff, who's now...

HIGH ART.(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... Fall '03 boots have reached new heights -- literally. An ultrasexy accompaniment to the season's oh-so-high hemlines, over-the-knee silhouettes manage to simultaneously cover and reveal. Here, metallic stretch stilettos from ROBERTO CAVALLI.

NSRA EVENT TO FOCUS ON SMART INVENTORY.(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... NEW YORK -- Smart inventory management will be the topic of the National Shoe Retailers Association's summer conference, which will be held July 30, one day before the opening bell of the upcoming World Shoe Association Show in Las Vegas....

JUDGE DELAYS BROWN SHOE TRIAL; THE COMPANY FACES A CLASS-ACTION SUIT OVER CHEMICAL DUMPING AT DENVER-AREA PROPERTY IT'S OWNED SINCE 1979.
May 12, 2003... NEW YORK -- Denver-area property owners who have charged Brown Shoe Co. with releasing toxic chemicals and damaging their property will have to wait a little longer for their day in court. Last month, Denver District Judge Herbert Stern...

DONALD PLINER RETURNS TO L.A. ROOTS WITH NEW STORE.(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... LOS ANGELES -- Donald Pliner is coming home again. After some 20 years away, Donald J. Pliner plans to return to the Los Angeles retail scene with a new Beverly Hills store set to open in early June. The new 4,300-sq.-ft. unit is larger...

APPEARING ONLY ON FOOTWEARNEWS.COM:.(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... Nordstrom April Sales Slip 0.3 Percent , Lowers Guidance Seattle-based retailer now expects first-quarter earnings per share in the range of 12 cents to 15 cents Kmart Reverses 18-Month Trend as Comps Increase Discounter posts...

MEDIABANK.
May 12, 2003... FANTASY ISLAND: Coach President and Creative Director Reed Krakoff and team were recently in New York's Hamptons shooting the brand's summer ad campaign, to run exclusively in Hamptons magazine. Longtime collaborator Steven Sebring was once...

AS SALES GROW, FINISH LINE PLANS TO BUILD ON MOMENTUM.
May 12, 2003... NEW YORK -- Finish Line is riding a wave of success that it hopes will go tidal by 2008. While still ranked third among athletic specialty chains for branded athletic footwear sales behind Foot Locker and Footstar, Finish Line has been...

FN STAFF NEWS.(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... Matt DeMazza has joined Footwear News as copy editor. DeMazza's background includes stints as a sports reporter with The Washington Post and FoxSports.com and as an editor with two technology publications. Sarah Taylor has been promoted...

SETTING THE RIGHT STAGE; FOR ELYSE KROLL, IT'S ALL ABOUT QUALITY -- NOT QUANTITY -- WHEN BUILDING A TRADE SHOW.(Interview)
May 12, 2003... Elyse Kroll is extremely picky. Before granting any footwear, apparel or accessories brand entry into one of her trade shows, the founder and president of ENK International examines every product to ensure it meets her criteria for...

TRENDY VS. CLASSIC: WHAT WINS?(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... NEW YORK -- While many new creative designers say they hope to bring a timeless quality back to their classic accessories brands, some analysts caution that trendy, seasonal product still rules. "Product newness is always the key to...

HIGH TIMES.
May 12, 2003... The hottest boot silhouette for fall '03 stretches far beyond last year's tame-by-comparison versions. The perfect length for the season's ultrahigh hemlines, over-the-knee-boots may cover plenty of skin, but will surely make imaginations run...

HOUSE OF SPADES; KATE AND ANDY SPADE DISCUSS THEIR BRAND'S GROWTH AND WHY ASIA IS STILL WHERE IT'S AT.(Interview)
May 12, 2003... Kate and Andy Spade were recently the toast of Hong Kong, where they were celebrating the grand opening of their first freestanding store in Asia in February. As they chatted inside the boutique with press and customers alike, fans pressed...

AND THE WINNER IS: CFDA NOMINEES LOOK AHEAD TO THE BIG NIGHT.
May 12, 2003... In 1998, George Gublo was a freelance shoe designer, while Michael Spaulding was a design director at Cole Haan. Holly Dunlap was the head designer at Lilly Pulitzer, and Brian Atwood was designing accessories for Versace. Fast-forward...

TREND: CLASSIC REVIVAL.(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... With clothing and footwear taking a feminine turn this fall, the wristlet purse is the perfect complement. Hearkening back to an era of graceful sophistication, elegant wristlets are playing a leading role in both daytime and evening...

FIRMS REPORT ANEMIC APRIL COMPS.(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... NEW YORK -- A late Easter didn't do much to lift April sales results for most major retailers, who blamed their sluggish performance on unfavorable weather patterns and continuing general retail weakness. Sales at major department...

FOOTNOTES.
May 12, 2003... Genfoot Sues Payless Over Boot Patent The Canadian firm Genfoot, which uses the brand name Kamik, has sued Payless ShoeSource, claiming the Topeka, Kan.-based retailer infringed on a patent for winter boots with tops closed by a...

DESERT WARFARE: FIRMS FIGHT OVER GROWING MILITARY BOOT CONTRACTS.
May 5, 2003... WASHINGTON -- The ranks of U.S. footwear manufacturers who compete to shod the almost 1.5 million-person U.S. military may be small, but business is booming. The U.S.-led war in Iraq, now turning into a U.S encampment and rebuilding...

WORK IN PROGRESS.(new boots)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... The leading work boot makers have unveiled a new generation of product designed to strike the perfect balance between form and function. Loaded with advanced technology, from nonmetallic safety toes to contoured footbeds, these rugged looks...

CANDIE'S SETTLES SEC FRAUD LAWSUIT.(Securities and Exchange Commission)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK -- Candie's has settled suits filed last week by the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding a nearly four-year investigation into alleged false accounting practices. The suit, filed in Manhattan federal court, claimed...

PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM BUYS U.K.'S OFFICE HOLDINGS.(West Coast Capital acquires footwear retail group Office Holdings)
May 5, 2003... LONDON -- Office Holdings, a 23-unit, U.K.-based, footwear retail group, is changing owners. The company, which operates Office, Offspring, Post and Poste Mistress shops, along with a concession in the London department store Harvey...

INSIDER; SHOES FOR A BLONDE...MORE MICHELLE K...DR. NO.
May 5, 2003... JIMMY, JIMMY: Jimmy Choo has a strong supporting role in "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde," which hits theaters July 2. Star Reese Witherspoon wears Choo exclusively throughout the film. "We were excited to be a part of this project...

TWO YEARS AFTER REEBOK, MARTINEZ RETURNS WITH KEEN.(Angel Martinez joins new athletic sandal brand)
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK -- After a hiatus from footwear, Angel Martinez of Reebok and Rockport fame is back in the shoe game with a new athletic sandal brand, Keen. "I missed being on a team of people," Martinez told Footwear News. "Great brands are...

WORKMEN'S COMP.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Today's workers demand peak performance from their footwear, and manufacturers have responded by creating lighter, more technical shoes and boots that also look good. The latest footwear is designed from the inside out -- from...

DRIVING BUSINESS BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS ARE GETTING THE RED CARPET TREATMENT AT WORK SHOES & BOOTS, A WORK SHOE STORE WITH A SIT-AND-FIT APPROACH TO SELLING.(profile of Work Shoes & Boots, a full-service, sit-and-fit shoe store )(Company Profile)
May 5, 2003... When longtime comfort-shoe retailer Rick Ravel decided he wanted to expand into work footwear in Austin, Texas, he knew he'd be up against some heavy hitters. With companies like Red Wing and LeHigh already operating stores in the city, Ravel...

WORKING IT: RED WING EXPANDS LINE; JUSTIN SKEWS YOUNGER; ARIAT GETS TECHNICAL; PITTARDS PLC DEVELOPS CAMOUFLAGE TECHNOLOGY.
May 5, 2003... Red Wing Shoe and Sears Join Ranks In a move that breaks new ground for both companies, Red Wing Shoe Co. and Sears, Roebuck & Co. have rolled out the Craftsman by Red Wing line of footwear at 437 Sears stores nationwide. The...

HOT NUMBERS.(Phoenix Footwear Group Inc.)(Saucony Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Phoenix Footwear Group Inc., Carlsbad, Calif., said first-quarter net sales fell 14.7 percent to $9.2 million compared to $10.8 million a year ago. Net income for the quarter, ended March 29, was $375,000, compared with $605,000 for the same...

WHAT'S SELLING: RICHMOND, VA.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Virginia's capital is a place rich in American history. From the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, the military has long played a major role in Richmond's mindset. America's most recent battle with Iraq is no exception: Retailers here told...

KEEPING TRACK.(new hires)
May 5, 2003... GBMI, Santa Barbara, Calif., has appointed Robert Mangione as national sales manager for Mecca Footwear. Mangione joins GBMI with more than 15 years of marketing and sales management experience in athletic footwear. He has held positions at...