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COPYRIGHT 2006 Fairchild Publications, Inc.
43. Scott Silverstein, 48
CEO
Nina Footwear; New York
2005 Rank: 44
Thanks to better product flows, execs are expecting sales spikes of more than 25 percent this year across the board, including at Delman and Nina Kids. On the retail front, Nina continues growing its shop-in-shop concept, with two in the Chicago-area Macy's in September. Meanwhile, Silverstein opened the first international Nina-branded boutique.
POWER PLAYERS: Joel Oblonsky, president, Nina; Flori Silverstein, president, Salon Group; Maggy Siegel, president, Delman; Neil Silverstein, president, Nina Kids Group
STAY TUNED: Nina will test a stand-alone U.S. retail concept.
44. Mario Polegato, 54
Founder, President
Geox; Biadene di Montebelluna, Italy
2005 Rank: NEW
A scan-tag snag hampered Geox' delivery of kids' product this fall, but didn't hurt the brand in any major way. Under Polegato, the company is opening more stores (14 are expected stateside by March, adding to the 500 it has worldwide), launching apparel and advancing its perforated-leather technology.
STAY TUNED: With more than 10,000 independent accounts already, execs want more, as well as larger department store space. Next spring, Geox will bow a flagship on L.A.'s Beverly Drive that will differ in design from its giant New York door.
45. Donald Pliner, 62
Owner, CEO
Donald J Pliner Inc.; Miami
2005 Rank: 49
Now that Pliner's a dad, he's focused on the kids' business. And like any parent, he's adapting on the fly, changing producers for Pliner Jrs. - from Falc USA to Kinderland - after one season. So far, the line's landed at Zappos.com and Nordstrom. Separately, the designer ran fall ads in new magazines, ranging from Oprah to Men's Vogue - all contributing to a 10 percent boost in business.
POWER PLAYER: Roxanne Ehrenberg, CEO
STAY TUNED: Pliner will be looking to grow his kids biz, both in his own stores and in other accounts.
46. Joe Ouaknine, 53
CEO
Titan Industries; Huntington Beach, Calif.
2005 Rank: On the Verge
Working hard to corner the market on sexy women's shoes, Titan added Iconix-owned Badgley Mischka to its roster of marquee licenses, where it joins JLO by Jennifer Lopez and Betsey Johnson Footwear, among other names. Ouaknine will also re-launch the Joey O label next fall.
POWER PLAYER: Brad Bailey, president
STAY TUNED: Ouaknine is readying to launch the non-sneaker piece of Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B. shoe line.
47. Marc Fisher, 48
CEO
Marc Fisher Footwear; Greenwich, Conn.
2005 Rank: On the Verge
Making deals must be in the genes. Fisher, son of Nine West co-founder Jerome Fisher, marked 2006 by purchasing upscale label Sigerson Morrison. The unique acquisition added to Fisher's existing stable, including the Guess footwear license (to which Fisher added men's and kids' for spring) and in-house Marc Fisher footwear, which launched earlier this year.
POWER PLAYERS: Susan Itzkowitz, president; Terry Solis, president of sales
STAY TUNED: The industry is waiting to see how Fisher positions the Sigerson Morrison business.
48. Pierre Andre Senizergues, 43
CEO, President
Sole Technology; Lake Forest, Calif.
2005 Rank: NEW
Rooted in action sports, Senizergues' company has thrived with double-digit growth for more than a decade. Thanks to the skate category's hot status, core brands Etnies, S and Emerica are on pace to lead sales past $200 million this year. To keep up with the boom, Sole Technology opened a 315,000-sq.-ft. distribution warehouse in Fontana, Calif., last month.
STAY TUNED: Etnies will debut the Seed Project, an eco-friendly collection of footwear and apparel, for spring '07.
49. John Hanna, 50
CEO
The Fashion House; Los Angeles
2005 Rank: NEW
The Fashion House is a young company with ambitious goals. Founded four years ago, the firm already has footwear licensing deals with Richard Tyler, Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass and Isaac Mizrahi. That could explain why Hanna's company is on pace for sales to jump more than 200 percent.
STAY TUNED: Hanna is launching Isaac Mizrahi's couture label next fall.
50. Tom Florsheim Jr., 48
John...
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