In these challenging times, it takes grit, ingenuity and a strong community to get through. Luckily, run specialty retailers have them all in spades. We talked to 20 shops across the country to share their stories of keeping the faith — and planning for the future — during the COVID crisis.
Read Part I • Read Part II
Whether it was pivoting to PPE, supporting retail customers or building community for at-home runners, running brands have tackled the COVID-19 shutdown head on. HERE, snapshots from across the running industry during this challenging time. Read the full story.
As shops begin to plan for reopening and the new normal, the question remains: What are consumers — shaped by weeks of quarantine and confronting rising unemployment — looking for? See the full consumer survey.
Josh Higgins, president of OS1st, discusses the importance of supporting independent retail and what the future holds.
Read the full story.
As the executive director of the Running Industry Association, Terry Schalow has had a front-row seat to the cascading effects of the near-overnight changes in the industry... Read the full story.
What to wear to the office? Anything you want. When it comes to workday footwear, the only rules are what looks good — and keep you comfortable for a day doing it all. These fall ’20 styles run the gamut: sleek boots and booties, animal prints of all species, sneakers, loafers and everything in between. What do they have in common? Dialed-up comfort and sharp looks. Trust them: They’re Professionals. Read the full story.
We asked three consumers with very different
9-to-5 jobs to give us insight on the shoes they wear for work and why they wear what they do:
What is the dress code in your workplace? I work in one of the most conservative fashion environments that still exists outside of maybe a law firm... Read the full story.
Three trends to watch in “on the job” footwear options: Made in USA; Comfort on the Job; and Lightweight Style. Read the full story.
On Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA’s downtown thoroughfare, there are plenty of reminders of the past. The right side of the street is lined with a small deli, a three-screen theater, and the 85-year old Theatre Pharmacy. It’s also the home of Michelson’s Shoes, a fourth-generation, family-owned shoe store. Read the full story.
When Jaclyn Jones wanted to launch her namesake brand in 2015, finding a factory in the U.S. who would take her on was no easy feat. Five years later, not only does she manufacture Jaclyn Jones USA domestically, she owns the factory that makes it. Read the full story.
Serving the kids market can be tough. And it’s not just that the stock demands are high (all those sizes!), margins thin and the market competitive — although all those things can be true. Kids stores have two different sets of customers to impress: Style-conscious kids, and their features... Read the full story.
On the heels of February’s announcement that Informa Markets’ FN Platform show would be rebranded MICAM Americas under a new partnership with Milan’s longtime MICAM show, the show announced the departure of longtime head Leslie Gallin. Read the full story.
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