Our places of residence have taken on a lot of new roles over the past months: (Home) office, (home) gym, (home) school. These days, home base means more than ever. So maybe it’s not surprising that the categories consumers are embracing are the footwear favorites perfect for life around the house. Read the full story.
Durability, comfort and protection never go out of style in the work and safety footwear category. And even as the footwear business has been challenged in 2020, work footwear has continued to deliver with performance, style and more. Read the full story.
The outdoor boot has been redefined. No longer dominated by traditional hiking boot silhouettes, performance hiking styles range from mid to low-cut heights, and pack in plenty of athletic tech and aesthetic. Read the full story.
Whether it’s for cozy times at home or lunch hour runs around the neighborhood, these socks are ready for action. Read the full story.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a sea change in the retail landscape, altering not only what consumers buy but also when and how they buy it. Read the full story.
In 2020’s early days, marketing budgets, development plans and product orders were already in place for an anticipated big year for running. Besides the usual marquee marathon events in Boston, New York and Chicago in the U.S., the Olympic Games in Tokyo were set to provide a... Read the full story.
With e-commerce estimated to account for a record 30 percent of all Holiday 2020 sales, according to the Statista/Salesforce Shopping Index, footwear retailers should be prepared for a handful of key emerging trends. Read the full story.
Whether it’s tackling the neighborhood on foot or running sprints on the track, more and more consumers are lacing up for a run. Longtime runners or new recruits are sure to find what they’re looking for in spring ’21’s crop of shoes to watch. Read the full story.
As Americans increasingly explore local neighborhood trails, parks and wild spaces, they’re looking for versatile, rugged styles that hold up to whatever adventures they find. These spring ’21 styles fit the bill. Read the full story.
July 4 didn’t bring the usual array of community events and fireworks extravaganzas to the U.S. this year, but even as COVID concerns played out across the country, the active lifestyle industry saw some bright spots. Read the full story.
The ability to share screen time with industry leaders for candid conversation about corporate decision-making is as easy as a click on a Zoom link. For example, National Retail Federation (NRF) president and CEO Matthew Shay is hosting weekly online sit- downs with top execs... Read the full story.
Oboz president Amy Beck didn’t end her first year on the job the way she expected. Elevated to the top post at Oboz and as president of North America at parent company Kathmandu in April of 2019, Beck, like most company heads, was thrown into a new reality after the global COVID-19... Read the full story.
Customer service used to mean a thorough fit process, thoughtful product recommendations and personal attention. We should know: Footwear Insight has been recognizing shops that excel with the Gold Medal Service Award since 2015. But in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the shutdowns that resulted, the footwear independents who set the standard for treating customers right have had to grapple with an entirely new world: Service with a smile looks a lot different when you’re smiling behind a mask. Read the full story.
The COVID-19 crisis created seismic change across almost every aspect of the footwear industry — and that included the traditional buying cycle. Faced with retail shutdowns, travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders and product shortages, the hows and whens of getting product... Read the full story.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey may have faded into the annals of U.S. history, but there will be plenty of balancing acts to watch this upcoming Back-to-School season as retailers try to figure out a strategy for a B-T-S the likes of which we’ve never experienced before. Read the full story.
As brands look ahead to Spring ’21, they’re planning for a season of opposites. In the wake of the unprecedented disruption the COVID-19 shutdowns caused this Spring, comfort labels are planning for fresh new looks for retailers who... Read the full story.
These standouts, available now, are designed to honor the LGBTQ+ community and raise money for a variety of charitable organizations during Pride Month this June. Read the full story.
With most areas of the country open or soon to open to shopping, stores are looking to see how consumers will behave. We surveyed 312 shoppers ages 18 to 60 about their expected buying behavior. See the full survey.
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