Despite the looming threat of new tariffs on footwear imports to the U.S., the atmosphere was upbeat among retailers and brands during footwear market week in New York City.

At FFANY, the turnout was strong, with buyers from Rack Room Shoes, Nordstrom, Target, Walmart, Kohl’s, Zappos, Von Maur and more all attending the show to meet with brands.

“Retailers were coming in from all over the country, whether it was boutique retailers, specialty retailers, department stores or big chains from different categories,” said Sandi Mines, vice president of corporate engagement at Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) and FFANY. “It was really packed.”

Over at Footwear Show New York Expo (FSNYE) at the Park Lane New York, president Phyllis Rein was upbeat. “The show delivered 70 well-known brands and new inspiring designers, which was an increase of 20 percent this year,” she noted. “The takeaway from the show was ‘shoes aren’t just functional, they’re a powerful tool for self-expression and motivation.'”

Tariff Talk

Overall, Mines described the sentiment across the industry as “cautiously optimistic,” though many companies are mulling how potential new tariffs on foreign imports could impact the footwear industry. Ninety-nine percent of the shoes sold in the United States are imported from primarily China, Vietnam and Indonesia, regions that could be subject to potential tariff changes under President-elect Donald Trump.

The threat of new tariffs on foreign imports could have a major impact on Toms, which does 80 percent of its production in China and 20 percent in Vietnam.

“The tariff talk around China in particular and trading partners at large is top of mind,” said Jared Fix, who joined Toms as chief executive officer in July. “We have world class manufacturing partners who are committed to this brand. So if we need to have an ex-China manufacturing strategy, we can do that.”

Baby shoe brand Robeez, which returned to FFANY in June after several years, manufactures most of its shoes in China. Jennie Leone, the brand’s director of sales, said that tariff changes would likely prompt an increase in retail prices as margins become more slim.

“The buyers I’ve spoken to understand that it’s probably going to be across the board, but unfortunately, the consumer is probably going to end up paying for it at the end of the day,” Leone said about tariffs. “We’re going to do our best to keep our price points where we can. At the end of the day, if you have a good product, that’s what matters.”

Western Chief, the Washington Shoe Company owned outdoor brand, operates all of its manufacturing and production out of China, which makes it vulnerable to potential tariff restrictions in the region. According to creative director Sara Kimball, the brand is actively seeking out potential new partners in Vietnam, the Dominican Republic and Brazil.

“I think we’re really just waiting to see where the tariffs are gonna land before we commit on which country,” Kimball said.

Journee, which has recently expanded from boots and dress into some more casual styles, is also exploring back-up options with several of its factory partners. The brand mainly manufactures in China, but noted that many of its partners have sister factories in different locations.

“I always like sourcing and keeping all my eggs spread out anyway, so I feel like there’ll be some of that,” said Marisa Byrne, brand president of the KNS International-owned Journee. “And it’s a mixture of just being proactive about how we’re comping out.”

Tariffs aside, Byrne noted that Journee is seeing demand for more transitional styles that can be worn on more than one occasion. “Versatility seems to be one of the biggest comments that I’ve heard across all of accounts,” said Byrne. “Where can she get the most value, the most bang for her buck, but also have several instances that she can actually wear that item?”

For brands that manufacture in Europe, tariffs were less of a concern.

“We don’t have the issues that many other contemporary brands do — actually, the bulk of the market,” said Nancy Nicolas, head of sales for Free People Footwear. “Because we don’t produce in China. All of our production is done out of Italy, Spain, Portugal and India.”

Nicolas added that demand from buyers is definitely picking up. “I think in this moment, everybody’s feeling bullish about the future,” said Nicolas said. “I think we’re past that cycle of uncertainty with elections. That’s over and done with.”

The company behind Reebok’s operations is laying off employees in the brand’s footwear business as it reworks the licensing strategy for the brand.

Authentic confirmed to FN that SPARC group, the lifestyle brand operator that operates Reebok through a license with the parent company, has reorganized Reebok’s footwear business as it looks to transfer licenses to new partners and focus more deeply on apparel. Authentic did not confirm which specific footwear divisions were impacted by the cuts, but employees in merchandising, design, product management, talent acquisition and innovation shared on LinkedIn this week that their roles had been eliminated to to a restructuring at Reebok.

The news represents the latest turmoil to plague the heritage brand this year. Earlier this month, Authentic terminated its license with New Guards Group (NGG), a division of Farfetch, to distribute Reebok footwear and apparel in Europe. Under the terms of the former deal, NGG had operated the European operations of Reebok’s branded retail stores and e-commerce, and worked to drive wholesale distribution for the label. 

When Authentic acquired Reebok in 2022, chief executive officer Jamie Salter outlined a goal for the brand to hit $10 billion in annual retail sales globally by the next five years. Authentic also planned to grow Reebok’s digital business, as well as lean into the footwear and apparel designs that have made Reebok unique. Shortly after the deal closed, the company announced multiple plans for licensing and distributing Reebok across the globe. At the time, Reebok laid off 150 employees, most of whom were based in Boston.

Kerby Jean-Raymond also left his role as global creative director of Reebok in March of 2022.

JD Sports’ chief executive officer Régis Schultz gave a special shoutout to Nike when accepting the award for retailer of the year at the 2024 FNAAs on Wednesday evening.

“Nike is our number one partner in the world,” Schultz said, accepting the award that was presented by Jason Kirrer, Nike’s vice president of North America sales and marketplace.

Since entering the U.S. market in 2018 with the acquisition of Finish Line, the European retailer had made several efforts to leverage its relationships with key brands (like Nike) for North America-specific benefits. In August, JD said it had extended its retail partnership with Nike to offer the Nike Connected Membership program to its U.S. customers. With this expansion, JD’s U.S. customers were given access to select Nike member-only footwear and apparel when they opt to link their JD Status and Nike Membership accounts through the retailer’s website or mobile app. As of October, there were 5.1 million active members of the JD Status loyalty program in the U.S.

“Nike is a significant part of our business and a great brand partner,” John Hall, president and managing director of JD North America, told FN in an interview in November. “This was a way in which we could strengthen our partnership and increase our level of connectivity with our shared customers.”

Nike aside, JD takes pride in its broad assortment of footwear and apparel brands in its stores. Schultz was sure to to thank the retailer’s other key partners, many of whom were in the room that night, when accepting the award.

“I would like to thank the brands,” Schultz said. “We are a house of brands. We love brands. We want to serve you for the best purposes. We want to give you the access to our customers. That’s what we do for a living. We are passionate about giving the best experience to our customers [and being] the best translation of what you want to be for your customers.”

Schultz noted that JD Sports’ presence in the U.S is now at 2,500 stores, which includes 1,179 Hibbett stores that were added to its portfolio after its buzzy acquisition in July. He also said JD Sports will do $6 billion in sales in the U.S. in 2024.

“We will make more than $1 million profit and will invest most of this cash in new doors, in better propositions and in better stores,” Schultz said. “We love this industry and we are very proud to be here in the U.S. for you.”

For 38 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2024 event is supported by sponsors Listrak, Marc Fisher, Nordstrom and Vibram. 

All the Photos From FN’s Portrait Studio at the FNAA 2024

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It’s the biggest night in footwear. FN on Wednesday is celebrating the 38th FN Achievement Awards (FNAAs), the industry’s most-anticipated event of the year. Best known as the “Shoe Oscars,” the star-studded red carpet and awards gala recognizes footwear’s most influential names, standout moments, biggest brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans.

The 38th annual awards ceremony were held Dec. 4 in New York.

Read along to see a full list of winners — and some of their most notable quotes — from the biggest night in shoes.

Company of the Year: New Balance

Presenter: Gabby Thomas

New Balance couldn’t miss in 2024. Both its heritage and collaboration sneakers topped every must-have list, it scored major Olympic moments with partners like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Gabby Thomas, and now, thanks to a new WNBA deal, New Balance will take a key role in one of the hottest sports leagues in America.

Quote for the event: “The teamwork that is exhibited across our company is the key reason why we are here tonight,” Preston said. “It’s a fearlessly independent mindset that we operate from being privately held that we think allows us that opportunity.”

Brand of the Year: Larroudé

Presenter: Emily DiDonato

During a time when many independent designers have closed or scaled back their businesses, Larroudé has defied the odds, racking up $30 million in sales in 2023, less than three years since its launch in 2020. Chief creative officer Marina Larroudé and her husband, chief executive officer Ricardo Larroudé, honed a successful strategy built around buzzy collaborations, product freshness and a faster DTC model.

Quote from the event: “I want to celebrate that theres a way to do things differently,” said Ricardo Larroudé, financier and business operator of Larroudé. “There is a way to do shoes yourself. If you do that, you can take care of the people who are doing the shoes for you.”

Emerging Talent Award: Philéo Landowski

Presenter: Alissia

At just 22 years old, French designer Philéo Landowski has quickly established a reputation as a go-to creative voice in footwear, collaborating with Comme des Garçons, Salomon, Adidas and many others. Additionally, his namesake unisex brand has grown over 10 seasons, now distributed in 14 countries with close to 40 doors, including Kith and Dover Street Market.

Quote from the event: “Let’s make this world a better place, one idea at a time,” said Philéo Landowski.

Brand of the Year: On

Presenter: Law Roach

The Swiss athletic brand continues its strong standing in the ultra-competitive running market, growing global sales 24 percent in the first half of this year to 1.08 billion Swiss francs (or $1.24 billion at current exchange). And its already red-hot fashion cred got an additional boost this year from its collaboration with Loewe and a new partnership with actress and style influencer Zendaya.

Hall of Fame: Dave Powers

Presenter: Jean-Luc Diard

Dave Powers retired from his role as chief executive officer of Deckers Brands in August, capping off an incredible 12-year run with the company. He joined Deckers as president of direct-to-consumer in August 2012, rising through the ranks to become CEO in 2016. Under his tenure, Deckers experienced explosive growth, led by its Ugg and Hoka businesses. For its last fiscal year, the company scored $4.3 billion in sales.

Quote from the event: “Stay hungry, stay humble and be kind,” Powers said. “And that formula works every day.”

Icon Award: Martha Stewart

Presenter: Michael Atmore

In 2024, Martha Stewart once again proved she’s unstoppable, from her starring role with Snoop Dogg at the Paris Olympics to the launch of her 100th book to her viral “Netflix” documentary. Stewart also has been expanding her partnership with Skechers. In October, she appeared on QVC to promote her new collection with the brand and regularly models the kicks on Instagram.

Quote from the event: “For me, it’s a good thing to be with a company that’s growing and expanding and becoming an important part of the footwear world,” Stewart said.

Launch of the Year: Sneex

Presenter: Amy Griffin

She already built a billion-dollar brand from the ground up. Now Spanx founder Sara Blakely is disrupting the footwear industry with her Sneex brand. The buzzed-about launch in August certainly got people talking. And the shoes gained a place on the coveted Oprah’s Favorite Things holiday list (likely with help from super fan Gayle King). Blakely’s patented design features a sneaker-stiletto hybrid (cheekily called hy-heels) that’s made in Spain and features a 78mm heel. The goal of the design is to address major pain points in a traditional high heel.  

Quote from the event: “A thing or two I love about my mom is that she cares so much about other women, she also knows what to say when you are feeling down,” Tepper Itzler, daughter of Sneex founder Sara Blakely.

Style Influencer of the Year: Angel Reese

Presenter: Tobe Nwigwe

After a successful run playing college basketball at LSU that included a national championship, Angel Reese entered the WNBA in April to tremendous fanfare. Reese has also made inroads in the world of high fashion, attending industry events like the Met Gala, the CFDA Fashion Awards, a pre-Olympics event at Fondation Louis Vuitton and the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Her love of fashion has manifested itself most notably with Reebok, the athletic brand she has been aligned with since 2023, when they launched the Reebok by Angel collection in August.

Quote from the event: “I’m 22 years old, I’m still figuring life out, but this is just the beginning,” Reese said. “I’ll be having a signature shoe with Reebok coming out in 2026.”

Hall of Fame: Susan Itzkowitz

Presenter: Marc Fisher

In 2004, Susan Itzkowitz partnered with Marc Fisher to launch a new shoe venture, which has grown into a powerful player in the fashion footwear business, encompassing 14 brands, including licensed collections for Calvin Klein, Guess, Tommy Hilfiger, Hunter and others. And as a longtime board member for Two Ten Footwear Foundation, she has spearheaded efforts to increase representation and opportunities for women in the industry.  

Quote from the event: “Iv’e learned that while hard work is absolutely essential, striving for balance, however elusive it may seem, is just as important,” Itzkowitz said.

Designer of the Year: Edgardo Osorio, Aquazzura

Presenter: Nina Garcia

In an era when many independent shoe designers are facing significant challenges and have scaled back, Aquazzura founder and creative director Edgardo Osorio is forging ahead. His 12-year-old brand continues to drive growth with retail expansion in key markets. And Aquazzura has become a red-carpet mainstay, with everyone from Beyoncé and Meghan Markle to Angelina Jolie wearing the brand this year.

Quote from the event: “We might just be creating shoes, but we can make someone smile, one step at a time,” Osorio said.

Retailer of the Year: JD Sports

“Bigger is better” seems to be the approach for U.K.-based retail company JD Sports. In addition to opening 85 new stores in the first half of this year, it completed its acquisition of American chain Hibbett in July, which added 1,179 stores to the total portfolio and made North America its largest geographic market. As it works to transition Finish Line stores to JD Sports locations, the company is poised to grow its U.S. mindshare even further.

Quote from the event: “We will do $6 billion in the U.S. this year from nothing in 2018,” said JD Sports CEO Régis Schultz.

Collaboration of the Year: A$AP Rocky x Puma

Since Rocky joined Puma late last year as the creative director for the brand’s F1 partnership, the rapper has incorporated motorsport design elements across all of his offerings. In a series of releases this year, A$AP Rocky and Puma delivered multiple sell-out distressed versions of the Inhale sneaker and a highly imaginative, 3D-printed edition of the Mostro shoe.

Quote from the event: “The thought of me being with Puma and making collaboration of the year, I didn’t think that was really possible. And look at us now,” said A$AP Rocky.”

Icon Award for Social Impact: Skechers

Presenter: Brooke Burke

The company will be honored for its multi-faceted philanthropic efforts, most notably the Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk, which has made an incredible impact on the lives of children with special needs and the broader public education sector over the past 16 years. In addition, Skechers has been a huge supporter of animal welfare, donating millions through the Bobs brand to help shelter pets. And, of course, there’s no bigger supporter of the Manhattan Beach community than Skechers.

Quote from the event: “We know we compete with a number of you on a large scale,” said Skechers COO David Weinberg. “We’d like to cooperate and offer anybody the opportunity to partner with us to do more to give back to the community.”

Lifetime Achievement Award: Kenneth Cole

Presenter: Donna Karan

For more than four decades, Kenneth Cole has been committed to fashion with a mission. Using his eponymous brand’s powerful platform, he has tirelessly championed numerous social justice movements, including HIV/AIDS awareness, gun control, climate change and, most recently, ending mental health stigmas. His early efforts created a model that others have since followed.

Hall of Fame: Tacey Powers

Presenter: Jamie Nordstrom

Tacey Powers joined Nordstrom in 1981, starting on the sales floor and working her way up to the executive level, where she now serves as executive vice president and general merchandise manager for shoes. In addition to overseeing the retailer’s stores in the U.S., she also has been committed to mentorship and giving back to the industry as a board member for Two Ten Footwear Foundation and Footwear Retailers and Distributors of America. 

Quote from the event: “To my Nordstrom team: I work with a group of amazing people who bring joy and their special talent to work everyday,” Powers said. “I believe we have some of the best merchants in the business.”

Person of the Year: Bjørn Gulden, Adidas

Presenter: Billie Jean King

Since rejoining Adidas in early 2023 as its chief executive officer, Bjørn Gulden has helped steer the German athletic giant through a remarkable turnaround. An inventory cleanup and new hyperlocal strategy helped improve financials faster than anyone expected. And when its “terrace shoes” exploded in popularity, the company was ready to capitalize on the demand

Quote from the event: “As I said last year when Nike was here — they’re not here this year, which is funny; It was a joke, it was a joke — I said we had a lot in the pipeline,” Gulden said. “And when you have 75 years of history, you have a lot in the pipeline. So to the people in the US, China, in Mexico and wherever, they should have the prize.”

For 38 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2024 event is supported by sponsors Listrak, Marc Fisher, Nordstrom and Vibram. 

New Balance chief executive officer Joe Preston called out the brand’s strong connections with its retail partners in a speech accepting the award for company of the year at the 2024 FN Achievement Awards.

“I also want to thank our retail partners,” Preston said. “We’ve got a rich, storied history with them and we’re really respectful of the service, the reach and the experiences that you do for customers. And you’re big reason why we’re up here tonight.”

While New Balance does not parse out its wholesale sales numbers, executives have said that the channel is vital for growth. In an interview with FN in November, Preston said that wholesale partners are an “integral” part of the company’s overall strategy. In addition to large chains like Foot Locker and Academy Sports + Outdoors, Preston also called out partners in the run specialty channel, as well as various independent stores and boutiques in the lifestyle space.

After hitting $6.5 billion in sales in 2023, New Balance is currently on track to achieve well over $7 billion in sales for fiscal year 2024, a milestone it expects to hit two years earlier than initially anticipated. The privately held company has also outlined a broader goal to become a $10 billion brand by the next few years. Behind the strong results in 2024 were a series of product wins, as well as strategic investments in athlete partnerships, retail expansion and a historic deal with the WNBA.

In his speech accepting the FNAA for Company of the Year, Preston also highlighted New Balance’s community focus as a key element that makes its culture uniquely special.

“The teamwork that is exhibited across our company is the key reason why we are here tonight,” Preston said. “It’s a fearlessly independent mindset that we operate from being privately held that we think allows us that opportunity.”

For 38 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2024 event is supported by sponsors Listrak, Marc Fisher, Nordstrom and Vibram. 

FNAA 2024 Red Carpet Arrivals Photos, Live Updates

View Gallery 59 Images

Problems at Nike are bleeding into one of the brand’s top wholesale partners: Foot Locker.

The sneaker chain’s stock dropped on Wednesday morning after it reported a sales and earnings miss in the third quarter, in part driven by a weaker consumer and an overly promotional environment. And in a call with analysts, Foot Locker chief commercial officer Frank Bracken noted that among other challenges, the chain was “contending with some more recent softness” from Nike, its largest brand partner, which also impacted Q3 results.

To address a general decline in demand for Nike and Jordan products, the Swoosh has recently set out to reduce the presence of its popular franchises, such as the Air Force 1, Air Jordan 1 and Dunk. At the same time, Nike has utilized promotions to manage higher levels of inventory that have accumulated as a result of slower than expected retail sales. As such, partners like Foot Locker have faced competition from deeper discounts during the fall season this year compared to the prior year.

“As Nike rebalances their product mix, inventory levels in the near term across the basketball classics franchises we are seeing some short-term negative impacts on our business,” Bracken said. “We are seeing higher promotional levels in the marketplace across both DTC and competition which is having a cascading impact as we need to react and compete with those dynamics headed into the holiday season.”

For the third quarter, Foot Locker revenues were down 1.4 percent to $1.958 billion, short of the $2 billion expected by analysts surveyed by Yahoo Finance. Net loss was $33 million in the third quarter, compared with a net income of $28 million in Q3 the prior year. Non-GAAP earnings per share was 33 cents, which was short of analysts’ expectations of 40 cents. When it came to brand mix, Foot Locker’s percentage of non-Nike brand sales held steady at 40 percent, in line with the company’s goal to have more than 40 percent of its brand mix be outside Nike by 2026. In this realm, brands like Hoka, On, Adidas and New Balance were standouts this quarter.

“We have a nice mix and a broad diverse portfolio of brands,” Foot Locker chief executive officer Mary Dillon told FN in an interview. “And our customers are showing that they like having choice.”

Nike is still Foot Locker’s largest brand partner by a long shot. But despite the slowdown at the Swoosh, Foot Locker executives were confident about the future of its partnership with Nike, which is now helmed by a slew of new leaders including Elliott Hill in the CEO spot.

“We feel really great about our partnership with Nike and our key areas of strategic focus together around basketball, sneaker culture and kids,” Dillon said in a call with analysts, highlighting Foot Locker’s recent efforts to create special Nike and Jordan branded outposts inside some stores to highlight basketball‘s central roll in sneaker culture.

“While we work through some of the short-term pressure on some of the sell-throughs in some of the classics and lifestyle running, we are seeing that rightsize throughout the quarter,” Bracken said. “And as we work into 2025, we feel that there’ll be a better demand balance.”

Brand partners have a been core to Journeys since its founding. As Genesco Inc., the chain’s parent company, celebrates 100 years, FN reached out to some of Journeys’ key brand partners to hear about its enduring influence. Here’s what they had to say:

David Kahan, President of Americas, Birkenstock

“Journeys has been an outstanding partner for Birkenstock, sharing our commitment to quality, authenticity, and meaningful consumer connections. Their ability to engage with the youth market while staying true to their roots makes them an invaluable part of our growth in the Americas. We look forward to continuing this collaboration and exploring innovative ways to connect with consumers, all while celebrating the values that define both of our brands.”

Stefano Caroti, President and CEO, Deckers Brands

“Congratulations Andy Gray and Journeys’ team on this major milestone—one to be proud of! You are one of Deckers’ very best partners and we look forward to supporting you for 100 more years of success and collective impact.”

Melissa Worth, SVP Americas, New Balance

“Congratulations to the entire Genesco team for achieving this distinguished centennial milestone!  We applaud your strong dedication to knowing your consumer and giving back to your community, and greatly value our long-standing partnership.  The future is bright for Journeys & New Balance!”

Brandis Russell, VP & GM of North America, Converse

“Journeys has long been an incredible partner for Converse, helping to fuel our shared consumer’s creativity and self-expression through our product offerings across their retail spaces. We congratulate Journeys on an amazing milestone and look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of youth culture, together.”

Genelle Lauderbach, VP of wholesale, Dr. Martens Americas

“Dr. Martens would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Journeys team for reaching this extraordinary milestone of 100 years in business. Our partnership has been one of inspiration and achievements that have spanned multiple years. We look forward to many more years of shared success and collaboration.”

Joe Martin, SVP of North American wholesale, Adidas

“Genesco sets the gold standard for excellence in collaboration. Their team doesn’t just build relationships with brands — they cultivate true partnerships, leveraging collective expertise to create must-have products for their retail locations. I am excited to see Genesco continue to lead the way in retail innovation and digital experiences, while staying true to their roots of community and individuality Their adaptability and unwavering dedication set them apart as a standout partner — not just for today, but for the future as well.”

Michel Bilodeau, VP General Manager, Vans Americas

“Journeys and Vans have a long rooted history celebrating and uplifting Youth thru the lens of music, skate and culture.  Looking forward to our next chapter together.”

Jared Fix has had his plate full since joining Toms as chief executive officer in July.

The shoe company, best known for its Alpargata canvas slip-on style, has recently leaned into diversifying its product lineup to focus more on sandals, espadrilles and casual sneakers. These efforts have had a positive effect on sales and brand momentum. Now, Fix is charged with taking that success to the next level.

“I was brought in to accelerate and increase the pace of change,” Fix told FN in an interview at the brand’s showroom during the Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY) market week in December. Before joining Toms, Fix served as the chief transformation officer at Allbirds until November of 2023, which he said prepared him for his current role.

“I had the benefit of going through a proper transformation at Allbirds,” the executive said. “A lot of principles we applied there are equally applicable here, even if the answers are different.”

At Toms, the transformation will center on five key pillars: brand, product, channel, operating and people. To make it happen, Fix has bolstered the brand’s leadership team with top industry players. In the last six months, Toms added its former chief merchandising officer Silvia Mazzucchelli and former PepsiCo president Brad Jakeman to its board. Within the leadership team, Toms named Wolverine Worldwide veteran Camila Wolfson as its global chief merchandising officer, Puma and Victoria’s Secret veteran Amber Tarshis as chief brand and impact officer and Pelican Products former executive Brian Lo as chief transformation officer.

“Within the leadership team, really getting fantastic brand and product leadership was key,” Fix said.

From a brand and marketing perspective, Toms is leaning back into its roots of supporting important impact causes that promote children’s education and health, something Tarshis will oversee directly in her impact-focused role. At the same time, Toms is also emphasizing its position in the market as a brand for the entire family and working with influencers to connect to more consumers.

“In 2025 and beyond, you’ll see us present a more balanced, inclusive view of the brand, showcasing not just our beloved women’s styles, but our amazing offerings for men and kids,” Tarshis told FN in an email interview. “This year, we’ve seen great success working with top influencers and plan to lean into even more influencer marketing next year.”

From a product perspective, Toms will continue to emphasize product diversity outside of its core Alpargata with investments in sneakers, boots and dress casual styles. When Toms’ former CEO Magnus Wedhammar joined the brand in 2020, he helped execute a turnaround which, in part, included pivoting away from relying too much on the Alpargata. At the time, he joined the brand as it faced negative credit ratings and bankruptcy rumors.

While Alpargata sales still make up over half of the brand’s assortment and business to this day, Toms is rethinking how the icon can show up in different ways. According to Wolfson, “fresh takes” on the Alpargata, like a lace-up version launching in spring/summer 2025, “are resonating well with customers and continue to drive momentum for the Alpargata franchise.” At the same time, Toms is making sure its core design codes show up in other categories as well to make sure every product — whether boot, sneaker or slipper — is identifiably a Toms product.

Within a bolstered product assortment, Wolfson emphasized the importance of having versatile options that can live in more than one season.

“Sneakers, in particular, have been a strong addition, offering the perfect balance for days when it’s not quite warm enough for sandals, but not cold enough for boots,” she told FN.

From a channel perspective, Toms is looking to enter new doors and become overall less promotional in the marketplace.

“There’s going to be retailers you might not expect to see Toms in,” Fix said. “But if the product is in danger of being bought, we’ve got a pretty good opportunity to meet our consumers there.”

While the roadmap is in place, there are challenges that lay in wait. For example, the threat of new tariffs on foreign imports could have a major impact on Toms, which does 80 percent of its production in China and 20 percent in Vietnam. Additionally, a warmer fall in the U.S. followed by a shorter selling period between Thanksgiving and Christmas made for a challenging fall season this year for the brand.

But things already look brighter heading into fall 2025. According to Fix, buyers have been receptive to Toms’ new array of products.

“Whether it’s dress, casual, sneakers, sandals, those categories for us have a lot of momentum and a lot of season on season growth,” Fix said. “The sell-in for those categories is very straightforward, with a lot of support. And the buyers are leaning in.”

Foot Locker Inc. on Wednesday downgraded its outlook for fiscal year 2024 after reporting Q3 sales and earnings that fell short of its expectations.

Mary Dillon, the sneaker retailer’s chief executive officer, told FN in an interview that weaker consumer demand and a highly promotional environment impacted Foot Locker’s results in the third quarter. She also noted that sales were generally slower outside of key shopping events like back-to-school and Thanksgiving weekend.

“We’re operating an environment that is temporarily impacting our business and offsetting some of the progress that we’re making,” Dillon told FN. “People are coming out to spend and then pulling back.”

Shares of Foot Locker dipped almost 10 percent by mid morning on Wednesday.

For the third quarter, Foot Locker revenues were down 1.4 percent to $1.958 billion, short of the $2 billion expected by analysts surveyed by Yahoo Finance. Net loss was $33 million in the third quarter, compared with a net income of $28 million in Q3 the prior year. Non-GAAP earnings per share was 33 cents, which was short of analysts’ expectations of 40 cents.

Comparable sales, which were up 2.4 percent in the quarter, were a bright spot for the retailer. Dillon called out this growth, along with general share gains and gross margin expansion, as a testament to the retailer’s progress within its Lace Up plan, a strategy announced in 2023 to diversify brand portfolio mix, relaunch the Foot Locker brand with new store formats focused on an off-mall presence, maximize the loyalty program and invest in technology to enhance the customer journey.

“We’re really proud of the progress that we’re making on the Lace Up plan,” Dillon said, noting that the chain achieved its highest annual conversation rate in Q3 as well.

Foot Locker also continued updating its store fleet in line with its broader retail enhancement plan. In the third quarter, Foot Locker remodeled or relocated 20 stores, refreshed 167 stores, closed 24 stores and opened 10 new stores.

Also in the third quarter, the percentage of non-Nike brand sales held steady 40 percent, in line with the company’s goal to have more than 40 percent of its brand mix be outside Nike by 2026. Dillon highlighted other standout brands like Hoka, On, Adidas and New Balance.

“We have a nice mix and a broad diverse portfolio of brands,” Dillon said. “And our customers are showing that they like having choice.”

Like other footwear executives, Dillon said Foot Locker will monitor any updates related to potential tariff changes that could possibly impact business. Ninety-nine percent of the shoes sold in the United States — including many athletic shoes — are imported from primarily China, Vietnam and Indonesia, regions that could be subject to potential tariff changes. As it relates to Foot Locker, direct exposure to China is more limited, though brand partners could see more of an impact.

“What’s in our direct view of what we buy is pretty small,” Dillon said. “And as it relates to our brand partners, it’ll be up to them how they want to pass along if those costs happen. But we were watching it closely and feel like we have a good handle on it.”

Looking ahead to the rest of the year, Foot Locker downgraded its outlook for fiscal year 2024 and now expects sales to be down between 1.5 percent and 1 percent. Comparable sales are expected to be up between 1 and 1.5 percent and Non-GAAP EPS is expected in the range of $1.20 to $1.30. Foot Locker also downgraded its outlook for gross margin, which is now expected to be between 28.7 percent and 28.8 percent, due to promotional pressure.

For the fourth quarter, Foot Locker expects sales to be down between 3.5 percent and 1.5 percent. Comparable sales are expected to be up between 1.5 percent and 3.5 percent. Non GAAP EPS is expected in the range of 70 cents to 80 cents.

On Dec. 4, JD Sports will be honored with the Retailer of the Year award at the 38th annual FN Achievement Awards. Below is an article from the magazine’s Dec. 2 print issue about the retailer’s success in North America and beyond.

North America has long been a key part of JD Sports’ global ambitions, but in 2024, it became the largest market for the U.K.-based retailer, generating 35 percent of total revenues in the first half of the year.

Perhaps the company’s most notable win in the market occurred in July, when it closed the acquisition of American retailer Hibbett and added 1,179 stores to its portfolio across the U.S. in markets outside of JD’s existing fleet.

Market watchers called it a savvy move. “They now have an off-mall strategy that they can go nationwide with, in addition to the mall strategy of JD,” said Matt Powell, an advisor at Spurwink River and senior advisor at BCE Consulting. “The two banners really complement each other.”

Aside from the Hibbett acquisition, JD opened 24 new doors across North America and converted 13 Finish Line stores to the JD banner in the first half of the year. During that period, its revenue in North America grew 14.5 percent to 1.2 billion pounds.

“Being awarded Retailer of the Year is testament to the strength of our teams and our unrivaled understanding of youth culture and how our customers want to shop and be engaged,” JD Sports chief executive officer Régis Schultz told FN in a statement. “It also reflects the strides taken in delivering our growth strategy this year. I want to thank the JD team around the world who continue to go the extra mile to deliver exceptional results for our customers.”

JD Sports first entered the U.S. market in March 2018 when it acquired the Finish Line banner for $558 million. It furthered its investment in 2020, when it purchased Shoe Palace Corp. for $325 million, and in February 2021, when it bought DTLR for $495 million. Since then, the company has continued to make inroads in the region by applying its European model to North America. That is, offering a brand-focused, immersive, head-to–toe shopping experience.

“There was a pretty significant objective to bring the JD brand to North America,” said John Hall, president and managing director of JD North America. “JD has been greatly successful in the U.K. The group had already built an incredible business model. From there, it was a matter of adapting that model for the North American marketplace.”

The retail giant has also made efforts to leverage its relationships with key brands for North America-specific benefits. In August, JD said it had extended its retail partnership with Nike to offer the Nike Connected Membership program to its U.S. customers. With this expansion, JD’s U.S. customers were given access to select Nike member-only footwear and apparel when they opt to link their JD Status and Nike Membership accounts through the retailer’s website or mobile app. As of October, there were 5.1 million active members of the JD Status loyalty program in the U.S.

“Nike is a significant part of our business and a great brand partner,” Hall said. “This was a way in which we could strengthen our partnership and increase our level of connectivity with our shared customers.”

Nike aside, JD takes pride in its broad assortment of footwear and apparel brands in its stores.

“We are truly multibrand,” Schultz said in a call with analysts in October, in which he highlighted brands like Asics, New Balance and Adidas. “Being European, we tend to have more brands. And the U.S. retailer, especially the sportswear one, has been very much focused on Nike.”

To fill its shelves across the globe, JD balances a global assortment strategy with a more tailored approach for different consumers, especially as it looks to cater to America’s various regions.

“JD has a presence across the U.S., and we know that consumer desires vary from region to region,” Hall said. “We take note of the trends and preferences in each area, catering to those differences, while also serving up some products that JD carries globally.”

Success in the U.S. has helped power growth for JD globally. In the first half of the year, JD delivered revenue of 5 billion pounds (or $6.36 billion at current exchange), a 5.2 percent increase from 4.8 billion pounds (or $6.1 billion) the prior year. Net profit before tax and adjusted items was 405.6 million pounds ($515.8 million) in the period, up 2 percent from the same time last year.

“We are delighted that customers across the world trust JD to showcase the best and most fashionable items in the world of sports fashion,” Schultz told FN in a statement.

For 38 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2024 event is supported by sponsors Listrak, Marc Fisher, Nordstrom and Vibram.