With FSNYE / FFANY Market Week coming up next week, here’s a look at what to expect from FSNYE (Footwear Show New York Expo). More than 60 top fashion brands from around the world will exhibit at FSNYE, June 6-8, at the Park Lane Hotel in NYC. The FSNYE show directory can be viewed here.

On June 7^th, from 3-5 pm on the 14^th floor, FSNYE will host an event sponsored by SAFLEC (South African Footwear & Leather Export Council): Sip & See! Enjoy the samplings of the South African Wines and learn about the wine regions of South Africa and the footwear inspiration from these manufacturers. There will also be daily raffle giveaways for retailers who visit the 10 companies. Retailers can pick up a raffle card at the FSNYE registration desk and have the exhibitors validate it for a chance to win a South African product.

In the mornings, coffee & tea will be available from 9:00 -11:00 am on the 14^th, 15^th & 16^th floors, compliments of National Shoe Travelers (NST) and SKYPAD, co-sponsors for the show.

Shoe Carnival senior management believes the chain is well positioned with inventory to capture additional athletic market share this year despite experiencing softer customer trends in March and April that contributed to a 10 percent reduction in store traffic and an 11.4 percent comparable decline in Q1 sales to $281.2 million. Vendor supply chain issues negatively impacted Shoe Carnival’s athletic inventory for Back-To-School last year, causing it to have stock outs on key styles.

“This year, we have the athletic brand assortment depth and assortment on hand that we did not have last year,” President and CEO Mark Worden told analysts last week.

Shoe Carnival grew its loyalty membership by 12 percent in Q1 to 32.7 million, the fastest quarterly growth rate for the program in three years, despite the quarterly performance that came in below expectations. Sport and casual were bright spots with the former declining low-single digits and the latter rising mid-single digits. Comp sales in adult athletic footwear fell in the low teens. Women’s non-athletic comps dipped low-double digits and dress and boot sales each slipped more than 20 percent. Women’s sandal sales, hurt by a late spring arrival, comped down in the high teens.

Kohl’s, which realized a 3.3 percent decline in Q1 sales, said Nike, Columbia, and Eddie Bauer were among its top-performing brands in the period. Children and men’s apparel outperformed the company sales average while footwear and women’s underperformed. The retailer reported some positive comps within its active apparel segment. Outdoor, including camping and gear, is one of three merchandise assortments being expanded along with home décor and pet offerings.