Genesco-owned Journeys, admittedly in “inventory chase mode” since stores reopened following COVID-19-related closures, will bank on core footwear styles and products for the holiday season that will likely commence in October this year. The merchandise assortment will be focused on comfort and casual, in particular fashion athletic styles, to stay in step with current market trends.

“The boot season in footwear for teens is a big gift item,” remarked President and CEO Mimi Vaughn. “We had solid boot season for Journeys…last year and it has given us some good reads on what will work for this year.”

As for the immediate future, Journeys’ third-quarter store traffic and financial results will largely be dependent on when schools return to in-person instruction and that could extend the traditional B-T-S season into October. Already the retailer has experienced stronger sales results in 20 states where students have returned to classrooms. But more are returning after the Labor Day holiday, including in New York City (slated for Sep. 21).

In July, Journeys’ locations experienced a traffic falloff and double-digit decline in store comp sales due to later school start dates. But Genesco experienced 144 percent e-commerce comp growth in the second quarter despite a 39 percent drop in in-stores sales that included a 12 percent decline in Journeys locations. Given the times, the company introduced several services during the period to aid customers—an installment pay program and online videos on how to determine shoe size among them.