For the last nine years of its 102-year existence, Tradehome Shoes has taken its unique story for both customers and employees to another level.

Last week, DSW parent company Designer Brands detailed its outlook for the current fiscal year by suggesting a consumer purchasing pullback that commenced last October will continue through H1 followed by a “soft landing” in the back-to-school quarter.

After completing its first full year as a public company in 2022, the Swiss company On is aiming to achieve currency-neutral sales growth of 42 percent in FY23 to the equivalent of $1.83 billion. The key areas of focus in On’s 14th year will be running, tennis and younger consumers.

Foot Locker’s annual investor day this week, presided over by its new President and CEO Mary Dillon for the first time, was a split decision.

The Swoosh, perhaps irked by the recent success of smaller rivals in Hoka One One, Asics and On in the road running space, is vowing to put a renewed focus on the running category over the next 6 to 18 months.

San Francisco-based brand Allbirds plans to slow the pace of its store openings and continue expanding its wholesale business. Other measures being undertaken as part of a transformation plan include shifting all footwear production to Vietnam by year’s end.

Bjorn Gulden, who crossed his German town from Puma SE headquarters to become CEO of Adidas on Jan. 1, isn’t afraid to offer an honest assessment of the challenges that he and his new brand face in 2023.

Caleres-owned retail chain Famous Footwear, which generated 22 percent sales growth in FY22 to more than $1.32 billion despite closing 21 stores year-over-year, is sharpening its focus on reaching Millennial consumers.

The 1,133-door chain Hibbett Sports more than doubled its profits to $38.4 million from $17.7 million in the final period ended Dec. 31 as same store sales rose 14 percent and e-commerce revenues jumped 21 percent year-over-year. Sales were up 20 percent to $458.3 million from $383.3 million.

Dick’s Sporting Goods, the 75-year-old, full-line chain, which calls footwear, athletic apparel and team sports its priority categories, is making the ‘House of Sport’ experiential format its primary square footage growth driver going forward.

After a challenging 2022 that included staff cuts, the divestiture of its Keds business and various challenges to its sourcing, logistics, and warehousing operations, Wolverine Worldwide is looking for improving cash flow and profit performance to improve sequentially throughout 2023.

Despite achieving record sales and operating profits in FY22, The Cat continues to deal with a myriad of issues, including geopolitical, macroeconomic, and global business uncertainty.

The NPD Group is forecasting annual U.S. footwear sales growth of 1 percent through 2025, with unit sales beginning to improve in 2024, as the pressure from average price increases eases in the footwear market.

Brooks’ annual sales rose by 6 percent in 2022 to an implied $1.166 billion despite persistent supply chain obstacles within the running industry. In the U.S., the brand had the highest rating and ranking in the Running Dealer Report from the Running Industry Association.

Crocs CEO Andrew Rees told analysts last week that the company’s acquisition of the Heydude footwear brand nearly a year ago is “exceeding expectations” as it begins implementing a growth plan for the Heydude business...

Preliminary unaudited 2022 results for Adidas show a 66 percent decline in annual operating profit to €669 million, or an estimated $715.3 million, pushing the operating margin down to 3.0 percent from 9.4 percent in 2021.

North American operating income for Asics declined to ¥26 million, or about $196,000, in 2022 due to higher costs associated with the region’s e-commerce sales.

The parent of the DSW chain continues to expand its own brands’ portfolio of casual and athleisure brands that already includes Topo Athletic and Le Tigre.

Under Armour, which will welcome new CEO Stephanie Linnartz on Feb. 27, is working to evolve its marketing and omnichannel strategies to better connect with 16- to 20-year-olds, many of whom are varsity athletes.

Third quarter global revenue for Hoka rose 91 percent year-over-year to $352 million, helped by an easy comparison, as Direct-To-Consumer sales more than doubled.

Fourth quarter sales in the Americas for Skechers rose 22 percent year-over-year to $925.6 million, fueled by double-digit growth across all channels and improved inventory availability.

The Black Footwear Forum (BFF), which seeks to enhance access, education, and awareness to increase opportunities for Black professionals in the global footwear industry, is scheduled to take place at the Pensole Lewis College campus in Detroit from Sept. 15-17.

Lululemon, which launched its own footwear line in 2022, is being sued by Nike for patent infringement in four of its footwear styles.

After two years where business developments were dominated by impacts from a global pandemic — everything from supply chain costs to hiring and product availability — the world is faced with embracing the Year of the Rabbit with plenty of challenges.

Sporting goods and retail industry consultant Matt Powell, who has been serving as a senior industry advisor at The NPD Group, is launching his own consulting and advisory service firm focused on merchandising, marketing and retail called Spurwink River.