Footwear Insight celebrates the best independent footwear retailers in the nation with the Gold Medal Service Awards for Customer Service.

Once again it was quite an eventful year in the world of team sports as the industry – and schools, athletes, fans and friends – fully emerged from the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and made participation in everything from basketball to pickleball a way of life. Yes, indeed, the games went on in 2024!

The future of sustainability is about achieving a lighter footprint through scaling sustainable materials and streamlining processes to reduce carbon emissions.

Skechers VP of Product Development and Merchandising, Greg Smith, is the brand’s pulse when it comes to pickleball. He’s seeing people try it – and stick with it. “Pickleball is a super social game that anyone can play whether you’re new to the sport or a seasoned pro, and that’s likely why it’s gained so much popularity,” he explained.