Features

Selling Wellness
Four retailers addressing different niches share their approach to vending health-benefiting footwear.

Style Hall of Fame
Our 2010 inductees, the “Earl” Loafer by Hush Puppies and Converse’s “Chuck Taylor All Star,” join our list of eternally stylish shoes.

Inside the Outdoors
Suppliers are pushing the performance envelope next fall, answering increasing demands for product versatility—ranging from innovative linings that help pump up blood circulation to styling as suitable on the trails as in the office. The latest outdoor footwear offerings address the anywhere, anytime desires of adventure enthusiasts who seek to travel lightly and move fast. Topping the list are all-purpose shoes that can withstand the elements and handle a variety of terrain.

Sense and Sensibility
In today’s crowded marketplace and stifling economy, stores are luring shoppers by creating a stimulating, emotional experience. Five footwear retailers share their secrets to tempting consumers with alluring sensory elements.

2010 Plus Awards Winners
Timeless style, innovative design and expansive collections were just a few reasons retailers honored the following brands with a Plus Award for excellence in design.

Midwestern Moxie
When times got tough, Jane and Matt Stricker got going, building their Nebraska comfort boutique Footloose & Fancy into a growing chain.

Steely Determination
The story of how Reyers, “the world’s largest shoe store,” withstood the test of time—for 125 years and counting.

Baring It All
The minimalist running category is red hot with emerging brands, fresh designs and new claims related to the concept’s approach to the age-old exercise of running. The latest market analysis and Spring ’12 products are sure to keep the buzz going.

The Real Jersey Shore
Forget Snooki, self-tanner and over-gelled wannabe Romeos. Despite what MTV may say, for these footwear retailers, the real Jersey Shore is full of locals who flock to the coast for sun, sports and style.
Join Our Mailing List!
Sign up to receive the digital edition of Footwear Plus, fashion news, and more.