Today, the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) announced it has assumed the management of the Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY) operations. FDRA President and CEO Matt Priest will oversee the union and FFANY’s Executive Director John Heron will become a strategic advisor to FDRA providing expertise on the New York marketplace and brands to ensure a smooth transition. With the acquisition, FDRA now serves and represents 95 percent of the entire footwear industry.
“This is a seminal moment for our industry, and I am pleased and excited that our respective boards were able to make it happen,” states FDRA President and CEO Matt Priest, who was instrumental in pulling the deal together. “FFANY has served the industry incredibly well and folding them into our FDRA infrastructure will allow us to bring together executives to better coordinate the industry’s direction and support industry strengthening initiatives.” He adds, “I look forward to working with John in the coming months to welcome FFANY members into our association and ensure that the FFANY legacy continues on a positive and impactful path forward.”
FDRA will immediately take over daily operations, trademarks and finances as well as oversee the important role of coordinating dates and industry activities of the FFANY New York Market Weeks. Additionally, existing FFANY members will now be part of FDRA providing them with an extensive range of business tools and services to help during these difficult economic times.
“FDRA is the gold standard for industry associations across our country because of their tremendous impact on policy issues as well as robust communication platforms, information services and many programs that support all aspects of the footwear industry,” says FDRA Chairman Mike Jeppesen. “This union will position FDRA to be a stronger association that we can rely on to be a platform for industry communication, guidance as we evolve and leadership in setting priorities on the collective actions that move us forward.“
Berkshire Hathaway Shoe Holdings Chairman Jim Issler, who is also a longtime director and past chairman of both organizations, applauded the move. “Consolidation is nothing new to our industry, and in the last three decades we have witnessed retailers and wholesalers alike merging into much larger entities,” he says. “The merger of the FDRA and FFANY will create an alliance that maintains the footwear industry’s most important marketplace while forging an even stronger entity to promote the common interests of all the members of this new partnership.”
