Shoe-in

On this special Labor Day edition of Shoe-In, JP Stevenson, Head of Market Development, EIQ at LRQA, joins Matt and Thomas to discuss all the latest trends around supply chain visibility and complying with emerging forced labor regulations. Listen in to discover insights from LRQA's comprehensive footwear factory audit data and steps global footwear brands are taking to ensure compliant supply chains and shoe factory operations. With special guest: JP Stevenson, Head of Market Development, EiQ, LRQA Hosted by: Matt Priest and Thomas Crockett

Straight from the Netherlands, Peter Erren joins us to share some of the challenges facing the EU marketplace today. We cover how brands and retailers are dealing with extending shipping timelines, and the mold issues it is causing, managing inventories and changing consumers. Peter shares some key insights on solutions provided by his company in mitigating quality issues and adapting to these changes. We also discuss new EU regulations which prohibit the destruction of unsold goods, urging companies to proactively adjust to these changes. With special guest: Peter Erren, Owner & Chief Product Saver, Erren Recondition Hosted by: Andy Polk and Matt Priest

This week on Shoe-In Show listen in as Dr. Fernando Pena, an orthopedic surgeon and co-founder of Julieta Barcelona, offers his unique approach to designing shoes. Arising from Fernando's wife's struggle to find fashionable yet comfortable shoes, this emerging shoe brand was founded to provide a pain-free option for fashionable and professional women. With Fernando's medical background he has a distinct understanding of foot mechanics crucial in designing truly comfortable shoes. His mantra, everyone deserves to walk pain-free, drives the brand's mission. With special guest: Dr. Fernando Pena, Co-Founder, Julieta Barcelona Hosted by: Matt Priest and Sandi Mines

Footwear is a constant battle with consumer expectations around fit. Jones & Vining leaders join us to discuss the central role their company plays with both new and traditional footwear brands to perfect fit and comfort. They share how they are now leveraging consumer trends, and using new technology, to help brands at the start of the process and also in the factory. With special guests: Moon Tran, VN Country Manager, Jones & Vining and Tom Iredale, Sr. VP Sales & Marketing, Jones & Vining Hosted by: Andy Polk and Matt Priest

In this episode of the world's leading shoe industry podcast, Matt and Sandi welcome Jack Gindi, CEO of Ground Up International. Jack shares his journey from retail to the dress shirt industry, eventually entering footwear through a resort-focused line of flip-flop sandals. Discussing the opportunities and challenges he's faced, Jack emphasizes the importance of innovation, product exclusivity, and understanding consumers' needs as they partner with some of the biggest names in entertainment and pop culture. Tune in to learn more about Jack's unique business model and how they are reshaping the footwear industry one pair at a time. And make sure you hit up Ground Up by visiting groundupshop.com. With special guest: Jack Gindi, CEO, Ground Up International Hosted by: Matt Priest and Sandi Mines

In this week's Shoe-In Show, you'll hear realtime analysis surrounding the historic nature of this year's presidential race and its impact on the footwear industry. Discussing the changing landscape of the presidential race, the impact on Congress, and what this means for the industry, our analysts Matt Priest, Andy Polk, and Thomas Crockett present a fresh perspective on the rapidly evolving political environment. Tune in to hear analysis you won't get anywhere else...we promise. With special guests: Matt Priest, President & CEO, FDRA and Thomas Crockett, Vice President, FDRA Hosted by: Andy Polk, Senior Vice President, FDRA

What's influencing consumer behavior in the age of inflation? Matt and Sandi welcome economic thought leader Greg Petro to help unpack all the latest footwear consumer and costing trends. As CEO of First Insight, Greg provides analysis around shifts in consumer attitudes, the resilience of footwear companies responding to said attitudes, and his expectations for the economy heading into 2025. Access these valuable insights and more by listening to this timely episode of Shoe-In. With special guest: Greg Petro, CEO, First Insight, Inc Hosted by: Matt Priest and Sandi Mines

Katie O'Hara, Director of Account Management at Dynamic Foam, join us for this fun deep dive into sustainable materials and strategy. There are increasing regulations, but also new and large opportunities of integrating sustainable materials into footwear. The success lies in wise strategy! Join us as we have some laughs and deep dive into key topics impacting our industry. With special guest: Katie O'Hara, Director of Account Management, Dynamic Foam Hosted by: Andy Polk and Matt Priest

Leading sustainable material company Lenzing has been working for years to develop a new material for footwear. On this episode we take a look inside the new pioneering technique to make the material, its properties and how their collaboration with Recyc Leather and GANNI is a blueprint for how our industry can make more sustainable materials come to life. With special guest: Nicole Schram, Global Business Development Manager, Lenzing Hosted by: Andy Polk and Matt Priest

It's summertime and what better way to celebrate than to listen to Matt and Sandi explore the Southern California footwear scene with John Dickinson, CEO of SeaJack. We explore John's personal history in the footwear industry, learning how his experiences in action sports and Southern California culture shaped his passion for shoes. With so many great brands including Flojos, Sbicca, Volatile, Very Volatile and Kengos in the SeaJack family, John is well positioned to understand consumer shifts and behaviors across the country. Hear how SeaJack grew amidst the pandemic, and their exciting dedication to sustainability with their latest brand, Kengos. Will the path of SeaJack redefine the footwear industry's future? Tune in to find out. With special guest: John Dickinson, CEO at SeaJack LLC Hosted by: Matt Priest and Sandi Mines

In this episode of Shoe-In Show, Matt and Thomas delve into mitigating duties and cutting costs with Nicole from KMPG. Learn about the increasing interest in and importance of 'first sale', a strategy for reducing import costs, especially amid an environment of additional tariffs. Listen in to get insights about e-commerce strategies, the role of U.S. Customs in enforcement, and the ripple effect of legislative moves in Congress from a footwear industry perspective. With special guest: Nicole Porpiglia, Senior Manager Trade & Customs, KPMG  Hosted by: Matt Priest and Thomas Crockett

Matt and Andy welcome Mike Piza, Senior VP at Apex Logistics International, to discuss skyrocketing shipping rates and unexpected tariffs impacting the availability of capacity for footwear companies. If you're in the business of shipping shoes, you don't want to miss this timely conversation. Mike has all the latest info impacting the movement of shoes worldwide. With special guest: Mike Piza, Senior Vice President, Apex Logistics International Hosted by: Matt Priest and Andy Polk

This week, Matt and Sandi are joined by Rebecca Gradler, the founder of the emerging Greek-rooted shoe brand, Kehloni. She shares her childhood experiences in Greece, the inspiration behind Kehloni, and how she leverages her fresh perspective in a millennia-old industry. Rebecca also discusses the challenges of starting a brand in the midst of a global pandemic and showcases the beauty of her handcrafted, unique, and timeless shoe line. The podcast explores her shift from direct-to-consumer sales to a wholesale approach, her entrance into high-end resort shops and boutiques, and the importance of maintaining a connection with the Greek family-run businesses that manufacture her shoes. The episode highlights the challenges, successes, and lessons learned in establishing a new brand in a vast market. With special guest: Rebecca Gradler, Founder, Kheloni Hosted by: Matt Priest and Sandi Mines

In this edition of Shoe-In Show, Matt sits down with Mark Coffield, Country Manager for OrthoLite Vietnam, as they explore his multi-decade journey through the shoe industry. Mark reflects on his experiences in footwear and the innovative work taking place at OrthoLite's state-of-the-art facility in Vietnam. Matt and Mark also discuss the importance of innovation, customer service, and quality in service to OrthoLite's many iconic customers. With special guest: Mark Coffield, Country Manager, OrthoLite Vietnam  Hosted by: Matt Priest

Sandi and Matt welcome expert kids' shoe industry leader Maureen Duffy-Tan, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at BBC. Maureen shares her journey through the footwear industry and the valuable lessons she learned from her mentor, Bob Campbell. She also taps into recent kids' shoe trends and the unique aspects and challenges of the kids' shoe business. This includes massive size ranges and the changing needs for our industry's littlest customers. You don't want to miss this episode heading into June FFANY Market Week. With special guest: Maureen Duffy-Tan, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, BBC International  Hosted by: Matt Priest and Sandi Mines

Join us as fellow N.C. State Wolfpackers Matt Priest and Gary Raines unpack the latest shoe pricing data and current footwear costing trends. Together, they dissect recent CPI numbers and margin expectations for men's, women's, and children's footwear. There's more to these numbers than meets the eye! With special guest: Gary Raines, Chief Economist, FDRA Hosted by: Matt Priest

Scott Willman, the founder, CEO, and creative director of Freshy, stopped by Shoe-In this week to bring his creativity and California vibes to Matt and Sandi. With a background in architecture and design, Scott is creating a unique, vibrant, and positive shoe brand for the masses. If you want to learn more about what makes Freshy so unique, and shall we say, fresh, make sure you take a listen. With special guest: Scott Willman, Founder, CEO, and Creative Director, Freshy Hosted by: Matt Priest and Sandi Mines

Want to know how to thrive in the 'Artificial Age'? In this episode of Shoe-In, co-hosts reflect on the highlights from the 2024 Shoe Executive Summit, from key takeaways to what we heard from the more than 100 CEOs and Presidents in the room. Hosted by: Team FDRA

In this dynamic episode of Shoe-In, Matt and Andy welcome Jon Paul Trudeau, the Vice President of Product Operations at Wolverine Worldwide. Checking in from Hong Kong, JP discusses his journey from rock star drummer to footwear design and development pro, and the importance of focusing on product and innovation. The guys also dive into topics such as the future of sourcing in Asia, the shift away from China, the need for automation in new factories, and the exciting innovations driving material technology. With several decades of shoe experience in Asia, JP brings the knowledge without the noise. With special guest: Jon Paul Trudeau, Vice President of Product Operations, Wolverine Worldwide Hosted by: Matt Priest and Andy Polk

This is a fun episode featuring Matt Nakari, Sales Director at Centric Software, a shoe dog helping companies better manage their data to help them improve operations and decisions. Matt shares how the company is making data collection easy while focusing on sustainability and speed in the footwear industry. We discuss the importance of breaking down departmental silos, the potential of AI in footwear, and the universal challenges faced across different industries while developing a product. Tune into this episode packed with informed perspectives and engaging discussions. With special guest: Matt Nakari, Sales Director at Centric Software Hosted by: Matt Priest and Andy Polk