Shoe-In

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 hand...

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...

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 an...

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. Wit...

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...

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 foot...

In this episode of Shoe-In, Matt shares fresh insights from his recent visit to Vietnam, discussing the changing manufacturing and business landscape. Hear about his experiences at Wolverine Worldwide's Supplier Summit, and uncover insights from his visit to innovative supplier, Ortholite. Discover the rising concerns of factories amidst shifting American consumer behaviors and explore the future...

Industry vet, Chris Hillyer joins the show to discuss the current state of footwear innovation, sharing insights into what's really moving the dial for brands. We cover innovative approaches to challenges, the future of footwear manufacturing, the dynamics of market changes, and new tools being used to transform brands. We also touch on AI's actually uses for footwear. A show not to be missed! Wit...

Michael McCauley, owner and operator at Fleet Feet, joins to share key insights into his running shoe store in Augusta, Georgia. We chat about the running brands best connecting consumers, the changing operations of their retail store, which includes extensive training for new employees, and lengthy customer service processes to find the perfect footwear and build a consumer profile. McCauley also...

Discover how the shoe industry is shifting and adapting in the light of changing economic trends and consumer behaviors in this episode. Special guest John Heron, President of the Born Brands Group at Berkshire Hathaway, shares his journey across the footwear sector, including his time at FFANY and Designer Brands. Gain unique insights into the significance of FFANY's New York market week, the shi...

Jon Weber and Laura Brookhiser, from L.E.K. Consulting, join the show to share insights from their 2024 'Heat Index' report. The report explores what brands consumers desire the most by category and why. We discuss not only who's hot but why, and how companies can take key learnings from this report to build stronger brand loyalty. With special guests: Jon Weber, Managing Director at L.E.K. Consul...

In this episode of Shoe-In, Matt and Andy welcome Karl Moehring, CEO of Washington Shoe Company to discuss his journey to footwear having been raised in a shoe family. He also touches on current footwear industry trends, the resilience of consumers in 2024, and fostering a dynamic workplace culture in the hybrid era. With special guest: Karl Moehring, CEO, Washington Shoe Company  Hosted by: Matt...

Jung Yoon, Senior VP of Production and Sourcing for Accessories and Footwear at the iconic fashion brand Michael Kors, stopped by Shoe-In to discuss her fascinating career journey. From high-tech to apparel to footwear, Jung explores the complexities of shoe manufacturing, highlighting its multifaceted requirements involving comfort, engineering, technology, architecture, quality assurance, and fa...

On this week's Shoe-In, Caleres' Chief Sourcing Officer, Dan Friedman, stops by to explore the modern complexities of the footwear supply chain and the ways he's guiding Caleres through such an interesting sourcing landscape. Listen in to hear Dan's amazing shoe industry journey and his philosophy on company culture, the importance of agility, and his unique approach to decision-making, rooted in...

Supply chain expert extraordinaire Pete Mento stops by Shoe-In to discuss the latest developments in the Red Sea crisis and how the crisis is impacting the footwear supply chain. As a former Merchant Marine Officer himself, Pete holds no punches as he explains his expectations for the continuing crisis and what's in store for container pricing in the coming year. If you ship shoes anywhere in the...

In the latest episode of Shoe-In, Matt and Sandi welcome the return of Sam Poser, an equity analyst with Williams Trading. Holding no punches, Sam discusses the continued dominance of comfort in design and delves into the importance of customer knowledge and proper product distribution in retail. Advocating for a 'less is more' approach, Sam offers insights into successful footwear brands, attribu...

Industry icon Susan Itzkowitz, president of Marc Fisher Footwear, stopped by Shoe-In to discuss her collaborative approach to leadership and the importance of empowering your team as a leader and mentor in our industry. Susan also explores her forecast for 2024 and the importance of building a culture that is collaborative, creative, and handles challenges head-on. Make sure you listen to this epi...

This week we are joined by Kizik CEO Monte Deere as he discusses the brand's atmospheric rise over the past few years. Monte also shares his journey into the footwear industry and explains how Kizik's revolutionary hands-free shoes are changing the way we think about fit and function. Tune in to hear Monte's key insights and big plans for his rapidly growing shoe brand. With special guest: Monte D...

On this episode of Shoe-In Show podcast, presented by FDRA, Matt and Thomas head to Capitol Hill to check-in with Congressman Jared Moskowitz of Florida's 23rd Congressional District. As the founder of the Congressional Sneaker Caucus, Congressman Moskowitz shares why he loves sneakers so much and the importance they play in American society and culture. He also explains how the focus of the Congr...

Join us as we chat with Billy Price, cofounder of BILLY Footwear. Billy shares one of our most inspiring "shoe stories" of all time as he overcame a terrible accident to create an innovative shoe company focused on functional need and stylish designs. Consumers and retailers have responded in a powerful way to the amazing offerings BILLY Footwear provides. Something tells us they're just getting s...

In this great episode Glenn Barrett, founder and CEO of OrthoLite, shares his unique view on current and coming trends, and how brands can navigate continued change. We discuss how transparency, innovation, compliance and supply chain agility are all going to be major factors in 2024. With special guest: Glenn Barrett, Founder and CEO, OrthoLite Hosted by: Andy Polk and Matt Priest

Happy New Year from your friends at Shoe-In! This week we check in with our own Sandi Mines and Shannon Adducci of Footwear News to hear the hottest shoe trends for 2024. From the comfy footbed sandal to the pointed stiletto to Mary Janes and sneakers, we've got you covered on this week's episode. Watch the amazing interview here . With special guest: Shannon Adducci, Style Director, Footwear News...

Listen in as Team FDRA kicks back and recalls their recent white elephant gift exchange and unveils some of their holiday family traditions. On behalf of our entire team at FDRA and Shoe-In, we wish you a happy holiday and Happy New Year! With special guests: Team FDRA Hosted by: Team FDRA