Daniel Doerfler’s Post

Wolverine Worldwide World Wide's Work Group appointed Mike Maloney as Chief Product Officer. With 19+ years in the footwear industry at Adidas, Under Armour, and others, Maloney will lead product development and strategy for brands like Wolverine and Merrell Work. His expertise in merchandising and innovation aims to expand market reach and enhance consumer-focused footwear solutions. #Fibre2Fashion #f2f #apparel #textile #fashion #textileindustry #f2fnews Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gQgRN6W9

Meet Caroline Hieronymi - Project Manager, Apparel and Footwear Development 🌲 Passion drives us at Jack Wolfskin, and Caroline Hieronymi, our Project Manager for Apparel and Footwear Development, embodies that spirit every day. Her dedication to establishing and refining processes, as well as facilitating cross-departmental coordination, ensures everything runs smoothly—helping us bring our best gear to life. 🥾 What do you love most about your role? "I love the passion people show for our products, their jobs, collaboration, and constant improvement." 🥾 Favourite Outdoor Activity? "Hiking is my favorite activity because it can be done year-round with minimal gear. Spending time outdoors clears my mind and brings a great balance to office life. It's fascinating to observe the changing seasons and how they vary from year to year." 🥾 Wildest Adventure? "My most adventurous hikes happen in winter when there’s heavy snow. For every two steps forward, I fall one step back. These hikes are exhausting but exhilarating, and the peacefulness of the all-white landscape under a bright blue sky is unforgettable." 🥾 Favourite Jack Wolfskin Product? "I love my 3in1 jacket because it gives me the flexibility I need to hike in any weather."

How Big Companies Like Adidas and Nike Coming to India Affect Local Shoe Makers Hong Fu, a huge footwear manufacturer that supplies brands like Adidas, Nike, and Reebok, is opening a massive ₹1,500 crore factory in Tamil Nadu. This will create 25,000 jobs, mostly for women. While this sounds great for the economy, local shoemakers could face tough competition. Impact on Local Manufacturers Local companies like Bata India, Relaxo Footwears, Paragon Footwear, Lakhani Footwear, Khadim's, Liberty Shoes, and Action Shoes may struggle because: Big companies can sell shoes cheaper due to mass production. They have better technology and quality control. Local workers may move to bigger factories for higher pay. Can Small Shoemakers Survive? Yes, but they need to adapt by: Making unique, high-quality shoes that big brands don’t offer. Targeting local customers who prefer supporting local businesses. Collaborating with other small factories to share resources. While big companies like Hong Fu bring growth, local shoemakers must stay creative and focus on their strengths to survive. https://lnkd.in/d4Pf5V_5 https://lnkd.in/dcA8rjqv

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 The footwear industry has evolved over past few decades from distribution model led by Relaxo Footwears, Paragon, Walkaroo to retail led model by Bata India & Metro Brands, to online model by Campus Activewear. # Relaxo started as a B2B player manufacturing footwear for MNC players and later forward integrated by bringing its own brand ‘Relaxo’. They follow a distribution based model where they appoint area specific distributors who supply to MBO retailers. #  Bata India & Metro Brands are retail focused players. They sell own and third party brands under COCO / FOFO EBOs. # Campus started as a distribution based player but leveraged the online channel in the last few years to become a distribution plus a D2C player. # Thereafter many players entered the market such as Abros, Asian, JQR, Aqualite, Lancer and MNC brands such as Puma, Adidas, Nike, Reebok, Asics etc. following various models. # As a result, the footwear industry has become extremely competitive with many new players trying to establish itself either through distribution or online model. But there is an interesting theme emerging where a newly formed company has acquired a large footwear manufacturer who does contract work for many MNC and national brands plus acquired an Italian footwear brand to create a hybrid B2B plus B2C model. # With such intense competition in all channels and all price points, whether a hybrid model of B2B plus B2C where a company manufactures footwear for other players plus sell footwear under few of its own brands is the business model of future ? Time will tell.

Will Reliance Succeed in the Mass Market Footwear Segment? As someone involved in the footwear distribution business, I’ve been following Reliance’s entry into the mass market footwear segment with great interest. While there are challenges due to their lack of in-house manufacturing, there are also some significant advantages to their strategy. Let’s break it down: Pros: Financial Muscle for Aggressive Pricing: Reliance has significant financial resources, allowing them to implement aggressive pricing strategies. By leveraging economies of scale and offering competitive prices, they can attract cost-conscious consumers and capture a larger market share. Access to Expertise: Footwear manufacturing requires specialized knowledge, and partnering with experienced persons can allow Reliance to access top-tier technology and processes without having to build that expertise in house from scratch Brand Recognition and Trust: As one of the largest conglomerates in India, Reliance enjoys strong brand recognition and consumer trust.This plays a key role in their ability to make a mark! Cons: Cost Efficiency: Owning the manufacturing process often allows better control over production costs. Brands with their own manufacturing can optimize operations and pass those savings to consumers. Without this control, Reliance might struggle to compete on price. Quality Control: In a competitive market, quality is critical. Without direct oversight, Reliance could face challenges in ensuring consistent product quality, which is crucial for brand reputation and customer loyalty. Brand Identity: Owning the supply chain strengthens a brand’s identity by controlling the entire product lifecycle. Without in-house manufacturing, Reliance may find it harder to build a unique identity in the footwear market. What do you think? Will old age brands still hold the upper hand in this industry or Reliance can cause disruption with their deep pockets ?👇 #FootwearIndustry #BusinessStrategy #Reliance #Manufacturing #Retail #SupplyChain #BusinessEconomics #Innovation #Management

CELEBRATING 10 AMAZING YEARS OF SPEED, STYLE, AND SUCCESS! Coming from a business family, my passion for footwear has always been deeply ingrained in me. I decided to formalize that passion by pursuing a degree in footwear design from the Footwear Design and Development Institute. This experience was instrumental in shaping my journey. I learned the ins and outs of shoe construction, materials science, ergonomics, and even sustainable design practices. It equipped me with the tools I needed to transform my vision of creating the perfect performance footwear into reality. When I first set out to establish JQR Sports, the road wasn’t easy. From sourcing top-quality materials to finding manufacturers who could meet the exacting standards I had in mind, there were plenty of obstacles. But I’ve always believed that challenges exist to push us forward. With persistence and a relentless focus on innovation, I was able to launch shoes that not only offered lightweight designs but also provided exceptional cushioning—qualities that became synonymous with the JQR Sports brand. The name "JQR" stands for "Just Quick Run." I chose it because I believe speed and agility shouldn’t be exclusive to professional athletes; everyone deserves footwear that enhances their performance. This philosophy resonated deeply with our customers and helped us create something that was more than just a brand—it was a movement. Now, over a decade later, JQR Sports has evolved into something much bigger than I initially imagined. It’s not just a footwear company; it’s a lifestyle. We’ve stayed true to our commitment to innovative design and high-performance materials, carving out a distinct place in an industry where competition is fierce. My journey from a student of footwear design to the CEO of JQR Sports has been defined by perseverance, passion, and an unshakable commitment to innovation. I’ve always believed that success isn’t just about dreaming big—it’s about having the courage to chase those dreams, no matter the obstacles. With JQR Sports®, I’m not just building a company; I’m creating a brand that embodies my lifelong dedication to footwear excellence. . . . . . . #10YEARS #JQRSports #JustQuickRun #CEO #CEOLife #fashion #footwearindustry #shoes #sneakers

🏆 Throwback to a Major Milestone in Footwear Lifecycle Management! 🏆 came across while shuffling old files. 10 years ago, honored with the prestigious award for Best Lifecycle Management zone in the footwear at Bigbazaar! 🌟 It was a defining moment when our innovative strategies led to phenomenal results that exceeded all expectations. As it was the first year with the category and I started from zero about the category in a 2G world then. best part was the entire team was new at all levels . The one time ventured out of General Merchandise categories. In that remarkable year, we achieved an incredible 5 stock turn, demonstrating our unparalleled efficiency in managing product lifecycles. What's more impressive is that we accomplished an astounding 80% sales-through rate for both seasons at full price! 💰 Our success story was driven by a bold decision to focus on flip flops over traditional shoes in a hypermarket setting. This strategic pivot not only set us apart from the competition but also resonated with our customers on a whole new level. Reflecting on this achievement fills me with pride and gratitude for the dedicated team that worked tirelessly to make it all possible. It's a testament to what can be achieved through innovation, strategic thinking, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Here's to celebrating past victories and looking forward to even greater successes on the horizons Reflecting on past achievements has ignited a renewed passion within me to delve back into the world of footwear lifecycle management sometime down the line. The prospect of further exploring this category excites me, and I look forward to the day when I can immerse myself once again in its complexities and opportunities. #FootwearIndustry #CareerGrowth #LifelongLearning #FutureGoals #FootwearIndustry #LifecycleManagement #Innovation #SuccessStory #Throwbacksaturday

After several shoe collaborations with brands like Hey Dude and Oliver Cabell, Lee is set to launch its own footwear line next year. The Kontoor Brands, Inc.-owned denim label has inked a new licensing agreement with Jack Schwartz Shoes for Lee branded men’s footwear.

Footwear Friends! This fundamentals training class is a “must” for your teams. They will learn everything from the sole to the upper and everything in between. Click on the link below or contact me to learn more. See you in September! #footwear #leather #materials #sourcing #costing #colordesign #development #retail #demandplanning #fieldsales #marketing #strategy #merchandising #engineering #innovation #brandbuilders #ecomm #productcreation #productmanagement #operations #agents #gotomarket #digitalcreators #hideandskintraders #logistics #3D #hr #testing #legal #audit #dataanalysts #consumerinsights #manufacturing #foundationmanagers #sustainability #businesschange #storeplanners #golf #running #casual #performance #outdoor #military #hiking #knit #tennis #work #safety #dress #sandals