Jamie Arena’s Post

Don't call it a comeback! Foot Locker is focused on moving on up... like George and Weezy! *** The sneaker retailer recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, a high point after being flagged for potential bankruptcy earlier this year. CEO Mary Dillon’s "Lace Up" strategy is showing positive results, with the company surpassing fiscal expectations and mending its relationship with key partner Nike. Foot Locker's new store designs, revamped loyalty programs, and move away from mall locations are part of the efforts to modernize and appeal to consumers. However, its future remains uncertain. Competitors like DICK'S Sporting Goods and JD Sports Fashion offer more diversified products, and Foot Locker still relies heavily on brands like Nike. As direct-to-consumer sales rise, some question whether Foot Locker can remain relevant. The company’s success hinges on strong execution of its turnaround, keeping brand partners engaged, and adapting to a shifting retail landscape. The full story here, in more depth, by CNBC's Gabrielle Fonrouge - https://lnkd.in/eV-5YuZy *** #Retail #FootLocker #Sneakers #Apparel #Upswing #Business #News

🚀 A Milestone for the Basketball and Retail World 🏀 The recent reopening of Foot Locker's flagship store on New York City's iconic 34th Street marks a significant step forward in the retail experience, particularly for basketball enthusiasts. The "Home Court" concept, developed in collaboration with Nike and Jordan, is a testament to what can be achieved when #innovation meets #passion. As someone deeply immersed in the worlds of sales, retail, and sports—especially basketball—this partnership excites me beyond measure. The synergy between Foot Locker, Nike, and Jordan exemplifies the power of a shared vision, one that enhances the customer journey and connects more deeply with the culture surrounding the sport. Foot Locker’s strategic move to revamp its stores, including the introduction of cutting-edge technologies like 3D scanning and interactive experiences, aligns with the evolving needs of today's consumers. This approach not only modernizes the in-store experience but also ties into broader economic theories, such as the importance of differentiation and customer engagement in retail. By offering a unique and immersive environment, Foot Locker is not just selling products—it's creating a community, fostering brand loyalty, and driving long-term customer value. This collaboration also resonates with the economic principle of #coopetition, where competing brands like Puma, New Balance, and Adidas are featured alongside Nike and Jordan, under the Foot Locker roof. This strategy not only broadens the product offering but also reinforces Foot Locker's position as a hub for sneaker culture, rather than a single-brand outlet. I’m particularly inspired by Foot Locker’s commitment to transforming two-thirds of its global store footprint, a bold move that reflects the company’s understanding of the importance of adaptability and responsiveness to market shifts. This is especially relevant as we see a growing trend towards omni-channel retailing, where seamless integration between physical and digital channels is key to staying competitive. As a passionate follower of the retail landscape and a lifelong basketball fan, I can’t wait to see how this partnership will continue to evolve. Kudos to Foot Locker, Nike, and Jordan for pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in retail and sports. 👏 #RetailInnovation #BasketballCulture #SalesPassion #Nike #Jordan #FootLocker #Omnichannel #CustomerExperience #SneakerCulture #EconomicTheory

2024 will go down as the year that the unicorns came down to earth and collapsed. Outdoor Voices is shuttering its retail doors and going back to a direct to consumer model. They were unable to see a path to profitability as many other DTC brands have been challenged. Even Mickey Drexler the genius behind Gap and J Crew was unable to find a strategy to course correct the company. It has had a revolving door of CEOs which probably reflects the challenges of the company. The activewear space has been so competitive as of late with lululemon Alo Yoga and Vuori being the market leaders. #storeclosures #retailing #activewear #dtcbrands

Lots of conversation lately about Nike's challenges and their new CEO appointment. However, the real turnaround story might be Foot Locker. Nike recently pulled back from retail partners like Foot Locker, attempting a direct-to-consumer strategy that didn't quite pan out. Meanwhile, under CEO Mary Dillon, Foot Locker launched the "Lace Up" plan and is now back on a growth trajectory. Foot Locker faces a challenge common to many retailers: How to provide value in the mid-market? They're under attack from multiple angles - the growing luxury sneaker market, specialty sports retailers like Dick's, and discount channels like TJ Maxx and DSW. So how does a company create a differentiated value proposition in this space? In 2002, Foot Locker held a 20% market share and sold 1/3 of all Nikes. By 2022, Nike was reducing their allocation in favor of competitors. Enter Mary Dillon, fresh from Ulta Beauty - a case study of mid-market success in cosmetics retail. Dillon's bringing the Ulta playbook to Foot Locker. The goal? Not to get customers to buy more sneakers, but to buy more of their sneakers at Foot Locker. Their strategy focuses on convenience, loyalty, and quality of service at a price point more affordable than luxury retailers. While Nike remains their largest partner, Foot Locker is diversifying, focusing more on brands like Hoka, On, Birkenstock, and Ugg. They're also redesigning stores to feature brand areas, moving away from the shoe walls they were famous for. In an era where many retailers are adopting private labels to improve profitability, Foot Locker stands out as one of the few multi-brand retailers left standing. Their multi-brand focus can be what saves them. People like to compare shoes and an experience that includes quality service moves them beyond price based/commodity purchase behaviours. The question remains: Can Foot Locker survive where so many others have failed? Their strategy seems sound, but only time will tell if they can maintain their footing in this challenging retail landscape. #midmarket #retail #footlocker #nike

🔥 The Gap Comeback is Real! 🔥 🚀 Under the creative leadership of Zac Posen and new CEO Richard Dickson, Gap Inc. is making waves in the retail world once again! 🎯 By focusing on market research, leveraging cultural relevance, and making strategic brand collaborations, the iconic brand is re-energizing its four flagship brands: Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta. 👗 From viral moments, like Anne Hathaway's hit Gap shirt dress, to fresh campaigns with stars like Tyla and Troye Sivan, Gap is reconnecting with customers in a BIG way! 🎉 📊 The numbers don't lie – Gap Inc.'s shares have surged over 100% in the past year! 🚀 Gap’s focus on brand evolution, creative vision, and product relevance is proving that staying innovative and paying attention to market insights truly drives growth and success. 💡 The comeback story is just beginning, and it’s definitely one to watch! 👀💼

Yesterday I had a call with Tommy Hilfiger, here are my takeaways: - create aspirational products (make the customer feel like they are now part of a “cool kids club”) - masstiege (prestige for the masses, affordable yet aspirational) - luck is made through hard work (if you get lucky it’s because the hard work you’ve put in leading up to that “luck”) - if you don’t understand your business, it will go out of business (understand the numbers, the REAL business) - products that WOW (surprise the consumer) #tommyhilfiger #corporategifting #brandbuilding #hamptonchocolatefactory

Remember when GAP was cool? For a while, it felt like they’d lost complete relevance. But in the last year or so, they’ve made some bold moves to reposition themselves, and it’s working. Through clever collaborations, like Sean Wotherspoon as their Global Vintage Curator and Troye Sivan fronting their Fall campaign, GAP is finding ways to make waves again. By tapping into cultural moments that matter, they’ve reignited the nostalgia and relevancy people connect with. *cough* let’s not mention Yeezy *cough* but partnerships with Doên and Dapper Dan have helped GAP reposition themselves as more than just a high street brand—they're becoming a leader in vintage and streetwear spaces. GAP hasn’t changed what it sells, affordable basics. But the way they’ve positioned themselves to the consumer has made it attractive again. The real takeaway? Whether you're a brand, business, agency, or institution, repositioning is key to staying relevant. Look to culture, buyers, and the market for inspiration on how to move in the right direction. GAP is showing us how a fresh perspective and strategic collaborations can bring a brand back to life, without losing sight of its core identity. #BrandStrategy #Repositioning

Some inspiration from VIVALDI_ LDN for you this Monday morning – a recap from our recent meet up and the topics we were debating in context of our work in brand, tech and creativity. 🦩 Lauren Hughes kicked things off with Marks and Spencer's refreshing "Pumped For Summer" campaign. She loved how the brand embraced a social-first approach to capture the essence of summer in a way that resonates with younger audiences. This is yet another step in their transformation over the past year in product and communication. https://lnkd.in/g7qDJ9D6 🐝 Bumble created quite a buzz with its recent rebranding, but did it land? While the cryptic teasers leading up to the reveal were undeniably intriguing, the overall created quite a lot of confusion. Tom Young highlighted the importance of a clear connection between a brand’s product or service and its marketing message, to ensure new identities resonate with existing users. 🦈 Priyal Kumar was impressed by Gymshark’s lightning-fast reaction to the Met Gala. Its "Sweat Gala" recreated iconic red carpet looks with the brand’s own apparel, showcasing its mastery of social media responsiveness. This is a perfect example of "moving at the speed of culture" to capitalise on trending moments. 🛒 A creative #OOH stunt by Waitrose & Partners caught Felix Gittins’ attention this week. With a more playful and trendy marketing approach, the supermarket launched a purposefully wonky billboard to communicate its falling prices, which was then cordoned off by the local council by mistake. Waitrose capitalised on the situation by engaging the council on social media, joining the growing trend of supermarkets using humour to spark conversation and stand out in a crowded market. Do you think the whole thing was a set-up, and does that even matter? 🏥 Kieran Salter highlighted FIGS Scrubs' heart-warming National Nurses Week campaign. Its focus on celebrating nurses as heroes and breaking stereotypes resonated with the team, who think it’s a refreshing reminder of the power of purpose-driven marketing. 📱Finally, Apple At a time when people are questioning the power of technology, does it promote the destruction of the human experience, or is it simply a spectacle to be enjoyed? Either way it has created conversation, which compared with some recent #blanding by tech giants may not be a bad thing in the long run. System1 testing seems to have born out that real people feel the dismay of many marketeers but spoiler not all the team agreed! What do you think? #creativity #campaigns #branding #socialmedia #marketing #MetGala #Bumble #Gymshark #Apple #FIGSScrubs #Waitrose #brand #fashion

So both Allbirds and Outdoor Voices have announced the closing of several storefronts- some rather abruptly. They were celebrated for their innovative (and often sustainable) breakthroughs-- why are we always seeing this ebb and flow of interest sustainable #DTC? It's fake sticky. We as consumers need to do some serious reflection on our role in the marketplace. Outdoor Voices, under the leadership of Ty Haney, carved out a niche distinct from the mainstream, advocating for the joy in simply "Doing Things" rather than chasing the next big trend. They existed, for me, as something bigger than a garment brand: a reflection of the type of active person I wanted to be recognized as. I wanted in on the club. This shift serves as a critical reminder of our complacency and the transient #loyalty we often exhibit towards brands striving to make a difference. The rapid turnover of #trendcycles, fueled by our "buy, buy, buy" mentality, poses a grave threat not just to visionary companies but to our planet and an individual's financial goals. As we lament the closing of these stores, let's also confront the underlying issues: our collective pursuit of convenience and the next fleeting trend. Reassess your consumer habits and let's encourage a more sustainable and mindful marketplace. #sustainability #consumerbehavior #Allbirds #OutdoorVoices

Nike’s current, frantic backtracking on their wholesale-DTC strategy is fascinating to watch and has major implications for the outdoor industry. A lot has been written about how the loss of wholesale business has directly impacted overall revenue levels or how they missed the synergistic impact of physical retail presence to their overall DTC business. What’s less reported is that focusing so much time and energy on running DTC took their eye off the ball on product innovation. This is important for the outdoor industry because many outdoor brands looked to Nike as a strategic benchmark and bellwether. This was particularly true of The North Face, whose leadership would privately voice their vision of being “the Nike of outdoor.” They closely watched and followed Nike’s strategies, going so far as to hire the VP of Nike Direct North America as their Global Brand President in early 2022. Within a month of her arrival, Moosejaw was informed that our 30-year relationship with TNF would be ending that fall. The sales folks at TNF knew that this was not a good move, as Moosejaw clearly didn’t fall into the category of “undifferentiated retail”, but sacrificial lambs were needed, and we were a big enough target to show meaningful progress toward the new edict. Fast forward two years and TNF is back at Moosejaw, and TNF has a new global leader. So what lessons should outdoor industry brands take away from all of this? 1.     When looking at an aspirational benchmark brand, don’t assume that all of their strategies are good just because their overall business is good. 2.     Be careful when implementing tactics from other industries and make sure you are mindful of what makes the outdoor industry unique (which it is in so many ways). 3.     Always ask, “how does this benefit our customer” when considering any strategy. Does the customer benefit when you take away the ability to touch and see the product in their local market and push them online? 4.     Remember that people and relationships matter in life and in business. #OutdoorIndustry