Shoe-in

Join us to hear Marc's shoe story and how the D'Amelio family is creating a sustainable business model with their brand, D'Amelio Footwear. Marc will discuss their pop-up experience in LA, their design process, their presence at FFANY in New York this week, and much more. With special guest: Marc D'Amelio, CEO, D'Amelio Footwear Hosted by: Sandi Mines and Matt Priest

Matt, Andy, and Thomas provide their hot takes on the Biden-Xi meeting in San Francisco last week. They also break down the struggling Chinese economy, the positive China pivot towards the U.S., and how the Biden Administration and Capitol Hill might react to the elimination of 301 footwear duties. Hosted by: Matt Priest, Andy Polk and Thomas Crockett

Have you heard of the new mandatory Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive passed in the European Union? Ashton Zeller, Bloom's Chief Scientist, is here to explain what the directive means for companies who do business in Europe and how they can prepare. He offers insight into LCA's, third party auditing schemes, and how the directive requires companies to start gathering sustainability data. Tune in to learn how you can keep your business compliant with the new Directive! With special guest: Ashton Zeller, Chief Scientist, Bloom Hosted by: Matt Priest and Andy Polk

Gary Raines, FDRA's fearless economist, drops by Shoe-In Show to discuss surprise GDP numbers, current shoe inventory levels, and consumer spending heading into 2024. While GDP is up almost 5%, slowing consumer demand is causing concern. Gary explains how credit card debt, Buy Now Pay Later services, and other financial burdens will likely be headwinds for consumers in 2024. Tune in to learn more! With special guest: Gary Raines, Chief Economist, FDRA Hosted by: Matt Priest and Andy Polk

Dansko President Kitty Bolinger joins Matt and Sandi to outline her vision for the iconic shoe brand under her new leadership. As a sustainability trend setter and customer-centric company, Kitty and her team have a long history of creating great products from their innovative headquarters in Pennsylvania. Get the inside scoop on Kitty’s shoe story and learn actionable insights from this remarkable female shoe leader! With special guest: Kitty Bolinger, President, Dansko Hosted by: Matt Priest and Sandi Mines

Footwear industry veteran and successful entrepreneur Mike Gugat joins Shoe-In this week to discuss his children's shoe brand Jbrds. Mike and his team are developing innovative kids shoes designed by a podiatrist, and his innovative approach is attracting critical investment. Get the lastest on Mike’s entrepreneurial journey with Jbrds on this week’s episode. With special guest: Mike Gugat, Founder, Jbrds Hosted by: Matt Priest and Thomas Crockett

Matt and Thomas break down the latest FDRA Holiday Shoe Sales Forecast as the 2023 holiday shopping season kicks up into full gear. Listen in to better understand key shoe shopper insights in the face of continued inflation and a softening economy. Contact info@fdra.org to gain access to the full report. Hosted by: Matt Priest, President & CEO, FDRA and Thomas Crockett, Vice President, FDRA

Supply chain transparency is all the rage with new and emerging global regulations like the UFLPA and increased environmental standards. Join Matt and Thomas as they welcome supply chain visibility expert Marissa Brock to break down the effective ways in which Sourcemap supports the footwear and apparel industries under increased scrutiny. From an idea born at MIT to a global solutions company, Sourcemap is helping companies navigate emerging supply chain visibility trends today. With special guest: Marissa Brock, Sr. Director of Policy and Government Affairs, Sourcemap Hosted by: Matt Priest and Thomas Crockett

Shoe industry vet and retail leader Matt Lafone drops by Shoe-In to discuss with Matt and Andy his innovative approach to driving growth in the footwear industry and fostering an empowering culture for his coworkers and consumers. As President and GM of The Athlete's Foot, Matt leverages the retailer's franchising model to curate highly localized assortments in underserved markets and thoughtfully connect with customers at a local level. Tune in to learn to learn Matt's secrets to fostering diverse and impactful experiences for the entire Athlete's Foot community. With special guest: Matt Lafone, President & GM of Americas, The Athlete's Foot Hosted by: Matt Priest and Andy Polk

Sneaker Law founder and former Yeezy GC Kenneth Anand stops by Shoe-In to discuss his life-long passion for sneakers and his journey into turning his love of shoes into a successful career in the footwear industry. He also bats around critical intellectual property and legal hot topics with Matt and Thomas and discusses the next frontier in IP protection for brands and creators alike. Oh, and don't forget to buy his book here - https://www.sneakerlaw.com. With special guest: Kenneth Anand, Founder, Sneaker Law Hosted by: Matt Priest and Thomas Crockett

Listen in as Frank Lavin, Founder and Chairman of Export Now, stops by Shoe-In to discuss the current state of trade policy amidst the 2024 Republican presidential primary season. As former Under Secretary of International Trade, Ambassador to Singapore, and Reagan White House aid, Frank has tons of experience dealing with the challenging and fraught U.S.-China relationship. Discover his key insights during this enlightening conversation on global politics, trade liberalization, and more! With special guest: Frank Lavin, Founder and Chairman, Export Now Hosted by: Matt Priest and Andy Polk

As you prep your holiday sales plans, make sure you listen to our latest episode on the current economic landscape and its effects on consumer spending. Join Andy and Matt as they analyze the data to uncover the effects of the current economic environment and changes in the supply chain, all while looking at what the future holds for the economy.

Do you want to know how to navigate modern supply chain challenges and protect product from moisture and mold? Join us as we speak with Mike Hanrahan, Senior Vice President of Superdry International Americas, about the company's strategies for increasing efficiency, lowering costs, and making sure products are protected in transit. Discover the tips you need to navigate the ever-changing supply chain landscape! With special guest: Mike Hanrahan, Senior Vice President of Superdry International Americas Hosted by: Matt Priest and Andy Polk

NIKE's very own Chief Sustainability Officer Noel Kinder joins Matt and Andy to explore NIKE's innovative and transparent approach to all things sustainability. Noel shares his personal shoe story and delves into why NIKE has a Chief Sustainability Officer, along with details of his day-to-day responsibilities. He also discusses the evolution of Nike's science based sustainability strategy, which focuses on carbon reduction, waste reduction, reduced water consumption, and innovation around chemicals used in products. Tune in to get a firsthand account of the progress NIKE is making and to learn more about the company's ambitious goals. With special guest: Noel Kinder, Chief Sustainability Officer, NIKE Hosted by: Matt Priest and Andy Polk

American shoe manufacturing is going through a transformation and renaissance. Join us on this episode as we meet Okabashi's new CEO and hear about its new journey towards a new business model and way of doing business more sustainably! Their shoe factory is located in GA, which provides them a unique opportunity to transform. With special guests: Sara Irvani, Board of Directors, Okabashi Brands and Pepper Harward, CEO, Okabashi Brands Hosted by: Andy Polk and Matt Priest

Industry vet, serial entrepreneur, and FDRA friend Sean Williams drops in for a chat with Matt and Sabria about the newly minted SOLEcial Studies CommUNITY Academy (SSCA) in Brooklyn. With the support of Healing Soles and hip hop legend Ali Shahid Mohammed from A Tribe Called Quest, the sky's the limit for the SSCA. The possibilities have us buggin' out! Make sure you take a listen. With special guest: Sean Williams, Program Lead / Consultant / Curator, Obsessive Sneaker Disorder LLC / SOLEcial Studies CommUNITY Academy Hosted by: Matt Priest and Sabria Butler

Are you looking to make your packaging sustainable and cost-efficient? Look no further! Join us on the Shoe-In Show to hear from Mark Maxwell from Billerud, who will guide us through the process and talk about the importance of packaging in the era of sustainability. From understanding the supplies needed to shipping and right-sizing packaging, Mark will share his experience from working at Kmart and General Motors to help brands make their packaging more effective and efficient. Don't miss out on this exciting discussion of sustainability and packaging! With special guest: Mark Maxwell, Manager Global Accounts, Billerud Managed Packaging Division  Hosted by: Matt Priest and Thomas Crockett

Have you ever wondered what the biggest supply chain issues are in today's global trade market? Pete Mento, the Commercial Director of Customs and International Trade at DSV, joins Shoe-In to discuss the current chaos of the logistics and supply chain industry. Pete explains the challenges posed by evolving supply chains, a lack of free trade agreements, increased regulations, cyber security, and labor unrest. He suggests companies should "consider the worst" when it comes to supply chain resiliency, and suggests corporations use Dungeons & Dragons-style game plans to prepare for any potential worst-case scenarios. (you'll have to listen to the episode to even understand the title) With special guest: Pete Mento, Commercial Director of Customs and International Trade, DSV Hosted by: Matt Priest and Thomas Crockett

Shoes are in the middle of a major transition thanks to new plant based materials that are outperforming traditional materials. Jason Robinson, founder and CEO of Evoco, an innovation company focused on shoe sustainability, reveals how they are changing the shoe game with new bio-chemistry. Jason explains how they are crafting high-performance materials that are 70-80% bio-based, but more importantly why. Hear him explain the importance of sustainability and the innovation process behind it! With special guest: Jason Robinson, CEO, Evoco Hosted by: Andy Polk and Matt Priest

Listen in as Matt and Sandi connect with Alen Mamrout, CEO of the American Exchange Group, to unpack his recent acquisition of White Mountain. White Mountain's Robert Geller and Dennis Eichin join in on the conversation to explore the history of White Mountain, and why joining forces with Alen and the American Exchange Group is the "perfect marriage". Get the behind-the-scenes story on how the two dynamic companies came together to form a more perfect union. With special guests: Alen Mamrout, Chief Executive Officer, American Exchange Group, Robert Geller, Chief Revenue Officer, White Mountain International LLC and Dennis Eichin, Chief Sourcing Officer, White Mountain International LLC Hosted by: Matt Priest and Sandi Mines