Vicki M. Young

1 day ago | sourcingjournal.com | Vicki M. Young

As store closings continue to ripple across the retail landscape, footwear companies such as On Holding AG and Deckers Outdoor Corp., owner of Hoka and Ugg, should hold their own. That’s because the two, along with Ralph Lauren Corp., have a direct-to-consumer focus along with high pricing power. Those two advantages put the three firms in the best positioned spot to navigate retail disruption, according to UBS retail analyst Michael Lasser.

2 days ago | sourcingjournal.com | Vicki M. Young

Puma on Tuesday proved that it is bucking the trend among some firms that have pulled back on sustainability and ESG goals. A new sustainability report said the German firm has achieved its goal of making nine out of 10 products from recycled or certified materials in 2024, as well as further progress in the areas of circularity, climate and human rights.

1 week ago | sourcingjournal.com | Vicki M. Young

In the world of softlines, the footwear sector is in better shape than its apparel counterpart should the U.S. economy fall into a recession. “Footwear is more resilient than apparel,” concluded Morgan Stanley equity analyst Alex Straton in a research note that addressed recession risks against the backdrop of rising tariffs. The spate of tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald J. Trump has many on Wall Street cautioning about a possible recession ahead.

2 weeks ago | sourcingjournal.com | Vicki M. Young

Following U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s launch of a global trade war, one thing is certain for fashion and footwear companies: prices are going up and margins are going down. But just how high will prices go, and what the percentage decline in profits could be for 2025 and perhaps going into 2026, remains subject to debate. Trump’s reciprocal tariffs of 50 percent of the duties other countries levy on U.S. exports, with a 10 percent minimum, also raise some unknowns.

3 weeks ago | sourcingjournal.com | Vicki M. Young

Footwear executives have never been as pessimistic as they are now, according to a Q1 Shoe Executive Business Survey from The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA). The survey’s data points, disclosed on Monday, revealed growing concerns among the respondents over rising costs, weakening consumer demand, and ongoing impact from tariffs. The latest report indicates that 87 percent of respondents expect a weaker economy over the next six months.