Shoe-in

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

Do you want to hear about the current state of footwear retail from an industry expert? Doug Howe, the CEO of Designer Brands, joins Shoe-In Show to talk about the family-oriented and collaborative nature of the footwear industry, the recent acquisition of Keds, the return of NIKE, and his economic expectations for the rest of the year. With special guest: Doug Howe, President & CEO, Designer Brands, Inc. Hosted by: Matt Priest and Sandi Mines

Have you heard of the Congressional Sneaker Caucus? It's a bipartisan movement that's bringing people together over a love of shoes! On June 21st, the first ever Sneaker Day was held on Capitol Hill and it was a huge success. Over 75 people, both House and Senate members and congressional staff, got together to show off their shoes, have conversations, and celebrate the impact of sneakers on culture. Representatives Moskowitz and Chavez-DeRemer shared their personal collections and even handed out awards for the "best sneakers". Sneaker Day was a refreshing moment of fun in an era of political partisanship. Don't miss out on this amazing footwear movement! Hosted by: Matt Priest, CEO, FDRA and Thomas Crockett, Vice President, Government Affairs, FDRA

In this captivating episode of Shoe-In Show, hosts Matt and Sandi sit down with the esteemed Kelly Helfman, President of Informa Markets Fashion, to explore the ever-changing landscape of the footwear trade shows. With her wealth of knowledge and experience, Kelly dives deep into the exciting trends and innovations shaping the future of these essential events with a key focus on Informa's successful foray into Nashville and longstanding presence in Las Vegas and New York. Get ready to step into the future of footwear trade shows with Kelly on this enlightening episode. With special guest: Kelly Helfman, President of Informa Markets Fashion

In this episode of Shoe-In Show, our Matt and Andy welcome Mike Piza, Senior Vice President at Apex Logistics International, to delve into the fascinating world of supply chain management. As an industry expert, Mike shares valuable insights on the current state of the logistics landscape, including the impact of container rates, emerging air freight trends, and strategies for optimizing supply chain operations. Join us as we unravel the complexities of the global logistics industry and uncover the secrets to successful navigation in an ever-evolving market. With special guest: Mike Piza, Senior Vice President, Apex Logistics International

The shoe marketplace is as dynamic and changing as ever. Hear how companies are adjusting strategy to find the right level of inventory and price to pair with consumers who continue to spend but are becoming more picky thanks to a lighter purse/wallet. With special guests: Team FDRA

Listen in as Matt and Thomas sit down with Cesar Sanchez of the Port of Long Beach. Together, they delve into the current state of trade at the port, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities faced by one of the busiest ports in the world. The conversation touches upon the ongoing labor contract negotiations between port workers and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and explores the impact of these negotiations on the overall efficiency and productivity of the port. Additionally, they delve into the strategic investments being made in the port's supply chain infrastructure to enhance operational capacities and maintain its competitive edge in the global trade landscape. Tune in for an insightful discussion that offers a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse into the bustling world of international trade and the crucial role played by the Port of Long Beach. With special guest: Cesar Sanchez, Business Development Manager, Port of Long Beach

This week, Matt and Thomas dive into the complexities of supply chain visibility and mapping within the footwear industry. Joined by Suzanne van Huijgevoort, Associate Director, Advisory, and Myrna Grief, Director Supplier Market Development from Elevate, an LRQ Company, the experts shed light on the pressing issue of forced labor considerations and discuss the significant impact of the UFLPA. Additionally, they explore FDRA's innovative Shoe Waste program, aimed at reducing environmental impact and waste within the shoe manufacturing process. Tune in to gain valuable insights into ethical practices and innovative solutions driving positive change in the footwear industry. With special guests: Suzanne van Huijgevoort, Associate Director, Advisory, Elevate, an LRQ Company and Myrna Grief, Director Supplier Market Development from Elevate, an LRQ Company

In this episode of Shoe-In Show, Matt and Sandi sit down with Pat Mooney, the President and CEO of Footwear Unlimited, for a lifetime's worth of footwear insights. From his start in the warehouse to sourcing in Taiwan and India to back to St. Louis, Pat has a wealth of experience navigating the global footwear industry. Listen in as we discuss Pat's iconic brands like Frye and Spyder and the amazing team that drives Footwear Unlimited's growth and longevity. With special guest: Pat Mooney, President & CEO, Footwear Unlimited

In this episode of Shoe-In Show, Matt and Sandi sit down with Dave Schoengart, CEO of Shoe Sensation, to discuss his unorthodox journey from fire fighter to the helm of one of America's best family footwear chains. Dave shares his insights on everything from customer service and store placement to his love of horse racing and bourbon. With special guest: Dave Schoengart, Chief Executive Officer at Shoe Sensation, Inc.

Shoe foam is going  through a transformation as more recycled content is added, as well as bio-content, to make them more green. The trick is making sure the performance and costs are within range. Katie from Dynamic foam shares how the math can work for your brand! With special guest: Katie O’Hara, Director of Account Management, Dynamic Foam

Companies can no longer operate like its 2019 thanks to continued consumer shifts and new and growing risks across supply chains. A former Crocs PD manager joins us to share the headaches everyone using old systems are facing and what they need to do to update strategy and systems. He explains what better operations look like - smarter, easier, faster, less risk and more cost controlled - through a Centric Software PLM system that organizes teams and data. With special guest: Matt Nakari, Sales Director, Centric Software

With shoe retailers placing new RFID requirements on brands in the coming year, we wanted to bring in an expert to help our industry navigate this technology. That's why Josh Macy of Maxim Label & Packaging stopped by to educate Matt and Thomas on all things RFID and footwear. With special guest: Josh Macy, Strategic Business Development, Maxim Label & Packaging

New customer rules and state regulations are causing companies to rethink and revise their sustainability strategies. Dr. Andrew Hudson shares what is happening and how to think and structure sustainability strategy, step by step, that will succeed! With special guests: Dr. Andrew Hudson, Managing Director at Eurofins | BLC Leather Technology Centre Ltd

Prasad Reddy, CEO of Twisted X discusses how Sustainability is one of the core competencies of the company and how the boot business is positioned for growth. With special guest: Prasad Reddy, CEO, Twisted X

In the era of elevated supply chain, warehousing, and labor costs, Farrow Logistics' own Steven Crerar drops in Shoe-In to discuss creative solutions that drive savings. Strong ties with your supply chain partners is a must as Steven guides Matt and Thomas on ways in which the shoe industry can take advantage of their current and potential partnerships. With special guests: Steven Crerar, Director of Business Development, Warehousing, Farrow Logistics Solutions

Imaging and scanning innovator Franz Tschimben drops in to discuss new scanning and technology innovations driving digital product engagement. Sandi and Matt explore the ways in which Covision is helping footwear brands drive high resolution, interactive imaging to the industry and its consumers. Franz also helps articulate the future AI applications available to brands using his company's solution. With special guest: Franz Tschimben, Co-Founder, Covision Media

We love new shoe brands and their stories! This great episodes goes into why QUADSis was founded for "tweens." The Co-founders, and our friend Caroline de Baere who helped them get started, share their journey and lessons learned from designing and manufacturing their shoes - with an eye on style and health for girls - to their public launch and now efforts to grow. With special guests: Janet Ward and Stephanie Guido, Co-Founders, QUADS Designs and Caroline de Baere, Footwear Professor and Shoe Brand Consultant

This is not another CNN war report, though our guest is a regular on CNN! This episode is a serious discussion with a leading warfare and geopolitics expert on how shoe companies can better understand the War in Ukraine, and its broader impact on footwear (sales, sourcing, supply chains). A must listen! With special guest: Ryan Evans, CEO, War on the Rocks & Bedrock Learning