Shoe-in

Sneaker historian, podcaster, trailblazer, teacher, curator, host, father (you get the picture, Renaissance man) Sean Williams joins Matt and Sandi to explore his love of all things sneaker culture. From his start in Brooklyn to his days now helping support the amazing work of Pensole Lewis College, Sean is working all angles in support of this industry we love. Oh, and he launched a shoe podcast (Obsessive Sneaker Disorder) way back in 2007, so you have Sean to thank for inspiring Shoe-In. With special guest: Sean Williams, Engagement Manager, Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design

FDRA's newest amazing employee Jolie Gracia stops by Shoe-In to discuss with Matt and Sabria her recent arrival to the organization and to share some key insights into her background. As you can imagine, we're all excited Jolie is here! With special guest: Jolie Gracia, Marketing and Events Assistant, FDRA

Industry veteran Greg Tunney is back, this time at the helm of the iconic Canadian brand Manitobah Mukluks. Joining Greg is Daman Morissette, Director of Social Impact, as they explore the rich and proud history of their brand's partnership with indigenous artisans and peoples making amazing footwear. With special guests: Greg Tunney, Chief Executive Officer, President and Member of the Board of Directors at Manitobah Mukluks and Daman Morissette, Director of Social Impact at Manitobah Mukluks

First Insight CEO Greg Petro joins to discuss holiday and 2023 retail outlook, strategy and consumer trends. We get into great discussions on retail strategy including price, inventory and how consumers are shifting. We also discuss how First Insight is helping their partners move old inventory strategically! With special guest: Greg Petro, CEO, First Insight

Team FDRA covers some of our latest data and analysis looking at the footwear marketplace - especially related to record imports against already high inventory levels and what that means for pricing. With special guests: Team FDRA

Matt, Thomas, and Andy gather to discuss the recent deal to avoid a rail shutdown and the importance of footwear workers getting involved in the political process this mid term election. FDRA is back with it’s critical shoevoter.info website, empowering American footwear workers to register to vote, find their polling location, understand key voting deadlines, and more! With special guests: TEAM FDRA

Footwear industry veteran Kristin Burrows joins Sandi and Matt to reminisce about her storied career in the shoe industry and unveil the many ways in which OrthoLite is helping footwear companies chart a sustainability course. With special guest: Kristin Burrows, Chief Brand Officer, OrthoLite

Footwear sales have been going well for much of the year, but as summer ends and families have to pay off those vacation bills what does that mean for sales this fall? Team FDRA jumps in to discuss different factors that are impacting consumer income and spending power. A must-listen episode to ensure you prepare for Fall Sales 2022!

Live from a taped discussion at the New York Stock Exchange, listen in as a panel of footwear sourcing experts explore a variety of critical topics impacting shoe sourcing and supply chains in 2022. Wolverine Worldwide's own Jim Zwiers hosts Jung Yoon, Ronnie Robinson, and Tom Iredale for a fascinating discussion you have to hear to believe. With special guests: Jim Zwiers, EVP, Wolverine Worldwide, Jung Yoon, Divisional Vice President of Production and Sourcing, Michael Kors, Ronnie Robinson, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Designer Brands, and Tom Iredale​, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Jones & Vining

Factory compliance and social audit expert James McMichael drops by Shoe-In to discuss the ever-changing compliance landscape facing shoe companies today. With increased regulatory initiatives taking shape and more and more jurisdictions requiring enhanced ESG reporting and supply chain visibility, James' company Mosaic is here to help drive better due diligence and informed compliance for FDRA member companies. With special guest: James McMichael, Founder & Managing Partner, MOSAIC Responsible Supplier Resource

Sneaker Impact CEO Moe Hachem and shoe industry veteran John Licata join Andy and Sandi to talk about their amazing shoe stories and how they drive critical environmental change through Sneaker Impact. Check out sneakerimpact.com to learn more about how to change the world one pair of sneakers at a time. With special guests: Moe Hachem, CEO, Sneaker Impact and John Licata, Founder & President, 360 Consulting Solutions

From Nordstrom to DSW to Sunrise Brands, Michele Love's shoe story is like none other. Join Matt and Andy as they sit back and take in the many epic stories Michele has to offer. And something tells us that in spite of the many years she has already served in the footwear industry, Michele is just getting started. With special guest: Michele Love, CEO, Sunsrise Brands - Footwear & Accessories Division

Industry analyst Sam Poser stops by Shoe-In to discuss what Wall Street's expectations are for the increased inventory levels seen across many consumer goods industries including footwear. Listen in as the boys discuss the difficult nature of demand and product planning during such unprecedented times. With special guest: Sam Poser, Equity Analyst, Williams Trading

Crocs president and shoe industry leader Michelle Poole joins Matt and Sandi as they discuss Michelle's vision and plan to drive Crocs to even greater heights. Listen in as the gang discusses Crocs' ongoing phenomenal success, how Michelle brought relevancy to the iconic brand over the past few years, and her amazing plans to ensure consumers of all stripes keep reaching for a pair when they shop for shoes. Oh, and learn more about Crocs' amazing collaborations from Balenciaga to Post Malone to KFC and even Cinnamon Toast Crunch! With special guest: Michelle Poole, President, Crocs

Matt and Thomas welcome Joel Boff and Arvi Kaur of CohnReznick to explore top savings and risk mitigation methods for footwear companies. This includes the understanding of Pass-Through Entity Taxes (PTET) and discovering the impact nexus studies have on ecommerce sales in various states. Listen to this critical episode and learn more at https://www.cohnreznick.com. With special guests: Joel Boff, Partner, CohnReznick and Arvi Kaur, State & Local Senior Tax Manager, CohnReznick

Wolverine Worldwide President & CEO Brendan Hoffman checks-in with Matt and Andy to discuss his plans to transform the iconic footwear company in the months and weeks ahead. With a strong team and an innovative vision, Brendan shows why he is well-suited to lead Wolverine to new heights. With special guest: Brendan Hoffman, President & CEO, Wolverine Worldwide

Live from New York we have a recording of Team FDRA as they download on all the latest trends and intel from the June FFANY Market Week. Catch up with Matt, Andy, Sandi and Sabria as they explore the many different themes they heard from footwear companies and executives. With special guests: Matt Priest, Andy Polk, Sandi Mines, Sabria Butler

Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero joins Matt and Thomas on Shoe-In to discuss the ongoing labor negotiations between the PMA and the ILWU as the current contract between the two sides expires. Mario also discusses lessons learned during the COVID supply chain crisis, important investments being made for the future movement of goods at the port, and that time the leader of the free world mispronounced his name and it went viral. With special guest: Mario Cordero, Executive Director, Port of Long Beach

Ecomm returns are margin killers, but there is a solution for brands and retailers! This episode explores how Aetrex's technology is helping increase consumer confidence in fit and comfort - boosting sales without returns! With special guests: Matt Schwartz, Chief Revenue Officer, Aetrex, Inc. and Jeff Stern, Senior Vice President, Brand GM at Rocky Brands, Inc.

Rack Room Shoes' fearless leader Mark Lardie joins Shoe-In to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the iconic family footwear retailer. The gang also discusses the multiple once-in-a-generation challenges currently hitting the footwear industry and how Mark's bullish plans for retail, inventory, and personnel are driving the company towards growth. With special guest: Mark Lardie, President & CEO, Rack Room Shoes