Elizabeth Drori’s Post

Footwear is undergoing a revolution. New brands and ideas are challenging established players and conventions. For new entrants, it's all to play for. With so much competition, creating a long term brand platform in the category is both daunting and exciting. But when the product is as truly innovative as Kizik it's worth the effort. My final agency project before I went brand-side was developing Kizik’s positioning, platform and GTM strategy: “Motion Is Magic.” Kizik is a genuine innovation in a market built on great leaps. It is the first actual hands-free footwear. A thoughtful DTC-focused approach and word-of-mouth had successfully powered the business. 62% say they wear their Kiziks more than three times per week. 40% of repeat purchase within 30 days of buying their first pair. But how do you turn that product into the next billion-dollar footwear business? How do you widen the aperture of who Kizik is for? You start with brand—an idea that every consumer can understand and see in themselves. Developed at YARDNYC Motion Is Magic is that brand platform. It’s not a passive invitation; it’s infused with action and dynamism for everyone who embraces a life in motion. Repositioning hands-free away from problem/solution to a more expansive, exploratory view of the world. All are built through broader modern culture and the consumer’s life. In the same way “Just Do It” creates both an invitation and challenge, Motion Is Magic power comes from making the brand and product beats to come to life through people, communities, and moments where “Motion” matters most. What you’re doing, where you’re going. Practical and aspirational. The ability to unlock that is where the platform turns into a true Brand Universe, where all channels and tactics and activities augment the larger idea. “Just” like the idea that inspired them. Kizik’s evolving design ethos and increasing product variety mean consumers can experience the brand from different angles. That flexibility to play up and down a product pyramid and build a broader fan base (aspirational, core, specialist) reinforces the platform’s efficacy and the stories it can communicate. The platform also reinforces the global nature of Kizik’s growth path. It can work anywhere, with anyone. The pop-up in SoHo (via MG2 Design) shows how retail can turn hands-free into moments of drama. Motion Is Magic primes the brand to bring this world to life over the next few years. Broad and niche moments, brand stories, and product stories. Buzz-building collaborations and brand-elevating partnerships. Maintaining existing buyers’ brand love and loyalty while introducing the hands-free category to wider audiences while driving continued innovation. A go-to brand for discovery and rediscovery of a life in motion. That’s the power of a great brand platform. Congratulations to the Kizik and Yard NYC teams on bringing this to fruition for launch. Proud to be associated with it. https://ow.ly/azHa50RtqGA

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜'𝗺 𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗔 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 As a dedicated fan of the Skechers brand, I can confidently say I wear them all the time. From slip-ons for walking my dog, to dress shoes for formal events, and even golf shoes, Skechers has me covered for every occasion. My wife introduced me to the brand and urged me to try them out. The moment I did, I was sold. No other shoe offers the same level of comfort. Spending hours on my feet, particularly when leading a room for eight hours straight, means comfort is a non-negotiable necessity. 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀. While Skechers utilizes B-list celebrity endorsements and maintains a robust social media presence, the brand's real strength lies in its exceptional comfort. This focus on product experience has set Skechers apart, creating a comfort brand that exceeds consumer expectations. 𝗧𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀'𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. This 'comfort' brand positioning strategy has won Skechers a loyal fan base. Our case study delves into how Skechers has successfully navigated the competitive footwear market to become a beloved brand. We explore Skechers' approach to product innovation, brand positioning, and retail engagement, revealing how they have captured market share and forged lasting emotional connections with their brand fans. 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: https://lnkd.in/gunwSAmW

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜'𝗺 𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗔 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 As a dedicated fan of the Skechers brand, I can confidently say I wear them all the time. From slip-ons for walking my dog, to dress shoes for formal events, and even golf shoes, Skechers has me covered for every occasion. My wife introduced me to the brand and urged me to try them out. The moment I did, I was sold. No other shoe offers the same level of comfort. Spending hours on my feet, particularly when leading a room for eight hours straight, means comfort is a non-negotiable necessity. 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀. While Skechers utilizes B-list celebrity endorsements and maintains a robust social media presence, the brand's real strength lies in its exceptional comfort. This focus on product experience has set Skechers apart, creating a comfort brand that exceeds consumer expectations. 𝗧𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀'𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. This 'comfort' brand positioning strategy has won Skechers a loyal fan base. Our case study delves into how Skechers has successfully navigated the competitive footwear market to become a beloved brand. We explore Skechers' approach to product innovation, brand positioning, and retail engagement, revealing how they have captured market share and forged lasting emotional connections with their brand fans. 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: https://lnkd.in/gp3TpmfQ

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜'𝗺 𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗔 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 As a dedicated fan of the Skechers brand, I can confidently say I wear them all the time. From slip-ons for walking my dog, to dress shoes for formal events, and even golf shoes, Skechers has me covered for every occasion. My wife introduced me to the brand and urged me to try them out. The moment I did, I was sold. No other shoe offers the same level of comfort. Spending hours on my feet, particularly when leading a room for eight hours straight, means comfort is a non-negotiable necessity. 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀. While Skechers utilizes B-list celebrity endorsements and maintains a robust social media presence, the brand's real strength lies in its exceptional comfort. This focus on product experience has set Skechers apart, creating a comfort brand that exceeds consumer expectations. 𝗧𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀'𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. This 'comfort' brand positioning strategy has won Skechers a loyal fan base. Our case study delves into how Skechers has successfully navigated the competitive footwear market to become a beloved brand. We explore Skechers' approach to product innovation, brand positioning, and retail engagement, revealing how they have captured market share and forged lasting emotional connections with their brand fans. 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: https://lnkd.in/gunwSAmW

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜'𝗺 𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗔 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 As a dedicated fan of the Skechers brand, I can confidently say I wear them all the time. From slip-ons for walking my dog, to dress shoes for formal events, and even golf shoes, Skechers has me covered for every occasion. My wife introduced me to the brand and urged me to try them out. The moment I did, I was sold. No other shoe offers the same level of comfort. Spending hours on my feet, particularly when leading a room for eight hours straight, means comfort is a non-negotiable necessity. 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀. While Skechers utilizes B-list celebrity endorsements and maintains a robust social media presence, the brand's real strength lies in its exceptional comfort. This focus on product experience has set Skechers apart, creating a comfort brand that exceeds consumer expectations. 𝗧𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀'𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. This 'comfort' brand positioning strategy has won Skechers a loyal fan base. Our case study delves into how Skechers has successfully navigated the competitive footwear market to become a beloved brand. We explore Skechers' approach to product innovation, brand positioning, and retail engagement, revealing how they have captured market share and forged lasting emotional connections with their brand fans. 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: https://lnkd.in/gunwSAmW

ICYMI: Footwear brand KEEN leveled up with Myagi by Rallyware's sales enablement tech to ramp up engagement and brand loyalty - big time. Dive into the highlights from their stellar customer story to see how the brand is scoring top marks in content quality: https://lnkd.in/gTM_n7yT #SalesPerformance #FrontlineEnablement

Hey Everyone,😊  » I am happy to share my recent Power-BI Project, titled"𝐀𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬". This Project data contain Adidas sales data for different retailers, including Foot Locker, Walmart, and Sports Direct, over a period of time in 2020. » This dashboard allows you to Analyze how sales and profitability vary over time for each retailer, to understand the overall sales trends, top-selling products, to see impact of sales methods on profits, to Compare sales performance between different retailers or between different product categories. ►𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐔𝐬𝐞𝐝 : Microsoft Excel, Power-BI ►𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 : 𖧹 Sheet 1 : Sales overview  𖧹 Sheet 2 : Product Analysis  𖧹 Sheet 3 : Trend Analysis : ► 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 : 𝟏] 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 : » Men's Street Footwear consistently appears to be a top-selling product across all retailers and locations. » Women's Athletic Footwear also seems to be popular, particularly at Sports Direct outlets. 𝟐] 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 : » Foot Locker maintains a consistent operating margin of around 30-35% for most products, with Men's Street Footwear yielding the highest operating profit. » Walmart generally operates at a 30-35% operating margin, with Women's Apparel showing a higher margin of 50% on some occasions. 𝟑] 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 (𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬) : » Foot Locker and Walmart show a relatively consistent sales pattern over the months, with peaks during certain periods, suggesting seasonal fluctuations or promotional events. » Sports Direct appears to have lower sales compared to Foot Locker and Walmart, but still maintains profitability, especially in Men's Athletic Footwear and Women's Street Footwear. 𝟒] 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝 : » Men's Street Footwear sold through outlets consistently generates high profits for Foot Locker and Walmart, with a 50% operating margin. 𝟓] 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬 : » There seems to be a consistent demand for Men's Street Footwear in both New York and Texas, indicating its popularity across regions. » Women's Athletic Footwear appears to have higher demand in Texas, as evidenced by the sales figures from Sports Direct. 𝟔] 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 : » Walmart's Women's Apparel segment in Texas shows strong profitability with a 50% operating margin, indicating potential growth opportunities in that region. 🔗𝐆𝐢𝐭𝐇𝐮𝐛 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲  : https://lnkd.in/d_WyjcdP ✨I would like to thank Pavan Lalwani 🇮🇳 & Shashank Singh 🇮🇳, Rishabh Mishra for their online presence and guidance. ✨I would greatly appreciate your valuable feedback and suggestions. #dataanalytics #powerbidashboard #dataanalyst #datavisualisation #adidas #salesanalysis #powerbideveloper

Curious how KEEN footwear transformed their associate training and boosted brand loyalty? Check out their journey with smart sales enablement tech and see how digital tools can make a big difference! #SalesEnablement #RetailInnovation #BrandLoyalty #DigitalTransformation https://hubs.li/Q02BZX7H0

Marubeni Enters the Lifestyle Brand Management Business in the U.S.   Summary： Marubeni has acquired R.G. Barry Corporation (“RGB”), which is a platform of multiple lifestyle consumer brands in the U.S. Marubeni aims to enter the consumer sector in the U.S. through RGB and its lifestyle brands. RGB was established in 1947. The following year, it launched the world’s first foam-cushioned and washable slipper, Dearfoams, and currently boasts the top share in the U.S. slipper market, a market estimated at approximately US$ 3 billion. RGB also handles a variety of footwear in addition to slippers. Under the vision “We strive to change the standards for comfort and sustainability,” the company recently launched Planet A, a footwear brand that uses environmentally friendly biodegradable plastics, and has developed multiple brands in the consumer lifestyle sector, including the bag brand Baggallini, which has been inspiring consumers to switch to functional fashion.   Since its foundation, RGB has realized continuous evolution and growth by offering various brand products that capture the changing needs of consumers. This has been achieved through RGB’s wide range of capabilities in marketing and merchandising, as well as the robust supply chain network the company has been developing over 70 years. RGB’s capabilities are further enhanced by its multi-channel distribution covering both online ecommerce and wholesale relationships. Marubeni aims to acquire lifestyle brands and expand its multi-brand management business in the U.S. through investments in growing brands where potential synergies with RGB are expected.    Going Forward： Marubeni established the Next Generation Corporate Development Division in 2022 to capture the growth of consumer businesses in Southeast Asia and the U.S., which have high growth potential, with the aim of building businesses that will become new pillars of Marubeni in 2030. The investment in RGB is the first investment in the consumer sector in the U.S. that will be implemented through MGCU Holdings, Inc., a wholly-owned U.S.-based investment platform of the division. Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/g8Ddm-b2 Click here for information on Marubeni’s Next Generation Corporate Development Division: https://lnkd.in/g6QecMSN #Marubeni    

In a world dominated by Nike and adidas, this company's revenue grew from $3 million $1 billion in 10 years. (Business Insider) Here’s all you should know about this fastest growing shoe brand. Let me introduce you to HOKA—a brand that has quietly but explosively made its mark in the footwear industry. 🔺The Beginning Hoka was founded in 2009 by French trail runners Nicolas Mermoud and Jean-Luc Diard. Their mission? To create shoes that made running downhill faster and more comfortable. With oversized, cushioned soles, Hoka shoes stood out immediately, but this uniqueness was met with skepticism. 🔺A Major Turnaround In 2013, Deckers Brands, known for Ugg and Teva, acquired Hoka. This was a game-changer. With solid financial backing, Hoka expanded its product line and market reach. What started as a niche product for trail runners began to catch on with road runners and casual wearers alike. 🔺The Challenges But the journey wasn't without its bumps. Initially, Hoka struggled with brand recognition outside the running community. Many traditional sports retailers were hesitant to stock their products due to their unconventional design. Rapid expansion also led to production challenges, including maintaining consistent quality. So how did Hoka turn things around? 1. Strategic Partnerships: By partnering with well-known athletes and sponsoring major running events, Hoka enhanced its visibility and credibility. 2. Innovative Marketing: Leveraging social media and influencer marketing, they reached a broader audience. Campaigns focused on the unique benefits such as enhanced cushioning and injury prevention. 3. Product Diversification: Expanding their product line to include hiking boots and casual footwear allowed Hoka to appeal to a wider audience. 🔺The Growth Sales Growth: Hoka’s revenue growth showed a CAGR of over 40% (Statista). 👉 In 2023 alone, Hoka opened several new stores in key markets, including Hong Kong and Tokyo. 👉 The Hoka Cielo X1, launched in 2024, is hailed as one of the best running shoes for both performance and comfort (Arrow McLaren IndyCar). Hoka’s rise is due to the power of innovation and strategic growth. Here are some lessons we can all learn: → Collaborations can significantly boost brand credibility and recognition. →Creating unique products with clear benefits can set you apart in a crowded market. →Effective use of social media and influencer marketing can build a strong, engaged community. → Expanding your product line can help you reach a broader audience, fueling further growth. Hoka’s journey from a niche brand to a market leader shows that with the right mix of innovation, strategy, and perseverance, even the underdog can rise to the top. #brands #shoes #success #strategy #fashion