Footwear Insight

s &OOTWEAR )NSIGHT ^ 3EPTEMBER/CTOBER THEFOOTWEAREYE FOOTWEARINSIGHTCOM C lark Perkins has joined Baffin as Business Manager for the US. Perkins will be leading efforts in the USA to promote Baffin's performance Outdoor and Industrial Footwear. Perkins has previously been at EJ Footwear and Justin Brands Inc. and most recently Chippewa Boot brands. "His successful experience in both US and international business with other great brands is impressive," says Paul Hubner, CEO of Baffin. "We are pleased that Clark is on board and is focusing on business growth in the USA for both Baffin and our retail partners." O Perkin' Up at Baffin .%7 ()2% A New Big River 25..).' 2%4!), E leven years after opening its original store, Big River Running has moved its flagship to a new location and grown its footprint by 40 percent, allowing the shop to add new categories of footwear and apparel. "We wanted a bigger presence in our community and also wanted to broaden our marketing and let consumers know that we were not just a running store," says Matt Helbig, founder of Big River. "We now have a range of premium product that fits their lifestyle." Big River was inspired to diversify by the success of stores such as Playmakers and Gazelle Sports, two Michigan-based retailers that carry a broad mix of footwear and apparel. With the opening of the new loca- tion, Big River has added shoes from Merrell, Sperry, Keen, UGG and OluKai. The store also re-designed its logo and website to coincide with the opening of the new location. The new logo emphasizes the "Big River" branding, Helbig says, as part of the effort to communicate that the store is about more than running. Helbig says the new flagship concept is part of an evolution that began two years ago when he took on a new partner that allowed him to stabi- lize the business and lay the foundation for growth. "Our business is on a tear right now," Helbig tells Footwear Insight. Big River has focused its business around three doors (they closed their fourth store this past January) and benefitted from the closure of running stores in the St. Louis market, including the shutdown by Dick's of its True Runner store. Big River spent approximately $750,000 on the build out of the new flagship, which is on the same street as its predecessor. "We had a great allowance from our new landlord, which covered most of that cost," Helbig says. "In the past, we had done our store design on the cheap, so it was exciting to use a design and architectural firm to help with this." The store has also stepped up its advertising, including cable TV spots. "We're emphasizing that it's a new store and logo, but the same great customer service we've had in the past." Says Helbig, "The business trends look good right now. We're very bullish." O Big River Running has a new look and a new flagship. Pictured below (l to r): Big River sales associate Taylor Rohan and store managers Scott DuBois and Maggie Buchmiller. Style ½ Heritage ½ Durability ½ Established 1913 deer Since 1938 children's LICENSE @88Á;:=Á>99>ä½ä/-$(!**/**(

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