Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1119802
10 • Footwear Insight ~ May/June 2019 5 Fast Questions with Bob Campbell footwearinsight.com B ob Campbell has seen a lot in his 60-plus-year tenure in the footwear industry. A veteran of Woolworth's and the G.R. Kinney Co., he founded children's licensing powerhouse BBC International in 1975. Through the years, he's seen every trend in fashion and business — and even created some himself, like the 1992 introduction of light-up kids shoes with LA Lights for LA Gear. Today, BBC creates children's product for, among others, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Nine West Kids, holds the entertainment licenses for product featuring the ultra-hot characters of Marvel, Universal, and Warner Bros, as well as adult and children's product for Champion, Heelys and Feiyue. (The adult side, in fact, is a grow- ing opportunity for the firm.) So it made sense for Campbell to be the first executive profiled in our new feature Lightning Round, where brand heads sound off on the biggest, and shortest, ques- tions of the day. l Champion Heelys Tommy Hilfiger THE FOOTWEAR EYE LIGHTNING ROUND Bob Campbell tells us: What is… BBC's Brand Lineup Includes... "We make sure we're really servicing all channels of distribution and all types of footwear. We sell everybody in America: discount and off-price all the way up to Nordstrom. What we always want to make sure we're offering is a good price-value distribution for the moms shopping." Looking for big trends and adding new brands. "We build a complete portfolio based on a brand's DNA. We don't approach it as a SKU, but what the mom needs day in and day out. We are always [assessing] new brands to partner with; we're working with a few right now for 2020 and beyond." Athletic. "The trend is going stronger and stronger for athletic in kids shoes. It's very big globally." Light-up shoes. "It's our long- standing innovation. There are always new children, and children always love lights." Sourcing. "BBC has always tried to be at the forefront of identifying new sourcing opportunities. China is a big challenge for us. We're very strong in Cambodia, and we're moving dramatically into Vietnam and Sri Lanka and the Dominican Republic." …BBC's Business in a Nutshell? …Your Next Move? … Trending Now? … Forever Classic? … A Behind-the-Scenes Priority?