Footwear Insight

C anadian-based, family-owned footwear brand Kamik has hired industry veteran Gillian Meek as its new CEO. Meek's 20-plus years of industry experience includes her most recent role as president of Keds, where she helped lead a global turnaround for the brand. In her career, Meek has also championed several product-driven sustainability initiatives and is an active member of the Women in Footwear Industry (WIFI). "I am thrilled to take my expertise in the space and apply it to a brand I have long admired," said Meek. "The footwear industry is always changing and innovating, and Kamik consistently rises to the top. Its storied heritage, focus on sustainability, and constant urge to innovate all create the perfect recipe for a promising and exciting future." Stephen Cook, president of Kamik, stated, "We are thrilled to welcome Gillian into our family with her seasoned experience being an integral part of the next chapter of the Kamik story. New investment will allow us to continue to build a bigger and bolder organization – both through additions to the team as well as our organizational capabilities. We are incredibly excited about what is yet to come." In other footwear exec news: Brooks Running announced that Dan Sheridan will assume a new President, Chief Operating Officer role, partnering with CEO Jim Weber to lead the brand following a record-breaking 2021 when Brooks exceeded $1 billion in annual revenue. Sheridan will continue to play an integral role in guiding the business' supply chain and operations, along with IT and digital products functions. Additionally, as President he will now oversee finance, strategic planning, legal, and risk management for the brand. Additionally, Matt Dodge has been promoted to VP, Managing Director Brooks International, adding responsibility for the brand's APLA and China businesses to his ongoing leadership of the EMEA region, which has experienced record growth in recent years. — Cara Griffin S an Francisco-based Allbirds, known best for its eco- friendly sneakers and its DTC business model, revealed during an earnings call in early March that it intends to test the U.S. wholesale market with placement in premium locations and a focus on Allbirds products for entry-level runners. Allbirds executives confirmed that the distribution strategy will be "slow and methodical" and largely focused on the U.S. market, but they declined to name any retailers where the brand might be available this year. Allbirds has worked with Nordstrom on two occasions in the past. "Consumer demand is shifting in our favor and that (trend) will accelerate growth and profitability," executives told investors in March during its first earnings call since its Nov. 2021 IPO. The company reported positive adjusted EBITDA of $0.4 million against a loss of $5.3 million in Q4 ended Dec. 31. Results were helped by a nearly 23 percent improvement in revenues to $97.2 million and an almost 30 percent decline in the quarterly marketing spend to 19.1 percent of sales. Still, the quarterly net loss widened almost 12 percent to $10.4 million. The wholesale distribution strategy was partially sparked by Allbirds' desire to bolster its 11 percent assisted brand awareness in the U.S. Going forward, the company, which acquired over one million new customers in 2021 and saw repeat customer purchases at more than 40 percent, intends to embrace a product strategy largely focused on technical upgrades and fewer old styles from past seasons. Additionally, Allbirds intends to lower the carbon footprint of its ten largest product offerings by 6 percent this year following a 14 percent decline in 2021. Allbirds has recently expanded its apparel offerings, too, with the launch of an activewear line that includes performance leggings, shorts, tanks, tees and more. n Executive News of Note at Kamik, Brooks Allbirds Goes Wholesale LEADERSHIP BRAND STRATEGY Gillian Meek Dan Sheridan footwearinsight.com March/April 2022 ~ Footwear Insight • 7 THE FOOTWEAR EYE Coming to a retailer near you?

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