Footwear Insight

conversations, the consensus is that it's all about managing expectations and the importance of communication between brands and retailers is key. I came away from Runchella with a new appreciation for the retail tech that has been developed by Upper Quadrant, which provides data sharing allowing participating retailers to get a snapshot of how their sales track against other spe- cialty stores. It also provides customized reports that show what brands are selling and to whom (new customers vs. exist- ing). Digging a little deeper, you can see if those new customers come back to buy the same brand shoe the next time. And deeper still…. your store's sock-to-shoe sold ratio, your insole-to-shoe sold ratio, your new customer ratio, data points that paint a picture of how your individual store's sales are compared to the larger national group, and more. It's a "how am I doing?" report card. ese reports can help retailers increase sales. e presentation by Upper Quadrant highlighted the power of data sharing by specialty retailers. It can rival the largest big box retailers by giving the collective specialty retailers as a group the loudest voice in the room, and a true force to be reckoned with. We all know the power of the run specialty channel. ank you to Terry Schalow, RIA ex- ecutive director, and all the members and sponsors of the RIA, for coordinating and hosting an informative and productive conference. n 14 • Footwear Insight ~ May/June 2022 footwearinsight.com Running 00 Opening Session at Runchella. Jeff Anderson, Kelley's Pace. Mastermind Peer Sharing Session. Kiera Smalls, RIDC Executive Director. RIA Staff: Terry Schalow, Stephanie Lauerman, Rachel Brenneman, and Amber Vauthier. Lutz Klein (middle) and his team from Currex. Tuesday Group Run, Sponsored by ASICS. Lora McManus, Rabbit. Parker Karnan, Karnan Associates. Dion Mitchell, Upper Quadrant. Kathy Dalby and Chris Farley, Pacers Running.

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