Footwear Insight

12 • Footwear Insight ~ May/June 2022 footwearinsight.com Report from Runchella INDUSTRY EVENT Running Top left: Opening Night Panel Participants: Mike Billish, Brooks; Jeff Metzdorff, Mill City Running Company; Joe Toth, Saucony; Monte Kelleher, Fitted; Jen Brummitt, Gazelle Sports. Top right: Tuesday Morning Group Run, Sponsored by ASICS. Bottom right: Smiles all around on this business trip. Bottom left: Have shoes – will travel. By Jeff Nott, Publisher T he mood at Runchella was upbeat. Held in Chicago May 16-19, Runchella, hosted by the Running industry Association (RIA), brought together running brands and retailers for an event focused on sharing insights and knowledge across the run specialty industry. It was a chance to see old friends, meet new ones, talk with busi- ness partners, discuss key issues, and see the latest and greatest new products. Did I mention friends? at's what keeps running specialty special. Brands that support retailers. Retailers that support brands. Candid conversations at breakfast, lunch and receptions to share experiences and ideas. And that's before you go to the presentations. Like any industry gathering, those impromptu conversations help us make mental notes, trigger new ideas and confirm (or reject) strategies that are currently in place. Chatting with Ross Martinson, the newly elected board president of the RIA, he expressed that business is good and he is optimistic. ere are new board members creating new initiatives all with the goal of helping to guide the running specialty channel and its members. e Mastermind Groups, as one example, leverages industry data and peer wisdom to take advantage of new opportunities and to help overcome challenges that stores may be experienc- ing. I also had the chance to learn about the RIA's partnership with the Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC) and meet Kiera Smalls, Executive Director. RIDC's mission is to help unite the running industry and to improve inclusion, visibility and access for Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) in employment, leadership and owner- ship positions united by a passion and commitment to running. Other topics of conversation at Runchella revolved around the staffing challenges which continue to weigh on the minds of the store owners. How to hire, who to hire, and once you hire them, how to keep them. e process has changed a bit. ere are new ground rules and new expectations — some reasonable, some not so much. What do employees (or potential employees) want from their store owners? What do store owners expect from their em- ployees? Quality of life versus income. Tough questions with no easy answers. As Josh Levinson from Charm City Run put it: "Employee retention is key. Don't lose good people." On the topic of "how's business?" e consensus was that the pandemic was "good" for run specialty, if you can call anything about it good. It changed people's fitness habits, and in many cases brought new first-time customers into running stores. As fitness clubs were forced to close, people went outside, deciding to walk or run for fitness. New customers equal new business. And those new customers need guidance as they go from a casual walker to a fitness walker or from a casual runner to a more avid runner. ey want to shop local, support the community and be a part of the social experience that specialty stores offer. Yes, supply chain challenges continue to be an issue. ey will most likely continue for the near future with transit delays, longer lead times and delivery snafus to name just a few. From my Photos: Petey Santa Maria

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