Footwear Insight

By Bob McGee J D Sports, the publicly traded British parent of Finish Line, Shoe Palace and DTLR, besides its namesake nameplate, intends to open 500 to 600 new JD stores in North America over the next five years through a combination of converting the remaining 392 Finish Line locations and opening new stores. e company ended its most recent fiscal year on Jan. 28 with 138 JD stores on the continent, up from 89 a year earlier that included flagship doors in New York and Chicago, 10 in Canada and 15 Finish Line conversions. JD intends to retain the Finish Line name for its Macy's business with a product assortment focused on families. Overall, the company described its 2022 business in North Americas as a tale of 'two halves' with the first half negatively impacted by supply chain challenges that reduced the availability of key styles with the second six months posting improved sell- through rates. North America remains JD's "most significant market in premium Sports Fashion in terms of revenues," the company said. Total North American sales rose 7.6 percent to $3,834.7 million for the 12 months ended Jan. 28. Elsewhere, the Shoe Palace and DTLR chains con- tinue to make progress under JD ownership. Shoe Palace, which opened seven new stores to bring its total to 173, posted an 8.3 percent improve- ment in profit to $85.2 million on a 10.3 percent increase in annual revenues to $590.9 million. DTLR, acquired in mid-March 2021, ended the year with 244 locations, $65.1 million in annual profit, and $627.1 million in total revenues. n JD Sports Eyes 500+ NA Stores RETAIL 12 • Footwear Insight ~ May/June 2023 footwearinsight.com T he Verne Bintz Company has plenty of expertise when it comes to insoles. A family business for over forty-five years, Verne Bintz distributes comfort foot products to doctors, hospitals, comfort shoe stores, and pedorthists. e business-to-business company prides itself on its customer ser- vice. As founder Verne Bintz likes to say, "We do business the old-fashioned way." Phone calls are answered by a person, and the company tries to ship orders the same day you call. German technology is at the heart of the Bintz Company's business. Distributors of the Birkenstock Blue Footbed and other Birkenstock products for over 30 years, Bintz believes the Blue Footbed is a winner not only because of its German quality but also for its metatarsal rise and heel cup which helps prevent pronation and rolling ankles. e Verne Bintz Company also offers customers German made orthotics that are unbranded, renamable and reasonably priced. Plus, customers won't find them elsewhere on the internet. One of the most popular of these orthot- ics is the Comfo Zone with five zones of support. It is constructed with an open- cell polyurethane foam with strategically placed foam cut-out zones for the heel, cuboid, metatarsal and hallux comfort. It also incorporates these key features: Polypropylene ¾ length shell; Metatarsal pad; Great hind foot control; Supportive medial arch. In addition to its German products, Verne Bintz carries other branded orthotics — the company distributes PowerStep, Pedag, Vasyli, 10 Seconds and more. Customer Stuart Pressman, CPed and owner of Sole-lutions Foot Care, states, "Verne and (his daughter) Ellen stock most of the products I use. It's convenient and economical to consolidate orders into one company. e service is impeccable. Describe this company in one word— Integrity!" n FOOTCARE THE FOOTWEAR EYE Verne Bintz Company Loves German Technology

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