runstyle

fitting process and technological expertise, whether larger sporting goods stores, discount shoe chains or even military exchanges. He believes brands risk losing ground with core runners as they aggressively chase growth elsewhere at oen discounted prices Cameron said, "If brands really want specialty to pull your shoes and value the fitting process they put into your brand, you can't be sticking your product in a channel that doesn't respect that process and still expect consumers to stick to your brand over time. Where there is no value, you have no premium…ere are a few brands reinvesting in brick today and their numbers with us are growing exponentially." At =PR= Run & Walk, which operates 10 stores across Virginia, sales were "crushed" in January and February due to snow and overall wintry weather but bounced back in March. Ray Pugsley, co-owner, said, "Fortunately, January and February are typically two of our three lowest volume months. With a good spring, we hope to get back on track to how we imagined the year was going to look." Among newer launches, Nike's Vomero 18, Hoka's Bondi 9 and Brooks' Glycerin Max are all outperforming. Adidas' Adizero Evo Sl is also selling well. Overall, he sees some shi towards lower- profile footwear models but it's had a minimal impact on sales. He said, "ere are people starting to say, 'I'd really like to see more variety in high stack height.' I think a range of options would be healthy for the channel." In apparel, the chain's own PR line of performance and graphic tees produced by Sky Manufacturing are outperforming. Vuori is still finding momentum while Nike and ChicknLegs are holding appeal with PR Run & Walk's high school customers. In accessories, Goodr has seen some soness aer a strong run that Pugsley speculates could be attributed to broader distribution in stores like Target. Staffing continues to be a major pain point with continuous hiring and onboarding. e other challenge is an excessive range of colors offered by footwear brands. Many stores are only able to carry a limited number of colors and have to either deal with special orders or see a customer head online to make a purchase in a color not carried by the store. Said Pugsley, "I think if you have good product, the customer will be happy with what you offer in a limited number of colors." He also said the increasingly common practice of having certain colors drop off MAP is "very confusing" to the consumer who assumes the entire style is being offered at a discount. Looking ahead, the federal government layoffs could have an impact on =PR= Run & Walk's local economy, but Pugsley is confident that a few upcoming releases, citing the Clion and Arahi updates from Hoka, Vomero Plus and Premium from Nike, and Cloudsurfer Max from On, will help drive traffic. He said, "Hopefully we'll see a good uptick to overall sales with the energy those new releases bring." Runner's Roost Lakewood in Colorado has seen its spring business pick up aer some weather challenges over the winter months, with momentum across footwear offerings. "e big brands — Brooks, Hoka and Asics — are super strong. eir footwear looks fantastic," said Sonya Estes-Alderman, owner. "Nike is on fire with all their colors, their fast shoes and all their updates. e Vomero 18 is really pushing that envelope." Among newer brands, Mount to Coast footwear is gaining traction with the store carrying the R1 race and P1 stability models and planning to carry the new T1 trail shoe. Estes-Alderman said, "ey're kind of going after that ultra-runner, but we're finding people love the way it looks. ey love the way it feels. ey're really lightweight. And Runner's Roost Lakewood in Colorado. runstylemag.com Finding the right fit at =PR= Run & Walk. 18 runstyle Spring 2025

• Cover