Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1537724
By Bob McGee E xecutives from a trio of top shoe stores weigh in on the state of the business, current market challenges — including inven- tory management — and what keeps them up at night as they head into the second half of 2025. PAUL WEITZEL Director of Marketing & E-commerce Tradehome Shoes, St. Paul, MN "Overall, our business remains strong. We've seen a signicant increase in online sales, which continues to be a key driver of growth for us. Consumer condence is holding steady, and while there's some sensitivity to pricing, we haven't seen a signicant shi in buying behavior. Price increases on certain products have not fully taken eect, so we'll be keeping a close eye on how that evolves in the coming months. So far, customers are shopping at a consistent pace, and we're encouraged by the momentum we're seeing across both digital and in-store channels." Current Challenges "One of the key challenges we're monitoring closely is price uncertainty. With shiing trade policies, it's dicult to forecast costs accurately, which can impact both our margins and customer pricing. We're staying agile in our planning and working closely with vendors to anticipate changes and minimize disruption." What's Happening on the Salesfloor "Casual comfort is in high demand, and we've carved out a strong niche as our customers continue to prioritize comfort. Recovery footwear is also RETAIL CHECK UP SHOP TALK Independent Retailers Tell Us What's Working and What's Keeping them Up at Night… At Tradehome Shoes, casual comfort, recov- ery, and athletic shoes are selling well.