Jake Rawson

From sketching sneakers as a kid to revolutionizing footwear design, Omar Bailey is forging paths and breaking molds with FCTRY LAb. This founder is reshaping the industry from LA, championing diversity and creating opportunities for minority designers. Omar's ethos? Don't wait for permission—create your own opportunities. Check out this article by Essence to get an in-depth look into his world of design and how he’s transforming the future of footwear, one shoe at a time: https://lnkd.in/gYccRXWB 

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High performance is all about resilience. Luckily, so is Dyneema®. Lightweight fabrics and footwear made with Dyneema® fiber outperform the strongest equivalents on all resilience tests. The world’s strongest fiber™: for durable #outdoor apparel that won’t weigh you down. Discover more 👉https://lnkd.in/eUgQyvi7

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Athletes, Jewelers, Fans: A "DREAM TEAM" is Coming! The Athlete Jewelers Alliance (AJA) is a WIN-WIN-WIN for athletes, jewelry businesses, and fans. We connect athletes with the jewelry industry players for endorsements, collaborations, and signature collections (AthleteGEM Signature Collection). Imagine supporting your favorite athlete while rocking their unique jewelry line! Booming Jewelry Market + Exploding Athlete NIL = A Championship Opportunity Global jewelry sales at $353.26 billion and are projected to hit $482.22 billion by 2030. US market at $73.32 billion, expected to reach $96.61 billion by 2030. Influencer marketing key driver, with 92% trusting influencer recommendations. NIL market reaching $1.14 billion annually, top athletes earning over $1 million. Get in the Game! Be among the first to experience the Athlete Jewelers Alliance (AJA) by commenting below. We'll add you to the waiting list for our beta test and keep you in the loop on the launch date and exclusive beta tester benefits! #AthleteGEM #NILJewelry #LinkedinSports #NIL #NaturalDiamonds #LabGrownDiamonds

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As evenings last longer and the temperature rises lightweight, durable, moisture-wicking, and expandable garments are key for summer sports. Compression apparel meets all of these needs and more; often used during the season by runners, triathletes, cyclists, etc. Compression garments can expand beyond their original size when being used and still maintain the original shape and form afterward. Not just any ink can meet the performance demands of such a flexible garment. Having a team of experienced printers is always valuable, particularly when using silicone ink. Silicone ink can be very tricky to use but unlike other inks, it can expand with the material while maintaining the integrity of the design. Here at Wee's Tees, we do our best to meet our customer needs. Being able to successfully print with silicone ink is one of many ways that we rise to the occasion. 

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I enjoyed speaking with Larry Getlen about the trend for retailers opening smaller stores. It’s not just large department stores opening smaller format stores, but that is certainly popular. Also, available locations close to both suburban and urban consumers are tight, especially in more high-traffic lifestyle centers. There are numerous advantages and opportunities for retailers in smaller stores to more effectively manage the assortment, inventory, staffing, and last but certainly not least, the consumer experience. #retail #stores

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There are many benefits to opening a Corporate Footwear Account with Shoes For Crews 👟 Read our latest blog post to learn more about these benefits and why you should open one today! #ShoesForCrews #SFC #Blog

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Summer dressing can be tricky - it's not so much about the clothes - it's the footwear that can let us down (especially with inconsistent weather). Check out this week's Style Post for inspiration and curated styles to help you. Enjoy the read - I hope it helps you find the perfect option for you. Love Maggie 💋 #personalbranding #stylecoach #styleinspiration https://lnkd.in/eF6mkzK4

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Daily shoe spotlight: TAMA TOBY 📌 Follow our page here on Linkedin and tiktok - @justshoesinfo - to see loads more shoe inspo! J / S #justshoes #footwear TAMA TOBY

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"It's usually not good news when a mall loses an anchor.." Macy's new CEO Tony Spring commented on the recent news of plans to close up to 150 stores because they were built "for a different era". This podcast with Retail Dive's Cara Salpini was full of great insights and discussion. I've linked to the article, podcast, and an inside look at a store closing below. 👉Here are a few of the conversational insights that really jumped out at me.👈 There were really two eras of the department store: In the 19th century these stores were located in a mid- or downtown prominent address, in a nice building with intentional architecture, and shopping was an experience and a destination not a transaction. This gave way to the plethora of mall developments as downtowns were neglected as a shopping destinations, cars in suburbia proliferated and malls with department stores as their anchors multiplied. But there were too many malls built for that era and too many department stores. The current Macy's strategy may involve a pivot towards investing in off price business and new small format stores, as well as higher end Bloomingdale's, - like a barbell approach. The middle retailer and brand appears to be downsizing, just as the American middle class is shrinking. Departments of the department store have counterparts in the mall, and if you are going to a mall you are likely going to many of the specialty retailers and not necessarily buying a number of different items across categories. If you are, you may be thinking about competitors such as Target or Walmart instead. Department stores in general may have at least partially missed out on the promise of nicer displays, interesting and engaging merchandising, better customer service, and immersive experiences. But there is a big opportunity here: the small format may be able to raise the bar on more thoughtful, themed merchandising experiences. Innovations like the Story store in Chelsea could become more scalable and successful. By partnering with retailers who are evaluating new plans for new formats, new strategies for new demographics, and new immersive experiences tied to innovative merchandising with #retailanalytics and our ecosystem partners, we are positioned to help. I am personally looking forward to seeing how we can help this industry evolve into the third era of innovation in #retail. RetailNext https://lnkd.in/g8D-rA8e Podcast here: https://lnkd.in/gccApX5G Store closing: https://lnkd.in/gVHWZz_T

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What is the purpose of a physical store in today's digital era? Brian Librach, former VP of Stores at Urban Outfitters, Pacific Sunwear and Old Navy, joins me on #RetailDisrupted to explore: 🔸 Findings from his new book: The Retail Leader’s Roadmap. Why retail leaders get stuck and how to rewrite your career outcome. 🔸 The evolution of bricks & mortar retail – what is the future of stores and how should we be measuring success? 🔸 Which brands does Brian admire and what are they getting right? 🔸 How can retailers ensure their staff are motivated and engaged? 🔸 Cultural shifts: digital transformation journeys and the importance of taking your people with you. 🔸 Upskilling and investing in digital competencies. 🔸 Squiggly careers: why the path to success isn’t always linear. 🔸 Natalie and Brian debate the key traits of winning retailers (25 min in). Full episode links: 🎧 Apple: https://lnkd.in/eCJQj-Mr 🎧 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eyrWHYQV 🎧 YouTube (audio): https://lnkd.in/e73UqqTV #retail #retailleadership #consumer #retailinsights #bricksandmortar #storekpis #retailtech #squigglycareers #retailtechnology #digitaltransformation #retailpodcast

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Q1 2022, Nike stated DTC is and will be their main focus: Chairman Mark Parker didn't rule out future opportunities to partner with other retailers. "We are shifting from a wholesale brand to a brand that's available at retail." https://lnkd.in/dnMJ952H Q3 2024, Nike taps former executive Tom Peddie to return as VP of Marketplace Partners. Means that wholesale is a must for the company. Where is the consistency in Nike C-Suite & Management strategy and vision in terms of B2B and B2C? Switching commercial-operational-marketing directions in less than 2 years simply allowed peers-competitors to gain market share and growth across all channels… #smartbusiness #B2B #B2C #wholesale #omnichannel #strategy Articles courtesy of: Retail Dive Tactic one

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I had an incredible conversation with Eugene Alletto, CEO of BEDGEAR, about how he is additive versus disruptive to the bedding industry! Eugene's journey from a million-dollar salesperson to an industry innovator is nothing short of inspiring. He shares valuable insights on the importance of education, innovation, and being additive rather than disruptive. Tune in, and leave your favorite quote in the comments.

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This story might sound familiar, but it's worth retelling again. And again. Marketing to customers directly can be expensive and unpredictable. Kizik Footwear's Monte Deere says, "Gross margin is really, really great at e-commerce. What's unpredictable is the marketing expense to sell your product." So why are so many brands stuck on rigid single-channel commercial strategies when they could reap the benefits of both worlds? Having a greater presence at wholesale, through select retail partnerships, gets the brand in front of new customers at a relatively lower cost of acquisition, making the cost of selling more predictable and freeing up marketing dollars that can be funneled away from performance marketing and into building brand awareness. Read more about Kizik's gradual expansion into wholesale brick-and-mortar at the link below. #footwear #omnichannel #dtc #wholesale #fashion #retail #salesstrategy #linkedinpostsbymariopace

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We understand that a great day at work starts from the ground up. 👣 That's why we're excited to introduce our latest advancement in comfort technology, VM Footwear Insoles. Perfect for professionals who spend long hours on their feet, these insoles are designed to transform your footwear experience. 👟 Product highlights: ☑ Anatomically shaped: Our insoles are expertly designed to match the natural contours of your feet, ensuring a perfect fit. ☑ Gel insole: Experience superior cushioning with our gel technology that distributes weight evenly and reduces impact with every step. ☑ Arch support: Targeted arch support helps stabilize your foot and prevent fatigue throughout the day. ☑ Perforation for increased airflow: Stay cool and comfortable thanks to strategic perforations that enhance breathability inside your shoes. ☑ Shock absorbing: Absorb the shocks of daily walking and standing, protecting your joints and promoting overall foot health. Ready to transform your workday footwear? Check out our VM Footwear Insoles and feel the difference from your first step. 🔗 #VMFootwear #Insoles #PharsolProtect

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Should retailers stay on the mall or go off-mall? Torrid, the apparel retailer specializing in women’s apparel and accessories in sizes 10 to 30, is the latest to ponder this question. Recent data shows that lower rents and greater flexibility are not the only drivers pushing retailers towards outlets and strip centers. Convenience and better adjacencies, like upscale retail and off-price outlets, play a significant role. Moreover, off-mall locations are believed to be "more attuned to what modern consumers want." By reallocating resources from lower rent costs, retailers can enhance the shopping experience and improve online-to-offline integration, meeting the demands of today's shoppers. As the retail landscape evolves, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for retailers. #retail #stores #malls #shoppingexperience #brickandmortar #fashion #apparel #dtc #linkedinpostsbymariopace Read more: [Link to the article]

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Join us LIVE! | Curious & Cuirky | Friday, May 17th | 8:15 AM PST Do you own a pair of ON running shoes, even if you’re not a runner?  If you are launching a new product - what can ON teach us about disrupting a market using the Magnetic Effect of Focus? Register and join the conversation! https://lnkd.in/gbDHmVvq #Marketing #Innovation #Transformation #SupplyChain #OrganizationalLeadership

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