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Non-Tech : Just For Feet (FEET) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Don Dorsey who wrote (482)	1/14/1998 10:35:00 AM
From: Don Dorsey	Respond to of 750

Retailers were left with a large backlog of Reeboks when they didn't sell as well as expected. '97 was a tough year in the athletic shoe industry. Bad new keeps trickling out, yet FEET is in a slight uptrend since August. To me this is a very bullish sign. Fireman say Reebok to change focus of ads Reebok will be putting the focus on the quality of its sports shoes and apparel rather than the celebrity athletes who wear them as it tries to expand its share of the sneaker market. "Instead of building heroes in the future, we will build products of the future and let heroes wear it," Paul Fireman, chairman and chief executive of Stoughton-based Reebok International LTD., said. But Fireman told reporters he expects only minimal growth next year in Reebok's share of the estimated $14 billion US market. That's partly because retailers have been left with big unsold inventories of sneakers as youngsters' demand unexpectantly fell off last fall for many of the most heavily promoted shoes endorsed by big-name stars. Fireman said Reebok has no plans to cut prices to help retailers get rid of the extra inventories, and said that it could take the industry 6 months to a year to whittle down the backlog. Reebok shares rose 15/16 to 26 15/16 (AP)

To: Don Dorsey who wrote (482)	1/14/1998 10:36:00 AM
From: Don Dorsey	Respond to of 750

Here is the LA Gear news. L.A. Gear files for Chap. 11 bankruptcy protection SANTA MONICA, Calif., (Reuters) - L.A. Gear Inc. , a designer and marketer of athletic footwear, said Tuesday it filed a voluntary petition for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The company also said in a statement that it had reached an agreement with an unofficial committee of bondholders holding its 7.75 percent convertible subordinated debentures, due 2002, on a comprehensive financial restructuring. It said it planned to file its plan of reorganization as early as next week and that it would continue its day-to-day business activities without interruption.

To: Don Dorsey who wrote (482)	1/14/1998 10:48:00 AM
From: Don Dorsey	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 750

Some shoe companies still see good oportunities ahead. A critical item for retailers that is underemphasised is their ability to select the right products to put on the shelves. Feet appears to do an adequate, but not great job. A little improvement here could improve profits. AIRWALK -- Moving To the Next Level; AIRWALK Seeks Global Growth Opportunity in a Strategic Partnership ÿÿÿÿBusiness Editors ÿÿÿÿALTOONA, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 13, 1998--AIRWALK, the branded division of Items International, Inc., announced this week that Merrill Lynch has been retained as a financial advisor to assist in the search for an appropriate strategic partner or buyer to further expand the AIRWALK brand to its full global potential. ÿÿÿÿ In response to rapid growth and future expansion possibilities, AIRWALK is preparing to maximize the opportunities that lie ahead in the global youth consumer products market. AIRWALK has broadly positioned the brand as a youth lifestyle brand, embracing all aspects of youth culture including sport, style and entertainment. The company believes that this broad positioning of the brand offers the opportunity for AIRWALK to become the premier youth lifestyle brand worldwide. "We are ready to move the AIRWALK brand to the next level. The market is ripe for the expansion of the brand AIRWALK. Our positioning as a youth lifestyle brand is right on target," states AIRWALK's CEO and Founder, George Yohn. ÿÿÿÿ AIRWALK, which began as a brand in 1986, has successfully established itself as the 12th coolest brand of all brands as voted by teens(1). The company which made its entry into the footwear market as a skateboarding brand, now provides its target of 8-24 year olds with a full line of casual, active casual, skateboarding, Mt. Biking and BMX footwear, along with a snowboarding line including boots, boards, bindings, technical outerwear and accessories. AIRWALK has begun to further capitalize on its brand strength by expanding into licensing agreements including apparel and accessories. AIRWALK, the 1996 Footwear Marketer of the Year(2) utilizes a global formula of aggressive TV, print and outdoor advertising, localized grass roots marketing, event promotions, in-store displays, concept shops and a web site to promote the brand directly to youth. ÿÿÿÿ The footwear market has been experiencing a youth fashion shift away from traditional white athletic styling in exchange for the innovative styling that AIRWALK provides. AIRWALK, which has distribution in over 40 countries through direct sales and distributor relationships, seeks to utilize all investment opportunities to take advantage of its brand positioning amidst these market changes on a global basis. ÿÿÿÿ1 As reported by Teenage Research Unlimited (TRU), Fall 1997 ÿÿÿÿ2 As voted by Footwear News, Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America and Footwear Industries of America