Wayne Mabbott’s Post

It's inspiring to witness women shattering the glass ceiling in the footwear industry. For far too long, the C Suites of most footwear companies have been male-dominated. However, recent data shows that more and more women are stepping up to take on executive roles in the industry. Check out this article from Footwear News that highlights some of the female CFOs making waves in companies like Crocs, Wolverine, and Superfeet. Let's celebrate these trailblazers and continue to support gender diversity in all industries. #WomenInLeadership #GenderDiversity #FootwearIndustry

How Women Are Not Just Breaking Barriers—They’re Redefining the Footwear Industry From the Ground Up! The footwear industry is experiencing a transformation led by women who are challenging the status quo. 🌍👠 No longer just the consumers, women are stepping into leadership, design, and development roles—revolutionizing the way we think about shoes. They’re bringing new ideas about sustainability, comfort, and innovation to the table, focusing on materials that support both ethical practices and long-lasting comfort. As female entrepreneurs and leaders, they’re not just thinking about the now, but the future—developing products that resonate with today’s consumer while prioritizing the planet. Whether it’s eco-friendly materials, inclusive sizing, or pushing the boundaries of fashion-tech, women are crafting a more thoughtful, inclusive, and innovative industry. It’s not just about creating fashionable footwear anymore; it’s about producing products with purpose. This shift has opened new doors for collaboration, innovation, and growth. At Felix Impex Pvt Ltd, we’ve seen this impact firsthand. Our team of incredible women work diligently to ensure that every product meets high standards, not only in terms of design but also in ethical production. The future of footwear is looking brighter—and it’s because of the brilliant minds driving this change. 💡👠 What do you think is the biggest challenge or opportunity for women in the industry? Let’s spark the conversation! #WomenInFootwear #Sustainability #Innovation #EthicalFashion #WomenInBusiness #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #FootwearRevolution

From Struggles to Solutions: The NYDJ Denim Story for Business Leaders. Back in 2003, the denim world wasn't kind to many women. Premium jeans with high price tags were popular, but they didn't offer comfort or a flattering fit for everyone. The market was missing something important: jeans that made every woman feel both comfortable and confident. NYDJ, originally called "Not Your Daughter’s Jeans," faced a big challenge. They needed to convince women to try something different, more comfortable, and stylish—without the hefty price tag. Did you know that jeans back then often cost over $200? This was a major barrier for many women who wanted a good pair of jeans but couldn’t afford them. NYDJ tackled the problem by creating jeans with their special Lift Tuck Technology, which uses slim panels to shape and support curves. They made sure their jeans had enough stretch to be comfy. This new approach to denim was a hit. Over the years, they sold more than 20 million pairs worldwide. NYDJ then expanded their product line to include tops, footwear, and more. They didn’t just stick with what worked—they innovated and stayed ahead of trends, like sustainable fashion. For business leaders, this highlights the importance of listening to your customers and evolving with their needs. Having a solid sales system that addresses real problems can help you grow your revenue and make a positive impact. My Big Takeaway: The story of NYDJ teaches us the importance of having a strategic sales system and strong leadership. By identifying a gap in the market and creating products that solve a real problem, NYDJ built a loyal customer base and achieved sustained success. This approach can help your business too. Listening to your customers, innovating, and continuously improving your products and sales strategy can lead to significant growth and lasting impact. Stay Hungry. Stay Humble. Che Brown www.CEOSalesHuddle.com Connect with me: @IamCheBrown #CEOSalesHuddle #CEOSalesDashboard #CEOMasteryNetwork

🚀 Breaking Barriers: The Journey of a Woman at the Helm of Footwear Innovation 🌟 In an industry dominated by male leadership, the journey of a female entrepreneur isn't just about creating quality footwear; it's about reshaping norms and carving a path where others see walls. The Unseen Hurdles Being a woman in the footwear manufacturing sector comes with its unique set of challenges. From overcoming stereotypes to proving one's mettle in a traditionally male-dominated field, the hurdles are real but not insurmountable. There's always a subtle undertone of having to work twice as hard to earn the same recognition and respect that my male counterparts might more readily receive. A Story of Triumph Take the story of Jane Doe (fictional name), who revolutionized the eco-friendly shoe line and scaled her small workshop to a multinational corporation. Her journey, fraught with skepticism from peers who doubted a woman's touch in a 'tough industry,' stands as a testament to the grit and grace women bring to the table. Our Collective Stride As a woman leading Felix Impex Pvt Ltd Impex, I've not only contributed to creating stylish and sustainable footwear but also fostered a workspace where young women can dream without bounds and work without limits. Our commitment extends beyond fashion; it's about mentoring the next generation of women leaders who will continue to break glass ceilings with their creativity and leadership. Let's continue to challenge the status quo, support one another, and pave the way for more women to lead with confidence and competence. Here's to more women taking the lead in every field, demonstrating that the measure of a great leader is not gender, but talent, vision, and the courage to push boundaries. #WomenInBusiness #Leadership #FootwearIndustry #BreakingBarriers #WomenEmpowerment #Innovation #SustainableFashion #TrendingNow

Beyonce ..... moves brands! When Queen Bey says something, the world takes note. On March 29, Bey launched her 1st country-style album (Cowboy Carter).... The song “Levii’s Jeans” was an instant Beyond the song title, “Levii’s Jeans” often alludes to this classically-American jeans brand, including the line, “Oh, you wish you were my Levi’s jeans.” Levi’s leaned into the song, temporarily changing their IG & TikTok account logos to “Levii’s” to mirror the song title. Looking at some data, we can see the impact of Beyoncé's “Levii’s Jeans” on Levi’s sales conversion funnel......... especially for: 🥁🥁🥁 ........... Gen Zs ........... 🥁🥁🥁 ↳ Pretty immediately, Gen Z's saw significant lift in "TRYING" (+11.0) and "USING" (+7.0) the Levi’s brand ↳ Levi’s also caught a boost in emotional terms: “STYLISH” (+8.4), “SMART” (+8.2), and “TRUSTWORTHY” (+6.6) after the March 29th launch. ________ The Harris Poll x Levi Strauss & Co. x Levi's® Footwear & Accessories

Toronto-based founder and designer, Elle AyoubZadeh, launched her company, Zvelle with women’s footwear in 2016. That same year, Zvelle made a custom hot pink shoe for Sophie Gregoire Trudeau’s most high profile function, visiting the Obamas at the White House after Justin Trudeau was elected. It put Zvelle on the international map. Celebrities like Bella Hadid, Heidi Klum and Sharon Stone went on to wear Zvelle shoes. Despite finding early success, last month Zvelle discontinued its women’s line and is now a men’s only footwear brand. As Elle told Yahoo Finance, “I never intended to make men’s shoes. I made a few pairs of sneakers and made a short list of leading men I wanted to see them on. Every single one wore them and loved them.” In less than a year since launching its men’s line, Zvelle has quickly built an impressive celebrity following that includes Dwyane Wade, Kieren Culkin, Pablo Schrieber, Jeffrey Wright, Sterling K. Brown, Chase Stokes and the demands keep coming from celebrities and stylists. At the 2019 Yara Leadership Conference, Elle talked about her inspiring entrepreneurial journey. She was born in Iran, grew up in Dubai, studied in Australia, and lived in New Zealand, before ultimately settling in Toronto to pursue her passion. Pivoting is nothing new for this global citizen. A decade ago, Elle left the world of finance and took a leap of faith to become a shoe designer and luxury retail entrepre­neur for women. Now she is pivoting again. As Elle noted “there is nothing more exhilarating for a designer than creating during a time of change. That’s right now for men.” 📷 Zvelle #entrepreneurship

The Dassler Brothers: A Story of Rivalry and Innovation In the world of sports fashion, the rivalry between Adolf "Adi" and Rudolf "Rudi" Dassler is legendary. Founders of Adidas and Puma, their story offers valuable lessons on harnessing healthy competition to drive innovation and growth. The Birth of a Rivalry The Dassler brothers started together in their family shoe business, but World War II forced them apart. After the war, each brother launched their own athletic footwear company, igniting a fierce competition. The Impact of Competition Their rivalry went beyond products. They aggressively pursued sponsorships, pushing boundaries in athletic footwear and apparel. Lessons for Harnessing Healthy Competition * Embrace competition as a motivator. * Focus on innovation. * Leverage strategic partnerships. * Foster a culture of continuous improvement. * Learn from your rivals. The Dassler Brothers' Lasting Impact The Dassler brothers' rivalry shaped the sports fashion industry, emphasizing performance, style, and innovation. Their story also highlights the global impact of a small town and the power of collaboration. Moral of the Story While the Dassler brothers achieved success, their story emphasizes the importance of relationships. Divided families rarely achieve lasting success.

When Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman co-founded the footwear giant Nike, they embarked on a mission: "To Bring Inspiration and Innovation to Every Athlete* in the World" This mission statement resonates deeply, not only for its powerful ethos but also for its subtle asterisk: "*If You Have a Body, You Are an Athlete" Perhaps you've never identified yourself as an athlete, yet you share more similarities than you might realise: - Your success is measured by both individual and team achievements. - You navigate through immense pressure and expectations. - Maintaining peak health and avoiding injury are crucial. However, there are two notable distinctions for individuals: 1. Mental performance often outweighs physical prowess. 2. While athletes typically spend 90% of their time preparing for 10% performance, your expectations are often reversed: 90% performance, 10% preparation.   Join Andrew Wildblood, Raechel Gavin and myself in a live webinar tomorrow at 12:00pm AEDT as we explore these themes as well as: ✅ The fine line between burnout and high performance ✅ Why leaders are crucial to high performance environments ✅ How individuals can improve performance outcomes ✅ The key to creating a high performing team ✅ Live Q&A RSVP to secure your spot, or be sent the recording 👉 https://hubs.la/Q02pWtH30

The Crocs juggernaut continued yesterday with a new style from their partnership with Salehe Bembury. The “Salehe Bembury x Crocs Pollex Mule” is just the tip of the iceberg though - both of the companies brands - Crocs and Hey Dude - saw very solid growth last year (Crocs +14%, combined +12%) so the target of 3-5% growth for 2024 feels conservative. Crocs Brand President Michelle Poole recently retired and was replaced by Anne Mehlman who was previously the CFO. Disappointingly Crocs moved back their target of being Net Zero to 2040. Crocs FY2023 Insights 💲 Revenue by brand: Crocs $3bn 76% Hey Dude $949m 24% 💲 Crocs brand achieved International growth of +23% - Australia and China grew triple digits - S. Korea and UK grew double digits 💲 Average Footwear selling price: Crocs $24.92 (+9.7% YOY) Hey Dude $28.80 (-1.9% YOY) 💲 Gross margin for Crocs brand was 60% , an increase of 370 basis points from 2022 💲 Inventory decreased by 18% to $385m 💲 Revenue by Region: International 41% (strongest markets Australia, China, South Korea, and UK)  NAM 59% 💲 Revenue by channel: WHL 52% DTC 48% 💲 Crocs Revenue growth by product: Clogs +12% Sandals +29% Jibbitz +17% 👀 Hey Dude - marketing campaigns improved brand awareness from 18% in first half year to 32% in second half. 🏦 Stores: 363 stores in total (349 Crocs, 14 Hey Dude) Includes 215 Outlet stores across the 2 brands 🏦 Regional breakdown of stores: 185 NAM, 17 EU, 158 Asia, 3 LAM ESG ✅ In 2023 ""Give Old Crocs new Life” was introduced - Crocs consumers can return 'gently worn' or 'well-loved' Crocs to retail stores in 10 states for donation to communities in need, or repurposed into something new. 🤯 In 2023 a GHG Report was completed and the 2020 baseline was realigned to take account of the HeyDude brand acquisition - the target is now to be Net Zero by 2040. ✅ The integration of bio -based alternative materials continued thru 2023 DEI ✅ Employee split 3650 retail, 2040 corp office, 1340 DCs ✅ Board of directors 29% female, 14% underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities Crocs Europe B.V.

🚀 Unlocking Innovation: Lessons from Performance Footwear for Modern Leadership 🏃♂️💼 In the fast-paced world of performance footwear, every stitch, every material, and every innovation counts. Just like in modern leadership, where diverse skills and expertise converge to drive success. 🌟 Consider the intricate process of crafting a best in class running shoe: it requires expertise in materials science, biomechanics, design, engineering, marketing, and sourcing, among others. Each aspect contributes to the final product's functionality, appeal and record breaking potential. But what truly sets apart exceptional footwear, and by extension, exceptional leadership, is the glue that binds these diverse elements together. Similarly, in the realm of leadership, the ability to harness and synchronize the talents of individuals and departments across various domains is paramount. Just as a shoe's components must seamlessly integrate to provide optimum performance, so too must the skills and efforts of team members align to achieve organizational goals. The innovators behind cutting-edge footwear understand the importance of collaboration and synergy. They know that the strength of a shoe lies not only in its individual components but in how they work together harmoniously. Likewise, effective leaders recognize that a high-performing team is greater than the sum of its parts. It's about fostering a culture of collaboration, communication, and mutual respect. Leadership today demands versatility, adaptability, and a keen understanding of diverse perspectives. Much like designing a shoe to enable recordbreaking performances, effective leaders must navigate through various challenges and opportunities with agility and foresight. As we reflect on the analogy between performance footwear and modern leadership, let's remember the importance of being the glue that binds our teams together. Let's strive to cultivate environments where each individual's strengths are celebrated, and collaboration flourishes. Together, like a well-crafted pair of running shoes, we can propel our organizations forward, overcome obstacles and reaching new heights of success and break records TOGETHER! 👟💡 #Leadership #Innovation #Teamwork #BusinessSuccess #Collaboration #Management #ProfessionalDevelopment #BusinessLeadership #Entrepreneurship #CorporateCulture #StrategicThinking #CareerDevelopment #WorkplaceDynamics #LeadershipSkills #IndustryInsights