As reported by FN in January, Authentic has now confirmed that Galaxy Universal has taken over Reebok’s footwear operations, retail stores and e-commerce, as well as leading Reebok’s global product creation, design and sourcing.

In addition, a new joint venture between Galaxy and Batra Group, dubbed GB Brands Europe Limited, will oversee the brand’s operations across Europe and the UK. This new venture takes over for New Guards Group (NGG), a division of Farfetch, which previously distributed Reebok footwear and apparel in Europe.

Jarrod Weber, global president of sports and lifestyle at Authentic Brands Group, said in a statement that the decision to work with Galaxy was a “no-brainer” and make an “ideal partner” for Reebok.

“Their expertise in athletic footwear and innovation, combined with Batra’s excellence in apparel ingenuity and relationship building, positions Reebok for incredible success across Europe and the UK,” Weber said. “Together, we are creating a future where Reebok will continue to lead in performance, style, and innovation, connecting with consumers in ways that resonate globally.”

Weber added that as the company transitions from Sparc Group, which previously held the U.S. license for Reebok, the footwear brand is positioned to drive continued growth. “This partnership exemplifies our commitment to elevating the brand’s and strengthening its global position,” Weber said.

As for Eddie Esses, chief executive officer of Galaxy, he noted that his company’s focus is to “unleash Reebok’s full potential” and to design and produce “the best athletic shoes” for customers worldwide. “We look forward to building on Reebok’s great heritage and writing the next exciting chapter of this iconic brand,” Esses commented.

Rajiv Batra, director of Batra Group, added, “We’re excited to partner with Authentic and Galaxy to take Reebok’s operations in Europe and the UK to the next level. Batra’s rich heritage in product development, design, sourcing, and distribution, positions us perfectly to drive Reebok’s growth across the region. Our joint venture, GB Brands Europe Limited, will ensure that Reebok’s apparel and footwear offerings resonate with consumers, creating the perfect blend of innovation and quality.”

With this deal Reebok joins Galaxy Universal’s portfolio of athletic brands including And1, Avia, Gaiam, Hi-Tec and Magnum. Galaxy is also the licensee of the Shaq, Quiksilver, Billabong, Lands’ End and Justice brands. Reebok also joins Batra’s portfolio, which includes Fila, Juicy Couture, Russell Athletic, Hunter Boots, Hi-Tec, Hoodrich, Pony and Sergio Tacchini.

“We do shoes all day. So it’s nice coming to Atlanta and you realize that you have so much in common with all the other booths, because they’re working and doing shoes all day too. It’s one big family,” said Steven Safdeye, a sales executive from E.S. Originals Inc.

Laura Conwell-O’Brien, executive director of TASM, told FN, “In my 41 years as executive director, this was by far the most successful trade show yet. The energy was incredible — every hall was buzzing with excitement, engagement was at an all-time high, and it was inspiring to see how alive and vibrant our industry remains.” She noted that attendance among retailers was up 15 percent, and for exhibitors it increased 14 percent.

Despite looming concerns about new tariffs from the Trump administration (and the resulting price increases), the overall mood at the show was largely upbeat, almost buoyant.

Brand leaders said that while the subject of tariffs is coming up in their conversations with retail wholesale partners, they’re not panicking or changing course quite yet.

“We’re taking a wait-and-see approach,” said Joe Devlin, Ecco’s independent sales director for North America. “We know it has the potential to impact our business, but we don’t want to make a change and then have to backtrack. There are a lot of things that need to play themselves out before we make any firm decisions.”

Raham Gorguinpour, senior director of sales at Vionic, noted that other factors are weighing on retailers’ minds almost more than the threat of tariff hikes. “Inflation is still a thing — it was up in January. And the cost of sourcing and shipping is a big concern,” he said.

Nevertheless, the overall outlook for business in 2025 was positive and shoe execs were optimistic that the fall collections will resonate with consumers.

One of the most notable trends across the market was “cozy” footwear options, seen in shearling-lined Sperry loafers, multicolor mohair Mou boots and everything in between.

Several brand reps noted that demand for hard-core cold-weather boots has waned in recent years due to the unpredictability of winter weather. Instead the trend has moved toward more-versatile boots and casuals — both cozy and non-cozy — because they have a longer shelf life for both retailers and consumers.

For instance, Jambu, which recently brought in a new designer to modernize its collection, reported strong traction for its casual dress styles, especially its Nia closed-toe wedge.

At Ecco, Devlin said the brand is now grounding itself in its core DNA and bringing back some tried-and-true collections with a more modern feel. (For instance, the rugged Track 25 line has returned after a brief hiatus while the brand removed all PFAs from its production.) Ecco has also invested in the development of its women’s dress collections, ranging from Chelsea boots to ballet flats. “It has a women’s-focused design approach, so it’s made for her, by her,” said Devlin, adding that the emphasis is also on lightweight and comfort.

In terms of other hot trends, Bryan Veentjer, general manager and design director at Bullboxer, observed that Western boots remain a big influence, somewhat surprisingly. “I thought it would’ve run its course, but I’m still seeing it resonating, though it’s not always a ‘true Western’ look — sometimes it’s just in the toe shape or the details,” he said.

But while boots and dress options have gained traction, sneakers continued to wield outsized influence at the show.

At Rieker, its youthful Rieker Sport casual sneaker collection has been a brand highlight, driven by its bright color palette.

Vionic, meanwhile, was touting its performance walking sneakers, including the new Walk Slim silhouette, which is a more fashionable, pared-down companion to its popular Walk Max style.

And Kizik, which has gained a strong following with its step-in performance and casual sneaker collections, is now making a play for the outdoor market with its first hiker-inspired silhouettes.

Luvanis, a private investment company that focuses on high-end brand revivals, is confident it has all the right ingredients in place to resurrect the storied label — which was founded in 1948 by New York power couple Herbert and Beth Levine. With a focus on innovation, function and whimsy, the Levines built one of the most iconic brands in the industry before they closed it in 1975. (The label was briefly reintroduced in 2008 by Dennis and Lynne Comeau.)

The brand’s buzzed-about relaunch is being spearheaded by Arnaud de Lummen, the founder and managing director of Luvanis, and Herbert Levine creative director Trevor Houston — who has cemented his place in the New York shoe scene as the designer behind hit shoes for Khaite and The Row.

After studying menswear at Parsons, Houston got his start in 2011 as an intern in collection shoes at Marc Jacobs under then-design director Irene Chung, an experience that would change the course of his career. “Marc was obsessed with footwear. I learned everything so quickly. It really set off my interest in shoes and obsession with structure and architecture and function,” said the designer, who has also worked at Coach.

An avid collector and vintage connoisseur who has amassed 400 pairs of shoes in his New York apartment, Houston said he has long admired the Levines and their place in shoe history. Fittingly, the Luvanis team contacted the designer after reading about his extensive footwear archive.

An Enduring Brand Story

Beth Levine, affectionally known as the “First Lady of Shoes,” was a pioneering female designer, making fashion boots a must-have in the 1960s and inventing boundary-breaking sculptural heels, the stocking boot and the “Spring-o-lator” mule.

Among Levine’s famed looks were the pair of white stiletto boots she designed for Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” video. She also crafted shoes Barbra Streisand wore in the movie “Funny Girl.” Over the years, the designer’s looks were also worn by other Hollywood icons, including Marilyn Monroe, Ava Gardner and Lauren Bacall, as well as four First Ladies, including Jackie Kennedy.

While it’s now been five decades since the late couple closed the business, Beth’s designs have been a mainstay in collections and exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Bata Shoe Museum, among other institutions. In fact, the designer’s 1966 “Barefoot in the Grass” sandal — which features astroturf on the insole and a transparent vinyl upper — was the only shoe on display in “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” the Met Costume Institute’s spring ’24 exhibition.

De Lummen — who reintroduced Vionnet’s ready-to-wear in 2006, relaunched 19th-century trunk-maker Moynat and is now reviving French brand Rose Bertin, among other projects — said he discovered that Herbert Levine was the Met Museum’s second most-collected shoe label, after Roger Vivier.

But historical relevance isn’t enough, said the executive. He believes Herbert Levine is primed for a comeback because the brand’s styles continue to inform contemporary shoe designs. Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin and Stuart Weitzman have all cited Levine as an inspiration.

The Road to Revival

Herbert Levine’s rebirth under Luvanis has been 15 years in the making. De Lummen’s first order of business was to acquire the brand’s intellectual property in every market around the world. Then, it was about getting the right people and strategy in place. “Heritage brands can be damaged by multiple revivals. It’s having all the planets aligned to reintroduce something that is going to be relevant for the long term,” said de Lummen.

So what is relevant for women now? “It’s not about this crazy high heel. It’s actually about shoes that are worn and can go with a lot of things,” Houston said. “This is a fresh take on footwear for women.”

Houston is confident that his designs — a full shoe wardrobe ranging from boots to loafers to pumps — embody the founders’ original vision for the brand: “Refined and elegant, but with an edge,” he said. “A lot of these lasts are from the archives and they were modernized. I worked on them and got them to be wider in certain parts, or shorter or longer where they need to be, to make sure the feet fit well in them.”

All of the Levines’ original shoes were produced in their New York factory, and the new team admitted it was a challenge to find that same level of intricate craftsmanship. “You have to really know the details to get the quality perfect,” said Houston, who has been working on his debut for the past two years with a factory in the Marche shoemaking region of Italy.

During a preview of the collection during New York Fashion Week, it was clear that the designer has immersed himself in every aspect of Beth Levine’s life and work. For example, Levine was deeply inspired by painter Milton Avery, also one of Houston’s favorite artists.

Levine loved to play with materials and detailing — and that influence is evident across Houston’s styles. The designer often referenced Helene Verin’s 2009 book, “Beth Levine Shoes,” while dreaming up the new collection, which launches at retail this summer and is being sold through Massimo Bonini.

Among Houston’s favorite styles is his “grandma slipper,” fashioned in a poppy green hue and embellished with a martini pin. A ballet pump with a kitten heel made of soft PVC material comes with bubble wrap, “almost like a rain shoe.” A deep V vamp shape modernizes a classic pump, reflecting the designer’s emphasis on craftsmanship and fit.

Like the brand’s founders, Houston is also keeping function top of mind, with the highest heel in the collection standing at 95 millimeters, or just under 4 inches in height.

And one of the most touching references to the couple’s partnership comes to life on the insole of a pair of pumps. On one shoe, there’s the Beth Levine moniker; on the other, it’s Herbert Levine.. “I wanted to bring them back together,” Houston said. (During the Levines’ era, shoe brands were typically only named after men.)

The couple’s lasting impact on the industry — and their love for New York — will be a crucial part of the storytelling as the brand embarks on a new chapter for the modern era. Houston believes there’s big potential at a time when the industry has been lacking newness.

“There’s definitely a space for something like this, in the American market especially,’ he said. “Everything I make, I try to inject joy into it. You want people to be emotional about product. It needs to speak to them, and they need to remember it.”

According to the Italian footwear brand it has unveiled the “Santoni Culture, An Emblem of Mastery” mark. Described by the brand as “more than a logo,” the new symbol aims to trace the legacy of the artisans who have shaped Santoni’s story since its founding in 1975.

At the heart of this emblem are four key elements, each layered with meaning – the tree, the needle and thread, the paintbrush and the double buckle.

Santoni noted that the tree is a metaphor for “its deep-rooted legacy, its branches reaching toward new horizons while remaining anchored in its artisanal foundations,” while the needle and thread, represent the brand’s devotion to expert craftsmanship.

The paintbrush, a symbol of Santoni’s Velatura art of coloring, tells the story of hand-applied patinas, transforming leather into a canvas of unparalleled beauty. And the brand’s signature double buckle shoes complete the mark – which “stands as a symbol of enduring artistry,” the company added.

As the brand embarks on a year of special milestones, the new “Santoni Culture, An Emblem of Mastery” will become a “guiding symbol” woven into the company’s storytelling, integrated into campaigns, videos and brand activations that will bring this anniversary year to life.

This news comes just weeks after Santoni revealed a new retail concept that will be applied to all new stores going forward, including the new 667 Madison Avenue space in New York, which will open by the end of February.

Designed by Spanish designer and architect Patricia Urquiola, the store replaces the old 551 Madison Avenue location, and spans 3,767-sq.-ft. over two floors. The space will incorporate new experiential elements and has been inspired by the architecture and history that surrounds it. 

The honor, which recognizes extraordinary service to advance the Foundation’s mission of lifting lives in footwear, will be presented to Kahan at the Two Ten Annual Gala on June 3 at The Glasshouse in New York City.

According to Shawn Osborne, president and CEO of Two Ten, dubbed Kahan a “transformational leader” of the storied German footwear brand.

“What many in the industry do not know is how deeply impactful [Kahan’s] decade of service on Two Ten’s board of directors has been,” Osborne said. “David not only champions our mission of lifting lives, he also thinks about the long-term advancement of the Foundation. During his tenure as board chair, we completely transformed our fundraising model, raising almost $10 million as we shifted to an approach that emphasized building more meaningful partnerships.”

Kahan served as Two Ten board chair from 2021 through 2023, a period when Two Ten noted that it awarded a record number of disaster and hardship relief grants to footwear employees, as the industry emerged from the pandemic and faced the devastation of hurricanes Fiona and Ian. More than 3,500 footwear families were directly impacted by Two Ten’s relief and education programs in this period, Two Ten stated.

“David led the way as we planned for a post-Covid world,” Osborne added. “He pushed us to reimagine how the Foundation operated, to think about what we needed, not just to weather a period of crisis, but to position ourselves to thrive once that crisis had passed.”

For Kahan, he acknowledged what an “incredible honor” it is to receive the A.A. Bloom Award, which serves as a tribute to the late Abe Bloom, one of the original founders of the Two Ten Footwear Foundation.

“Over the past decade, I’ve witnessed firsthand the profound impact of Two Ten’s mission—whether through disaster relief, education programs, or financial assistance, the Foundation is there when people need it most,” Kahan said. “Being part of this journey, especially during some of the industry’s most challenging moments, has been deeply meaningful. I’m proud to have played a role in strengthening Two Ten’s ability to uplift footwear families, and I look forward to seeing its continued impact for years to come.”

On its fourth quarter 2024 earnings call on Thursday, Andrew Rees, chief executive officer of Crocs Inc, told analysts that the company is embedding an additional 10 percent tariff on goods imported from China into the U.S. beginning Feb. 4 as well as the anticipated additional 25 percent tariff on goods importing from Mexico beginning in March. This assumes these will stay in place for the remainder of the year, the CEO noted.

“In 2025, we expect the share of enterprise imports into the U.S. from China to be approximately 15 percent, with Crocs at 10 percent and Hey Dude at 27 percent,” Rees said. “Our exposure to Mexico is expected to be under 4 percent and for the Crocs brand only.”

The CEO added that the company estimates an approximate $11 million headwind to gross profit from these additional tariffs in fiscal 2025.

As for if the company expects to raise prices this year, Rees said this is something they are thinking “very long and hard about” going into the new fiscal year. “At this point, we’re not planning significant price increases in the short term, but we don’t necessarily know what’s going to happen in the longer term,” the executive maintained. “We continue to remain very nimble relative to what that might entail.”

Tariffs and the price increases that could follow have been a growing concern among the footwear industry since President Trump took office last month. As of now, Trump’s new 10 percent duties on China-made goods took effect earlier this month via an executive order, which blamed China for its role in America’s fentanyl crisis. Should they stick, China’s tariffs would impact about $20 billion worth of U.S. imports.

In January, before the new tariffs told hold, shoe prices increased 1 percent from a year ago, the most in six months, the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) reported.

This latest increase in shoe prices is just the beginning if President Trump’s heightened tariffs on China remain in place. As for when these increases may hit consumers, FDRA president and chief executive officer Matt Priest told FN last week that they could come as soon as back-to-school.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, Crocs reported that its consolidated revenues were $990 million, an increase of 3.1 percent from $960.1 million the same time last year. As for the full fiscal 2024, the company reported consolidated revenues for $4.10 billion, an increase of 3.5 percent from $3.96 billion in fiscal 2023.

The record earnings for the year led Crocs stock to jump nearly 24 percent by the closing bell on Thursday.

After 27 years without running an ad during the Super Bowl, Nike debuted its “So Win” campaign, a women-led effort that celebrates the power of sport and encourages athletes “to block out the noise, dig in and let their hard work speak for itself.” The star-studded spot featured A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, Sha’Carri Richardson and several others.

Two days later, Adidas revealed “You Got This,” a continuation of its ongoing efforts to disarm the negative pressures of sport that began in February 2024. Though some of the brand’s superstar athletes appear in the clip, such as Anthony Edwards, Aliyah Boston and Trinity Rodman, it’s the everyday athletes featured that take the lead.

The executions of the ads, with one led solely by megastar women athletes and the other pairing everyday athletes with its brightest professional stars, could leave some to believe the messages are different. However, one industry insider believes their messages are complementary.

Spurwink River advisor and BCE Consulting senior advisor Matt Powell — who admitted Nike and Adidas did a great job with each of their efforts — believes both inherently are about motivating athletes to persevere in the face of adversity.

“The Adidas commercial was much more about athletes, not necessarily superstars. The Nike spot was much more about really well known stars, but Nike focused solely on women, and to some extent, they were also making a statement politically as well,” Powell told FN. “Frankly, Nike could have absolutely run the Adidas spot and put Nike at the end of it, and it would have been pretty consistent with their message as well.”

Though both campaigns have been celebrated, Marc Beckman, chief executive officer of marketing agency DMA United, believes Nike’s ad has the edge when it comes to the message that was delivered.

“I believe it effectively elevates one on the brand’s core values: overcoming adversity,” Beckman said. “The creators of the campaign did a masterful job at highlighting what every athlete confronts every single day: the power of your mind.”

He continued, “Nike did a great job and addressing this issue: the individual competing with herself to overcome mental obstacles. I love it.”

The most glaring difference between the two is casting, with Nike opting for an all-woman cast of renowned athletes and a voiceover by Grammy Award-winning rapper Doechii, and Adidas including both men and women throughout.

Despite this, Powell believes both actually hit a wide range of consumers.

“The Adidas spot was great, they took a much broader view. In the case of Nike, they’re trying to uplift women specifically. And l think they’re also trying to make, in a sense, a political statement in a time when women are probably going to see more rights taken away and there’s a general attitude that women are somehow inferior to men,” Powell explained. “I [also] think the demographic [for Nike’s ad] extends well beyond women. My son has two daughters and this matters a lot to him, what happens of women in sports, as an example. It’s broader than just women.”

Though both ads were well received, Beckman did question the timing of Nike’s reveal.

“Not sure why Nike would launch this campaign featuring elite female athletes during the NFL main event. It would make more sense during the NBA All-Star Weekend,” he said. “Predictably, Nike purchased media for NBA All-Star, too.”

Powell, however, believes both Nike and Adidas nailed it.

“I think Nike was sending a very clear statement that we’re back. Nike’s message was, ‘We’re back on offense.’ And I think that’s an important message for them to be sending right now. Those Super Bowl spots are millions and millions of dollars, but they get a ton of attention. The mentions of that spot over the last couple of days, and even before the Super Bowl, the spot was getting mentions. There’s a tremendous amount of PR value to being on the Super Bowl.”

He continued, “In the case of Adidas, we’re sort of in a quiet time just before the [NBA] All-Star Game. It’s a great time to come out with something in a relative lull in the marketing that seems to be incessant. It sets them up well for All-Star, which is not the event that it used to be, but is still important.”

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

Last month, retail footwear prices increased 1 percent from a year ago, the most in six months, the FDRA noted. This came as prices rose year-over-year across all three target markets. Prices for children’s shoes were up 0.1 percent, men’s increased 1.1 percent and women’s footwear climbed 1.2 percent in January.

In fact, the FDRA said that children’s footwear prices rose for the fourth straight month, men’s footwear prices climbed eleven of the last twelve months, and women’s footwear prices expanded the most in seven months.

“The acceleration in retail footwear prices came as overall inflation sped up and duties paid on footwear imports grew at double-digit year-over-year rates for the fourth straight month,” Gary Raines, chief economist at FDRA, told FN. “The long-term co-movement between trends in duties paid on footwear imports and retail footwear prices is well established.”

This latest increase in shoe prices is just the beginning if President Trump’s heightened tariffs on China remain in place. As for when these increases may hit consumers, FDRA president and chief executive officer Matt Priest told FN last week that they could come as soon as back-to-school.

“If you think about orders being placed and the need to bring in more product for back-to-school, I can envision that’s when these increases may occur,” Priest said. “The other problem is that tariffs are being added on everything from China, so there is a broader concern about disposable income for working families. Their budgets are already stretched, so to add this extra layer it is going to cost more for families with less discretionary income when they look to buy things like footwear.”

But for now, Raines added that action needs to be taken to mitigate further increases. “As inflation and footwear prices reaccelerate, now is not the time for the new administration to impose even higher duties on America’s largest footwear suppliers, saddling consumers with even higher prices,” Raines said.

January’s movement in footwear prices comes at the same time the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that overall inflation accelerated for the fourth straight month.

The bureau’s latest Consumer Price Index (CPI), a broad measure of goods and services costs across the U.S. economy, saw prices increase 0.5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in January, after rising 0.4 percent in December. Prices were also up 3.0 percent over the last 12 months, the fastest in eight months.

Excluding volatile food and energy costs, the core CPI rose 0.4 percent in January and increased 3.3 percent over the same time last year. 

Launched in 2020 by sister act Erin and Sara Foster — in partnership with Centric Brands — the move into footwear comes after an active 2024. The brand recently opened a Beverly Hills retail store and operates a thriving wholesale business. Other categories include apparel, denim, suiting, accessories and logo wear, is firing on all cylinders.

Now, with its new shoe collection, fans of the brand will be able to score a “tightly curated assortment” including items like soft construction timeless and boyish loafers, quilted low profile sneakers, chic ballets, t-strap and refined heeled pumps, and boots.

The all-new collection, which was co-created with Caleres senior vice president and chief design and product officer Natelle Baddeley, is crafted in soft nappas, exotic leathers, satins, velvets and subtle suedes and will feature a cushioned footbed using athletic grade foams not typically found in dress shoes, the company noted. Special details include the Favorite Daughter signature buckles on removable straps to provide styling options.

“We had a lot of conversations about which category Favorite Daughter should venture into next, and we are so excited that it is shoes,” Erin and Sara Foster said in a joint statement on Wednesday. “We have become a brand that is known for quality and shoes will be no exception. These are the shoes we want and need in our own closets.” 

Jason Rabin, CEO of Centric Brands, noted that the company felt it was the “right time” to launch Favorite Daughter’s new shoe category. “We chose a partner in Caleres that has the expertise in design, scale, and global reach to bring our vision to life and to continue to drive growth,” Rabin said.

The branded noted that its new range of Favorite Daughter shoes will retail between $195 to $495 and will be available in September at FavoriteDaughter.com, in Favorite Daughter stores and at select better department stores this fall.

But fans eager to get their hands on Favorite Daughter footwear won’t exactly need to wait until this fall. The company will tease a small assortment of shoes this May in collaboration with Caleres-owned brand Dr. Scholl’s.

The upcoming collaboration will include the first-ever kitten heel version of Dr. Scholl’s signature Original Sandal and a fashion take on the brand’s viral Time Off sneaker. The capsule is highlighted by special materials and details, including croco, hair-calf, and brogue detailing. The sandal will retail for $225 and the sneaker will retail for $150.

“When we were in ninth grade, there was nothing cooler than wearing a pair of Dr. Scholl’s slides,” the Foster sisters added. “We designed a fresh take on one of our favorite looks so fans of both brands can get that feeling too.”

Jay Schmidt, president and chief executive officer of Caleres, praised Favorite Daughter for being great at “connecting culture to content and fashion.”

“The brand has incredible momentum and a very strong point of view, and we felt that from our first meeting,” Schmidt said. “I’m continually impressed by our design and product team at Caleres, and this partnership illustrates that we have become the chosen partner for another leading, contemporary, fashion brand and game-changing entrepreneurs.”

With this new licensing agreement, Favorite Daughter joins Caleres’ portfolio of global footwear brands that includes Famous Footwear, Sam Edelman, Allen Edmonds, Naturalizer and Vionic. Caleres also holds footwear licenses for Veronica Beard and Vince.

According to several recent analysts notes about these meetings, the overall consensus is that Nike management is making the right moves but still has a long way to go before the beleaguered brand returns to its glory days. It’s expected that a recovery will commence in the back half of the second quarter of fiscal 2026, which is set to accelerate through the balance of fiscal 2026.

“We came away very impressed with Mr. Hill, and we believe that his experience with the company and his viewpoint towards the business make him the right person for the job,” Needham analyst Tom Nikic wrote in a note last week.

Here, FN breaks down some of the key takeaways from Hill’s recent meeting streak with analysts.

Air Force 1s, Jordan 1s, and Dunks Must Be Cut

Several analysts stressed the importance of Hill and Nike cleaning up its distribution of the oversaturated Air Force 1, Jordan 1 and Dunk models.

“The Dunk, which went from almost nothing to huge over the past 6 to 7 years and does not have the Nike history of the Air Force 1 or the Jordan 1, will almost be obsoleted over the next year,” Williams Trading analyst Sam Poser wrote in a note on Monday. “We are confident that other styles and a stronger and more controlled Air Force and Jordan businesses, combined with emerging franchises and updates to older franchises will offset the now ubiquitous Dunk business in second quarter of fiscal 2026.”

Accelerating Product Innovation

“Historically, when Nike has fallen on hard times in the past, product has been the reason it turned around – such as in 2017, with the Epic React, Air Max 270, Virgil Abloh collab,” Nikic said.

He added that one example of Nike’s renewed focus on innovation under Hill was the recent release of the Pegasus Premium, which was accelerated to launch by a year. The initial launch sold out, but more drops like this is necessary going forward.

[Fresh] offerings include new colors of Air Force 1s, updates to Jordan Retros, more colorways of the Pegasus Premium, the Vomero Plus, updated Deion Sanders shoes, the Diamond Turf x DT Max, the DN8, the MaxMoto for women, and some core footwear directed at more price conscious consumers, drew interest with athletic lifestyle retailers,” Poser added.

Rebuilding Its Wholesale

In a stark reversal of a previous strategy that saw Nike pivot away from wholesale, the athletic brand turned its focus back to building its retailer relationships in 2024, but more is needed to be done.

“By maintaining its over-commitment to DTC, and failing to properly support its wholesale partners, Nike lost touch with its competition, and lost that winning feeling,” Poser wrote.

But to the Jefferies analyst team, Hill is already making improvements.

“Early in his tenure, Hill has met with retail partners and started implementing an integrated consumer-led marketplace to foster stronger collaboration between Nike’s Direct and wholesale businesses,” the Jefferies analyst team wrote in a note last week. “That said, we anticipate retail partners will continue featuring competitors like On, Hoka, Adidas, and New Balance, as these brands are resonating with consumers.”