Skechers Explained

Skechers USA, Inc.
Type:Public
Industry:Clothing
Founder:Robert Greenberg
Hq Location City:Manhattan Beach, California
Hq Location Country:U.S.
Num Locations:5,267 (2024)
Area Served:Worldwide
Revenue: (2023)
Operating Income: (2023)
Net Income: (2023)
Assets: (2024)
Num Employees:≈ 17,900 (2023)
Footnotes:[1] [2]

Skechers USA, Inc. is an American multinational footwear and apparel company. Headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California, it was founded in 1992 and is the third largest footwear brand in the United States.

History

Skechers was founded in 1992 by Robert Greenberg, who had previously founded LA Gear in 1983 (he stepped down as CEO of that company the same year he founded Skechers). Greenberg sought to focus on men's street shoes; Skechers' early products were utility-style boots popular in grunge fashion.[3] The company quickly expanded to include women and children, with casual and athletic styles, and went public in 1999.[4] [5] In 2011, Skechers launched its performance sportswear line for athletes and signed Meb Keflezighi as a spokesman.[6]

Skechers is the third largest footwear brand in the United States by revenue.[7] [8] In January 2019, the company started an expansion of its corporate headquarters to double its office, design and showroom space in the South Bay.[9] In 2023, Skechers had its debut on the Fortune 500.[10]

Litigation

In 2012, Skechers agreed to settle a class action lawsuit for $40 million based on a U.S. Federal Trade Commission complaint that it had misled customers with its Shape-Ups rocker bottom shoe ads.[11] In 2019, Nike filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Skechers because, according to Nike, Skechers had infringed on the design of their VaporMax and Air Max 270 sneakers.[12]

Forced labor investigation

In 2021, French prosecutors launched an investigation into whether Skechers and other brands had concealed or profited from forced Uyghur labor.[13] [14] A December 2023 report by Sheffield Hallam University again found connections to forced Uyghur labor.[15] Skechers has found no evidence of forced labor taking place.[16] [17]

Products and advertising

Skechers designs, develops and markets a range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel and accessories for adults and children. Its brands include Skechers Sport, Slip-ins, D'Lites, the charity line Bobs, Mark Nason, Skechers Work, Go Walk, Go Run, and Go Golf. Since 2020, select shoes have utilized Goodyear rubber.[18]

Skechers has promoted its products with musicians including Ringo Starr, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Snoop Dogg;[19] television personalities Martha Stewart, Brooke Burke, and Amanda Kloots; baseball player Clayton Kershaw and boxer Sugar Ray Leonard; and American football players Tony Romo, Howie Long, and Cris Carter.[20] Since 2010, Skechers has been a regular Super Bowl advertiser.[21]

On March 1, 2019, Skechers launched a print and digital comparative advertising campaign titled "Just Blew It" to highlight the Zion Williamson failed shoe incident with rival Nike.[22]

Skechers has been a partner of W Racing Team (WRT) in sports car racing, including former MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi, since 2021. WRT's parent company, Weerts Group, services Skechers' European distribution center in Liège, Belgium.[23]

Skechers Performance has featured distance runner Meb Keflezighi and professional golfers Brooke Henderson and Matt Fitzpatrick. The brand expanded into pickleball in 2022, signing several of the sport's top players and sponsoring the first nationally televised pickleball tournament in the U.S.[24] In 2023, Skechers announced a move into soccer and basketball, introducing new technical shoes worn and promoted by England national football team player Harry Kane and NBA players Julius Randle, Terance Mann, and Joel Embiid.[25] In 2024, Skechers replaced Nivia Sports as the kit sponsor of one of India's oldest football teams, Mohun Bagan Super Giant.[26]

Philanthropy

Skechers launched its Skechers Foundation in 2010. Skechers and the Friendship Foundation host an annual walk in Manhattan Beach to raise money for a nonprofit that helps connect special-needs students with their peers.[27] [28]

Skechers donates new shoes to children in need worldwide through its Bobs charity program. The shoes support Head Start programs, education foundations, homeless shelters, disaster relief and 501(c)(3) organizations.[29] Bobs also supports animal welfare groups including Petco Love and Woodgreen Pets Charity.[30]

Entertainment

Skechers has developed—with MoonScoop Group and animator/co-producer John Massé—an animated series, Zevo-3, and several direct-to-DVD features produced by SD Entertainment:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2024-02-28 . Form 10-K . 2024-02-29 . Skechers U.S.A., Inc..
  2. Web site: July 25, 2024 . Skechers Announces Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Board Authorized $1 Billion Share Repurchase Program . July 28, 2024 . Skechers U.S.A., Inc..
  3. Web site: Bettner. Jill. October 26, 1993. Robert Greenberg, founder of L.A. Gear, has launched a company that's building sales from the popularity of trendy 'Doc' Martens. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200115061159/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-26-fi-49893-story.html. January 15, 2020. January 14, 2020. Los Angeles Times.
  4. Book: Grant . International Directory of Company Histories . February 14, 2000 . . 978-1-55862-390-3 . 31 . Detroit, Michigan . 8607051M . Funding Universe.
  5. News: Trivedi . Kruti . 2000-07-18 . Trying a New Shoe on for Size; Can Owners of Skechers Learn From Their Mistakes? . . 2023-02-03 . 0362-4331.
  6. News: Boren . Cindy . April 22, 2014 . Skechers beats Nike in Boston Marathon . 2022-08-28 . The Washington Post.
  7. News: February 6, 2018 . US Athletic Footwear Market Report . . dead . 2022-10-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210127194208/https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/press-releases/2018/us-athletic-footwear-industry-sales-grew-2-percent-to-19-6-billion-in-2017-npd-group-reports/ . January 27, 2021.
  8. Web site: Goddiess . Samantha . Aug 22, 2022 . The 10 Largest Shoe Brands In The United States . 2022-10-04 . Zippia.
  9. Web site: Carballo . Charlie . 2019-01-14 . Skechers Plans to Grow Talent, Categories After Breaking Ground on Corporate Office Expansion . 2022-10-16 . Footwear News.
  10. Web site: Ciment . Shoshy . 2023-06-05 . Lululemon and Skechers Join Fortune 500 List as Female CEOs Prove Staying Power . 2023-06-25 . Footwear News.
  11. News: Dina Elboghdady. 2012-05-16. Skechers agrees to $40 million settlement for claims about shoes' benefits. The Washington Post. 2012-05-30. 2012-05-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20120521014926/http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/skechers-to-pay-40-million-to-settle-charges-over-unsupported-claims/2012/05/16/gIQA0MY0TU_story.html. live.
  12. Web site: Kish. Matthew. October 4, 2019. Nike again sues Skechers over alleged knockoff sneakers. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201025082843/https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2019/10/04/nike-again-sues-skechers-over-alleged-knockoff.html. 2020-10-25. 2020-09-17. Portland Business Journal.
  13. News: Paton. Elizabeth. Gallois. Léontine. Breeden. Aurelien. 2021-07-02. Fashion Retailers Face Inquiry Over Suspected Ties to Forced Labor in China. The New York Times. 2021-07-04. 0362-4331. 2021-07-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20210703145522/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/02/fashion/xinjiang-forced-labor-Zara-Uniqlo-Sketchers.html. live.
  14. News: Henley. Jon. July 2, 2021. France investigates fashion brands over forced Uyghur labour claims. The Guardian. July 4, 2021. July 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210703072951/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/02/france-investigates-fashion-brands-over-forced-uyghur-labour-claims. live.
  15. Web site: Tailoring Responsibility: Tracing Apparel Supply Chains from the Uyghur Region to Europe . December 2023 . Uyghur Rights Monitor, the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice at Sheffield Hallam University, and the Uyghur Center for Democracy and Human Rights . 14.
  16. Web site: Chua . Jasmin Malik . 2021-04-19 . Inditex, Uniqlo, Skechers Battle Forced Labor Allegations . 2022-09-30 . Sourcing Journal.
  17. Web site: December 2023 . Tailoring Responsibility: Annex A Corporate Responses . Uyghur Rights Monitor, the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice at Sheffield Hallam University, and the Uyghur Center for Democracy and Human Rights . 17 . ...you are incorrect to allege that Skechers is "at risk of importing textile and/or apparel goods made wholly or in part in Xinjiang" – an allegation for which you provided no evidence..
  18. Web site: Goist. Robin. 2020-02-27. Skechers partners with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. on line of sneakers. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211119035915/https://www.cleveland.com/business/2020/02/skechers-partners-with-goodyear-tire-rubber-co-on-line-of-sneakers.html. 2021-11-19. 2022-05-14. The Plain Dealer.
  19. Web site: Ng . Kate . 2023-06-15 . The Rolling Stones launches trainer collaboration with Skechers . 2024-02-29 . . 1741-9743.
  20. Web site: Garner. Stephen. 2022-03-28. Martha Stewart Lands Another Shoe Gig as a Skechers Ambassador. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220329190143/http://footwearnews.com/2022/business/marketing/martha-stewart-skechers-comfort-campaign-1203266575/. 2022-03-29. 2022-03-30. Footwear News.
  21. Web site: Bell . Jennie . 2023-02-07 . Skechers & Snoop Dogg Get Sky-High in Super Bowl 2023 Ad . 2023-02-20 . Footwear News.
  22. Web site: Skechers Takes a Direct Hit at Nike's Shoe Explosion Incident With New Ad. Ella. Chochrek. 2 March 2019. Footwear News. 28 March 2019. 28 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190328203351/https://footwearnews.com/2019/focus/athletic-outdoor/skechers-ad-shades-nike-zion-williamson-shoe-explosion-1202755335/. live.
  23. Clay . Jennifer . 17 March 2022 . Skechers Expands Sponsorship With Team WRT in Second Year of High-Speed Deal . Los Angeles . Skechers USA, Inc. . Business Wire . 2023-06-27.
  24. Web site: Chen . I-Chun . Aug 9, 2022 . Skechers sponsoring nationally televised professional pickleball tournament . 2022-08-10 . L.A. Business First.
  25. Web site: Ciment . Shoshy . 2024-07-26 . Skechers Says Push Into Performance Athletic Will Convert More Consumers . 2024-07-29 . Footwear News.
  26. Web site: Skechers is going to Mohun Bagan's Official Kit Sponsor for the upcoming season 2024/25 . 2024-08-16 . Instagram.
  27. Web site: About the Walk. SKECHERS Friendship Walk. 2017-12-01. 2020-05-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20200526160604/http://www.skechersfriendshipwalk.com/site/PageServer?pagename=walk_aboutwalk. live.
  28. News: Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk funds special student relationships. 2017-10-28. Daily Breeze. 2018-07-13. 2018-07-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20180713205229/https://www.dailybreeze.com/2017/10/27/skechers-pier-to-pier-friendship-walk-funds-special-student-relationships/. live.
  29. Web site: Polk. Andy. BOBS From Skechers Footwear Donations Surpass 16 Million Pairs. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210124211505/https://fdra.org/latest-news/bobs-from-skechers-footwear-donations-surpass-16-million-pairs/. 2021-01-24. 2022-05-14. FDRA. 8 October 2020 .
  30. Web site: Stabile . Angelica . 2022-11-02 . BOBS from Skechers donates to North American animal shelters with every purchase . 2022-11-24 . Fox Business.
  31. Web site: Keslassy. Elsa. 2010-04-20. Skechers makes strides into film. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220323163123/https://variety.com/2010/biz/news/skechers-makes-strides-into-film-1118018007/. 2022-03-23. 2022-03-23. Variety.
  32. Web site: Twinkle Toes Franchise Box Office History. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220319234454/https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/franchise/Twinkle-Toes. 2022-03-19. 2022-03-19. The Numbers.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Skechers".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.