S K AT E S H O E S S S 2 2
retail buyer’s guide
RETAIL BUYER’S GUIDE
EMERICA
With the skateboarding boom showing no signs of slowing down and the world gradually returning to normal, or at least adapting to life through the pandemic, we take a look into SS22’s skate shoe buyer’s guide with SOURCE Skateboard Editor Dave Morgan to see what brands will be offering in the coming season.
Compared with last year’s unpredictable market, it seems that normality is somewhat more tangible now, and skate shoe brands are fortunately keeping up with the ever-growing demand. Supply chain issues are still a problem, more so for hardware than shoes, but brands are still struggling with shipping delays. Osiris General Manager Brian Barber explained: “Supply chain issues from Asia and other regions continue to be a problem, we foresee this to continue to be an issue through 2022.” It seems a universal struggle, with SoleTech also discussing the ongoing corona impact: “So in March last year it obviously effected the sales negatively, retailers and buyers were scared for the unknown. But when summer came it completely turned around and we noticed more and more kids, guys, girls, older people jumping on a skateboard. This was first noticed with our hardware colleagues but now we also noticed it for 2021, it’s looking good! All we wish for now is speedier shipping from the Far East
and less Brexit issues at the border, those are the 2 factors that are slowing down the growth a bit.” Bas Jannsen, Senior Sales & Marketing Manager of Etnies and America.
‘‘All we wish for now is speedier shipping from the Far East and less Brexit issues at the border, those are the 2 factors that are slowing down the growth a bit.” Bas Jannsen, Etnies & Emerica. MARKET & PP With the continued surge in E-commerce and skate shops being able to finally reopen their doors, the skate shoe market is doing great, and it’s good to see people supporting core stores as much as they can. As usual, high end fashion brands are experimenting with skateboarding, as DC’s Regional Footwear Product Manager- Halsey Keiler noticed: “This uptick in participation of the 15
