Content about Footwear

When UGG Australia began evaluating how shoppers wanted to engage with its brand, the footwear company — best known for its popular sheepskin boots — decided to augment its wholesale channel and digital presence with freestanding brick-and-mortar stores.

“Retail [freestanding stores] allows Deckers to showcase the UGG product in ways that many of our partners may be unable [to do],” said Yul Vanek, VP information technology for Deckers Outdoor, the Goleta, Calif.-based parent of UGG, Teva and other banners.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens said Tuesday it has formally set up a new company, jointly owned with Alliance Boots, as part of the strategic partnership’s synergy program.

The new company, called Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH, is based in Bern, Switzerland.

Foot Locker is kicking up its heels in the United Kingdom. The footwear giant has opened a new format — The Locker Room — with an eye to rolling it out throughout England and continental Europe. The concept expands Foot Locker’s core strength in athletic footwear to include apparel and accessories for a wide range of performance sports.

New York -- Shoe manufacturer Wolverine Worldwide Inc. announced Tuesday that it has partnered with equity firms Blum Capital Partners and Golden Gate Capital to acquire Payless ShoeSource parent Collective Brands Inc. for about $1.3 billion.

New York City -- Footwear designer Jean-Michel Cazabat said he will open his first U.S. store on Oct. 8 in New York City's West Village.

Topeka, Kan. -- Collective Brands, parent to the Payless ShoeSource and StrideRite brands, announced Wednesday that its chairman and CEO Matthew E. Rubel has resigned, effective immediately.

Rubel said in a release that he is leaving to pursue “a new chapter” in his career, and the company has offered no additional explanation.

Collective Brands said it is searching for a permanent replacement.

St. Louis -- Brown Shoe Co. said Thursday that it has acquired privately held athletic shoe maker American Sporting Goods Corp. for $145 million.

The acquisition broadens the reach of Brown Shoe, which makes Dr. Scholl's, LifeStride, Franco Sarto and other brands and operates Naturalizer and Famous Footwear stores. ASG's brands include Avia, Ryka women's fitness footwear and AND1 basketball shoes for men and boys.

St. Louis -- Brown Shoe Co. will test a new retail format, called Mind Body Sole by Famous Footwear, that offers a wide range of fitness footwear for active consumers. The shops, opening in five locations by yearend, will feature footwear for running, walking, hiking, toning and more from top brands including Nike, Reebok, ASICS, Skechers, New Balance, Avia, Saucony, Adidas and K-Swiss.