Icon $25.00 & Sumner ‘Empire’ $18.00
www.airspeedfootwear.com
jasonmac@airspeedfootwear.com
Jason MacMaster, VP Sales
How has the footwear market changed over the last year?
Its seems that a lot of brands are producing the same low profile vulc products. To our eye, most of these shoes don’t even look lskate-able but then again, a lot of peeps that are rocking them are not even skaters. How skinny can jeans get and how narrow and low can skate shoes really get? We think a lot of companies are most definitely playing it safe.
What are the biggest trends that you’re anticipating as far as styles, colors, and materials for next Spring and how will your line capitalize on them?
Being sold in the biggest retailer, we are still focusing on the mainstream market which is looking for a branded, durable, performance driven lifestyle shoe made for action sports and more. Following the vulc trend, we have two shoes in stores that retail for $15.00 and the rest are cuspsole. Black suede is still the best colorway/material and we have added many simplistic additions like contrast white stitching or faux vulc cupsole to keep with the times.
What has been the good, the bad, and the ugly as far as sales so far in ’10?
Good = our black suede and basics continue to kill it! Bad = slower sales even at wallyworld. We don’t do ugly.
VP of Sales Jason MacMaster
According to ActionWatch, guys footwear is off 15% and women’s is up 20% this year in core retailers – does this jive with what you’re seeing and how do we get this back on track?
We are still in a recession so little bobby’s’ are rocking the same kicks longer. It’s a price game out there right now and all consumers are looking for a good deal, so highest quality/best branding/lowest price gets the sale.
Are there specific demographics (kids, womens, sneaker heads, etc.) that you’ve seen strong sales shifts to?
At Wallyworld – our consumers range from 8-year-old grom skaters to 80-year-old shirtless vets rocking skullets… or worse.. Our demographic is very diverse you could say. With our increased marketing in core mags and online as well as adding riders to the team, we have seen a lot more actual skaters rocking our shoes these days….which is nice..
Another big point of differentiation is environmental and social responsibility stories. You have anything going down on this front?
Word up.. All of our mesh, inner lining, and strobel boards are made with post industrial products from Cosmo material supplier. Good price and reduces global footprint. We also are a part of CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) and are working with Clearwater in reducing our factory waste. Not a huge fan of hippies but we feel the need to do our part in being sustainable.
What are you adding to your line/taking out?
Keeping at least 1 tech item (Icon with hidden eyelets, impact technology) and keeping the rest skate basic. Taking out boat/dock shoes cause they are wack!
Any other big news for Spring ’11?
We launched our online store http://store.airspeed.us/ which is doing very well and plan on selling a lot of limited edition signature shoes to help diversify our line. New riders will be joining the team and some of our new shoes will be radical to the max all while being $25 and under.
