Independent shoe retailer Randy Brown entered the footwear industry in 1979, joining a family retail business established by his parents in 1950, Brown’s Family Shoe Store headquartered in Washington, Mo. Under his guidance, the business grew from a single store to a corporate entity, Brown’s Enterprises, with Brown’s Shoe Center and five New Balance locations across three states (Mo., Ill., Kan.), and WhereFeetLoveUs.com.

He has been a member of NSRA since 1982, served 20 years on the Board of Directors in several committees and was elected as Chairman in 2004. During his time as chairman, NSRA increased the business services it offers members, strengthened its educational events, improved its dues structure, recruited new members and stepped up its recruitment of women business owners to NSRA’s Board. Brown has also taken the stage as Master of Ceremonies at many NSRA leadership conferences. He was named NSRA’s Retailer of the Year in 2014.

NSRA Chairman Phil Wright (Vernon Powell Shoes, Salisbury, Md.) introduced the longtime NSRA board member. “He’s had a clear vision for his business, with leadership skills fostered in the Boy Scouts and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Those of us who know him know how ethical and trustworthy he is, he has a grounded perspective on business and life, he is full of optimism and uniquely blessed with a sense of humor.”

“Congratulations on being selected as a member of NSRA’s 2021 Hall of Fame,” said Immediate Past NSRA President Chuck Schuyler in a message to Brown. “In my estimation there is no more deserving person for this honor. You have the respect of the NSRA membership, sponsors, and the independent retail community. You’ve always been a wonderful ambassador for NSRA and you represent member stores with integrity and dignity.”

In his acceptance speech, Brown shared that “faith, devotion, dedication and discipline is the formula, that together, gets the hard work accomplished that is required to get things done, stay ahead of the curve, shore up, strengthen and broaden that foundation to prepare your business for growth and expansion and any other opportunities that may present themselves.”

“I catch myself looking out and seeing a familiar audience, but not as familiar as it used to be. Thank goodness there are many new and younger faces. I have no difficulty finding the years and years of friends and colleagues from clear across the country whom I would never have known without NSRA. NSRA, I thank you.”

Footwear industry icon Bob Infantino began his illustrious career in the footwear industry as a buyer for Altier Shoes, followed by seven years of owning stores in Rochester, NY. In 1984 he joined Bruce Katz at an upstart called Rockport Shoes. As Senior Vice President of Product Development and Marketing he helped build the company into the industry’s comfort leader. He became President of Clarks North America in 1992, and in 18 years grew sales that would turn the company into a leader in the comfort footwear business. In 2011 he formed a partnership with New Balance and created Drydock Footwear with a new brand, Cobb Hill, and two existing brands, Aravon and Dunham. In 2015, The Rockport Company and Drydock Footwear came together to form The Rockport Group, which he headed as CEO until 2018.

Infantino was inducted into NSRA’s Hall of Fame by Ed Habre (Shoe Mill, Clackamas, Ore.). Habre stated, “The man who we are honoring tonight, is at his core a retailer, who has experienced our unique business challenges and the high level of satisfaction in running his own stores and passionately making great footwear for those of us who continue on in that endeavor. As he went from one success to another, one thing that can be said of Bob by those who admired his role in making their businesses a success is that above all, Bob is a product guy. He has a heart for us, because at his core he is one of us. He has proven, by our success with the brands that have his stamp on them; that what he brings to the marketplace rings at the register.” Infantino has been a strong supporter of independent retailers and NSRA throughout his career.

Infantino accepted his award, saying, “Thank you to NSRA for this lifetime achievement award…and what makes it more special is that I’m still alive to receive it!” He noted, “There’s an incredible transition going on…people have sons and daughters coming into the business.” And to that upcoming generation of retailers, he expressed, “It was never about the end, it’s about the journey.”

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Click here to view acknowledgement on NSRA Awards page

Joel Sigal is a third-generation retailer and owner of Littles Shoes. His 20,000 sq.-ft. store, located in Pittsburgh, Pa.’s Squirrel Hill, is one of the city’s iconic shoe stores, offering families full-service and a vast selection of footwear, plus more than a little fashion. Prior to purchasing Littles Shoes in 1985, Sigal operated a three-store shoe company, J. Sigal Shoes. Now, with his son Justin (co-owner) working beside him, Littles Shoes continues to set the bar high and impress their customers.

According to Justin, Joel’s greatest strength is his ability to constantly evolve and stay ahead of the world and keep Littles Shoes moving forward. Joel instructed Justin and his staff to not sit back and wait during the pandemic.

Joel’s charitable acts have been never ending and Littles Shoes has always been community oriented. They are constantly tying in events to local charities. Sigal’s generosity of wallet and spirit also extends to his staff. Justin Sigal credits his dad with always making sure every staff member is taken care of when times get rough.

It’s obvious the leadership demonstrated by Joel has built a consistent atmosphere of service for customers, for the community, and for vendors who sell products through Littles Shoes, which results in one of the most successful shoe stores in the nation.

Joel was first elected to NSRA Board of Directors in 2007 and today he is recognized as an Advisory Committee member of the board. Throughout the years, Joel has contributed his time, advice, knowledge, and connections to the NSRA.

In presenting the Award, NSRA Board Member Alan Miklofsky (Alan’s Shoes, Tucson, Ariz.) said, “Joel is someone many of us admire, hundreds look up to and every person engaged in the shoe business should want to emulate. He is a prime example of what we call a survivor in the shoe business. His business has fought through economic downturns, fire and smoke, wacky theories tested by numerous politicians, hate crimes, direct to consumer, the COVID-19 pandemic, and now the global supply chain disruption. No one can confuse Joel Sigal as your ordinary one- store operator – Joel is certainly one of the best!”

Although not physically at the conference, Sigal appeared virtually to accept his award. “Thank you so much. I’m very honored to get this award from the organization. I hope you are fortunate enough to have family in the business.”

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Click here to view acknowledgement on NSRA Awards page

Running is more than just a hobby to the brand – it’s their passion. They find running brings people closer together as a group than any team-building exercise could. On the road of life, it’s always better to travel in packs. Brooks believes a run can change a day, a life, the world. “We exist to inspire you to run your path. Because every day with a run is better. Every run brings you closer to your best self. And you end every run in a better place than you started.” This simple principle guides every design and engineering choice they make on their shoes and gear. Brooks products are enjoyed by runners in over 50 countries worldwide.

Brooks’ global headquarters is located in Seattle, along the Burke-Gilman running and biking trail next to Lake Union. It’s also where you can visit Brooks Trailhead, their one and only flagship retail store. They are proud to have a LEED certification and a history of surpassing our target energy and water goals. They will tell you, “Even our building inspires happy running and green living.”

Brooks has been a Bronze Education Sponsor of NSRA since 2017. Their support through sponsorship helps the association provide quality education programs and conferences for its independent retail members.

In presenting the award, John Luck (Lucky Shoes, Fairlawn, Ohio) introduced Brooks Running as NSRA’s 2021 Vendor of the Year by praising it as a “brand that took every challenge that a retailer faced and came up with a program that tried to address it, to mitigate it. They helped us with margin, they helped supplement our inventory, they air-freighted inventory in, they instituted a shipping program. They are a not a competitor, they are a symbiotic partner – plus they have really great shoes and they sell” – this is why Brooks is the Vendor of the Year.

Accepting the award on behalf of Brooks Running, Ryan Price, Senior Sales Manager, said “Thank you for the nomination. We are grateful for being here, and I’m thankful for the entire Brooks team.” He compared a running mishap to the current state of the industry. “It speaks to the resiliency of each and every one of you. We got into this pandemic, and immediately thought ‘what are stores going to do’? Contactless curbside, BOPIS, ROPIS, all the things that you did kept the business going, and then we hit a divot (supply chain issues). But we’ll get past this, and it’s going to be awesome!”

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Click here to view acknowledgement on NSRA Awards page

OS1st compression bracing, and performance socks are designed with patented Compression Zone® Technology using varied compression levels to target and support muscles. This textile engineering assists players on and off the court with the PB4® Pickleball Sock as well as flexible, easy-to-wear bracing sleeves for tennis elbow, shin splints, wrist injury, knee support and more.

“We are invested in the pickleball community because we believe in the fun, inclusive nature of the sport; we know our products will keep players active by preventing injury and relieving pain,” said Josh Higgins, President and Owner of OS1st. “It’s an honor to partner with USA Pickleball and be a part of their mission to advance the sport.”

Members can look forward to seeing OS1st products on-site, along with other partners, at the APP Atlanta Metro Open held in Griffin, GA from September 15^th - 19^th, the second stop on the 2021 USA Pickleball National Championship Series. This will be followed by the APP Hilton Head Open from October 13^th – 17^th.

“As an organization we are continuously striving to partner with the leading brands that support members active, pickleball lifestyle,” said George Bauernfeind, Chief Marketing Officer of USA Pickleball. “We are excited for this exclusive partnership with OS1st and to feature their top-quality socks and compression sleeves including at upcoming USA Pickleball events.” 

USA Pickleball members can visit USAPickleball.org for more details about the partnership and exclusive member discounts.

About OS1st

OS1st® is a three-generation family business that provides compression bracing and performance socks designed in North Carolina with patented Compression Zone® Technology using varied compression levels to target and support muscles, and patent-pending K-Zone® Bracing Technology that provides the benefits of kinesiology taping treatment without the tape. Both technologies use textile engineering to provide pain treatment and prevention for plantar fasciitis, bunions, runner’s knee, shin splints, foot pain, leg pain, and other conditions. The science behind every OS1st product is what makes it the number one compression bracing product in specialty retail in the United States.

About USA Pickleball

The USA Pickleball Association, a non-profit 501(c)(3) was established in 2005 to further the advancement of the sport on a national level. As the official governing body of pickleball in the United States, USA Pickleball promotes the growth of pickleball by maintaining the rules, setting player ratings, advancing the sport through its national network of 2,000+ ambassadors, and sanctioning tournaments. Since 2013, USA Pickleball has grown 1,000% in its membership to 47,000. More information can be found at usapickleball.org.

HICKORY, N.C. – OS1st revolutionized diabetic and comfort foot care with the debut of nano-bamboo charcoal, seamless, non-binding, cushioned WP4™ Wellness Performance Socks for sensitive feet. Now, the same sock is available with 50% more stretch for an extra-wide fit.

The extra-wide WP4™ Wellness Performance Socks feature four zones of compression from light compression at the seamless toes and ankle for comfort to moderate compression at the arch for support and superior fit. The special contoured, nano-bamboo charcoal fibers create a cushioned footbed and heel areas to provide extra protection all while still being non-constricting.

These socks keep feet dry and comfortable using micro-fiber nylon and OS1st’s signature silver-ion treatment creating anti-microbial and moisture-wicking properties to prevent blisters and sock slipping, all important features for aiding with diabetes, sensitive feet, Edema, and neuropathy.

The extra-wide WP4™ Wellness Performance Socks are made with exceptional quality on 200-needle machines and are meant to stand the test of time.

“We want everyone to have access to our life-changing socks,” President of OS1st, Josh Higgins, said. “The extra-wide WP4™ Wellness Performance Socks are designed specifically to create a safe and comfortable environment for anyone with special needs.”

The extra-wide WP4™ Wellness Performance Socks are available for wholesale ordering.

About OS1st

OS1st Base Layer Bracing® is a three-generation family business that provides compression bracing and performance socks designed in North Carolina with patented Compression Zone® Technology that uses varied compression levels to target and support muscles, and patent-pending K-Zone® Bracing Technology that provides the benefits of kinesiology taping treatment without the tape. Both technologies use textile engineering to provide pain treatment and prevention for plantar fasciitis, bunions, runner’s knee, shin splints, foot pain, leg pain, and other conditions. The science behind every OS1st product is what makes it the number one compression bracing product in specialty retail in the United States.

www.os1st.com

Charlotte, NC – January 25, 2021 – Family owned and operated since 2001, leading performance sock brand Feetures is celebrating 20 years of making socks to help people perform at their best. As the brand enters its 20^th year of producing products to support a healthy, active lifestyle, Feetures is implementing some organizational changes that are part of a longer-term succession planning process.

Since the beginning, Feetures has been focused on one singular goal; designing the best performance socks in the world so that everyone can achieve their personal best. This goal continues to be the company’s priority to this day as the brand has entered new categories outside of running, such as Everyday, Golf, Cycling, and Youth performance socks.

CEO and Founder Hugh Gaither has announced several changes within the Feetures leadership team that went into effect on January 1, 2021 to support his succession planning process. Gaither’s vision is to evolve the organization so it will continue to support and maintain its founding principles and culture amidst a significant growth period expected within the next three to five years. Gaither will remain CEO to leverage relationships he’s developed with key specialty accounts while cultivating new ones. He will also maintain strategic responsibility for all sales channels, including Specialty Retail, National Accounts, E-commerce, and International Sales.

Feetures National Sales Manager for footwear specialty retailers, Steve Hallinan, will be promoted to Key Accounts Manager. In this role, Hallinan will become the point person and primary account manager for key accounts that were managed by Gaither for many years. Feetures National Sales Manager for Run Specialty, Dan Gardner, will be promoted to National Sales Manager for all specialty accounts, including both run and footwear specialty retailers.

In addition to these changes and as part of the long-term planning, Gaither’s son, John Gaither, will become the Chief Operations Officer for Feetures, handling overall responsibility for all operations, including distribution, supply chain, production planning, product development, and innovation. In his previous role as VP of Product Development, John has already made an impact in these areas of business and now he will have a strategic responsibility at the highest level.

Gaither’s other son, Joe Gaither, will also be promoted to Executive Vice President, where he will oversee all e-commerce, marketing, and customer service. Joe’s previous role as VP of Marketing means he brings a deep knowledge of these departments. After successfully overseeing immense growth of Feetures’ e-commerce department in 2020, this role will allow Joe to guide the growth of the brand even further in the coming years.

“2021 marks our 20^th year in business and that is a huge milestone for a family-owned business such as ours,” states CEO and Founder, Hugh Gaither. “As we prepare for the future, we know it is necessary to have a proactive approach to the succession planning process to ensure growth and stability for our retail partners, our customers, and internal team to feel confident in the long term health and viability of this very special company.”

About Feetures

Feetures, a leading performance sock brand, has been family owned and operated in North Carolina for 20 years. Since day one, Feetures’ goal has been to create products that help people achieve their personal best and live healthy, active lifestyles. Feetures are engineered for performance with Targeted Compression and Anatomical Design to create a custom-like fit. As a testament to the quality of Feetures, each pair is sold with a lifetime guarantee. Go. Do. Live. In Feetures. Feetures.com / @feetures

The NSRA was formed in New York in 1912 and is North America’s largest footwear organization supporting independent footwear retailers in the United States and Canada.

Mark Denkler began his career in the banking industry in Houston, Texas. In 1994, he and his wife LaRonda assumed ownership of Vince Canning Shoes in Delray Beach, Florida that had been started by his grandfather in 1952. They later purchased Tootsies Shoe Store in 2015, and significantly increased sales in both stores. In 2016 he was honored as the NSRA Retailer of the Year. 

First elected to NSRA's Board of Directors in 2004, Denkler took leadership roles on the Executive, Finance, Nominations for Directors and Officers, Benefits and Services, and the Informational Resources Committees. He was elected as chairman of NSRA's Board of Directors in 2011-2013 and again in 2019-2020. Denkler is also very active in the Delray Beach business community serving on various city advisory Boards and is involved in the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and the Delray Merchant’s & Business Association.

“Denkler is the perfect choice to take the NSRA to the next level,” says Schuyler. “With his many years of experience as a banker, retailer and active member of the Association, he understands our industry, the NSRA and our members. He will be able to address the needs of the independent retailers and footwear vendors as we address new challenges in the coming years.”

“I am very honored to assume the leadership of the NSRA,” says Denkler. “The Association certainly helped my wife and I become successful shoe retailers, and I look forward to continuing to give back to the organization. I thank Chuck Schuyler for all he has contributed to the success of the Association and the independent shoe retailers. We hope to expand our work in helping our members as we begin a new era in a post-pandemic economy. Whether it’s using technology and social media, sourcing new product or planning for the next generation, the NSRA will continue to provide top notch education and resources to our vendors and retailers. We want to make the industry a better place to work and live.”         

About NSRA
NSRA was founded in 1912 to represent independent shoe retailers and provide their companies with business services, education programs and information resources that help them remain profitable and at the leading edge of retail. For more information, please visit www.nsra.org.

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The NSRA was formed in New York in 1912, and is North America’s largest footwear organization supporting independent footwear retailers in the United States and Canada.

Schuyler has served in his current role since December 2005, and prior to that, served as President and owner of Drew Shoe Corporation. During Schuyler’s tenure with NSRA, he played a critical role in helping the Association’s members adapt to the rapidly changing retail environment.

Many of the Association’s initiatives began under Schuyler’s guidance. The Next Generation Leadership Program is one such initiative. It is the footwear industry’s only program that helps and guides member stores in the transition from one generation to the next. Another, among others, is the live Retail Education Webinar series hosted by NSRA, featuring top industry professionals who offer training and advice to members. Schuyler also formed several strategic alliances with international trade associations to provide NSRA-member stores with product line opportunities.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Association recognized the evident need for its member stores to enhance their digital marketing functions, and brought in one of the nation’s top firms to assist in growing social media presence and more.

Schuyler thanks his staff for their service to him and the Association. “My job has been made easier with the talented, dedicated and passionate staff of NSRA. They all strive to help our members be the best they can be and succeed in the industry.”

“Schuyler has contributed years of industry experience to the NSRA for the last 15 years,” says Board member Phil Wright. “He championed the expansion of NSRA’s retail benefit portfolio, the Next Generation Leadership Program, and in-person and online education endeavors. We are very appreciative of his many years of service.”

The Board of Directors will be meeting later this week and will announce a successor.

About NSRA

NSRA was founded in 1912 to represent independent shoe retailers and provide their companies with business services, education programs and information resources that help them remain profitable and at the leading edge of retail. For more information, please visit www.nsra.org.

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