DSW has brought on a new shoe brand to bolster its assortment of extended sizes for women.

Vaila, which offers shoes between sizes 9 and 14, has officially launched on DSW’s website with a selection of five styles. Vaila launched in March 2022 via a mainly direct-to-consumer model and last year inked its first major retail partnership with Macy’s to sell in five locations as well as online.

“The expansion of Vaila into DSW is allowing us to set a new standard for the fashion industry, where body-positivity is seen head-to-toe.” said Vaila Shoes’ founder and chief executive officer Ahriana Edwards in a statement. “As a digital-first founder, I have had to retrain customers with extended sizes to gain the confidence and trust that legacy retailers are working to change and include their sizes in store. We are so excited to work with DSW to ease the women with extended sizes and finally offer them the same luxurious shopping experiences as everyone else.”

The announcement comes as demand for extended and wider shoe size options for women increases and more brands heed the call for size diversity. Last month, Dolce Vita launched a new line of tall boots with three calf widths (including extra wide) and extended its shoe sizes to 13. Aldo followed up shortly after and announced its first-ever women’s footwear collection in extended sizing for its fall 2024 women’s line.

Some women, like Edwards, have started their own extended shoe brands to address the issue. Edwards launched Vaila Shoes in March 2022 after struggling to find shoes in her size as a college student. Detroit native Sierra Massey had a similar story and recently founded Cee Cee Massey, a new brand that offers loafers, sneakers, ballerina flats and more in women’s sizes 12 to 16.

“We love seeing established, national retailers open their range of inclusivity in partnership with Vaila,” said Taryn Laebn, president of IRL Ventures, an early-stage advisory and investment firm, one of the brand’s early stage investors. “Vaila’s exclusive focus on providing women with extended sizes access to an inclusive shopping experience aligns with our values and is one that is long overdue. We’re excited for what the future holds with this partnership.”

REI Co-op has revealed its expansion plans for 2025 and early 2026, which includes stores in six states.

New York, California and Washington will be the outdoor retailer’s brick-and-mortar expansion focus for spring 2025. As for New York, REI will open a 25,300-square-foot store in Amherst at The Boulevard, which is located at 1701 Niagara Falls Blvd. The retailer currently has six stores in New York, and the Amherst will serve the greater Buffalo area.

In California, REI is relocating its Encinitas store to Carlsbad. The new store, which will be located in the La Costa Town Square at 3415 Via Montebello, spans 28,000 square feet. REI stated all interested REI Encinitas employees will move to the new Carlsbad store. Also, REI will open a 25,002-square-foot store in Chico at Chico Crossroads, located at 2101 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.

Currently, REI has 11 stores in Southern California and 10 in Northern California.

The remaining store for spring 2025 will be located in Lynnwood, Wash., which is a relocation of its Alderwood store. REI — which has 11 locations in the state — said the store will span 39,480 square feet and will be located at Alderwood Parkway Plaza Shopping Center at 19500 Alderwood Mall Parkway.

As with its California store relocation, REI stated all interested employees at the current store will move to its Lynnwood location.

In summer 2025, REI stated it will open a store in Durango, Colo., a 22,000-square-foot location south of the downtown corridor at 40 Turner Dr. The other for the season will be located in Elk Grove, Calif., a space that spans 22,127 square feet in the Laguna Gateway Shopping Center at Laguna Boulevard and West Stockton Boulevard.

REI also announced two stores for 2026. One will be located in Prosper, Texas, a 23,848-square-foot store at The Gates of Prosper. The other will be located in St. George, Utah, a 22,800-square-foot space at St. George Place on 855 South Bluff St.

“Our store employees are the heart of the co-op, and they welcome everyone to experience our product expertise, resources and inspiration in support of an active lifestyle,” REI vice president of stores Mary-Farrell Tarbox said in a statement. “Cities that will have new stores represent communities that serve as a gateway to some of the country’s most incredible natural places and where our members currently live or destinations where they love to play outside.”

REI stated each store will offer apparel and gear for camping, hiking, cycling, run and fitness, climbing and more, and will feature a full-service bike shop staffed by certified mechanics to work on mountain, road, hybrid or e-bikes.

The Amherst, Durango and Lynnwood stores, according to REI, will also operate seasonal ski and snowboard shops manned by technicians to work on downhill skis, cross-country skis, backcountry skis, snowboards or splitboards. And the St. George store, the retailer said, will offer Nordic ski hand tuning and snowboard mounting.

REI confirmed it will have 10 stores opened by the end of 2024, as well as the expansion of its San Diego location. There are three more store openings scheduled for November, the retailer stated, including College Station, Texas; Louisville, Ky.; and Tulsa, Okla.

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

All companies face the constant tug-of-war between vision, growth and fiscal responsibility. But sustainable footwear and accessories company Rothy’s has a unique perspective on this, as one executive oversees these seemingly opposing sides of the business.

In a Rothy’s fireside chat video for WWD x FN x SJ business hub Retail Rx, Nikara Johns, senior editor at Footwear News, sat down with Dayna Quanbeck—who has the multiple title of COO, CFO and president at the growing company. Quanbeck admitted it can be quite a juggling act, but that even while focusing on efficiency, organization and fiscal responsibility (while wearing her CFO hat), she never wants to ‘kill the dream.’

“What I love is to let my team go big, and I know that we will always come back to a discipline and rigor that is rooted in everything we do, and that’s part of having a sustainable business. But I know that if I don’t support the big ideation, we can’t get the financials either,” she said.

Initially started as a digitally native footwear brand, Rothy’s has been growing at a rapid clip, adding stores, wholesale, a shop-in-shop in London, bags, as well as men’s and kid’s product. All this works different parts of Quanbeck’s brain.

“I have an ability, like most CFOs, to look around corners and seek correlation, cause and effect, data patterns, data recognition. [But] it’s not just the numbers… sometimes it’s technical, sometimes it’s creative. That comes with the team dreaming, and then we can get to tactics, then refinement.”

To learn more about Rothy’s and watch the full fireside chat, CLICK HERE.

R.M. Williams is setting its sights on the UK as the Australian footwear brand focuses on international expansion.

According to the 92-year-old company, it has opened a new store in Marlow in the Buckinghamshire area of England. This store marks the brand’s first location to open outside Australia since 2017. 

Located at 46 High Street, the 1,700-sq.-ft. Marlow store features R.M. Williams’ new retail design concept, first introduced at the brand’s global flagship store on Sydney’s iconic George Street last December. In terms of product, the Marlow store includes new season boots, apparel and accessories, a Marine Blue Comfort Craftsman, exclusive to the Marlow store and the brand’s largest women’s offering in the UK.

A second new R.M. Williams store will open in Cambridge in December, which is in line with its strategy to target UK towns and cities with a high concentration of consumers who value quality, craft and timeless heritage, the company added. 

In addition to these two new stores, R.M. Williams has also extended its network of wholesale partners for fall/winter 2024 to premium London department stores including Selfridges, Harrods and Liberty. All three stores will carry the brand’s men’s boots collection with a focus on the brand’s Craftsman styles. The brand will also be featured as part of Harrods’ men’s trunk show running from now through Oct. 20.

This renewed focus on the UK comes at an exciting time for the shoe brand. “The UK is currently our fastest growing market globally,” Paul Grosmann, chief executive officer of R.M. Williams, told FN in an interview. “This UK focus is a major expansion for both the direct-to-consumer and wholesale strategy. When looking to accelerate our growth internationally, the UK is a market that reflects our brand’s values and is a community that treasures quality and tradition. We believe our brand belongs equally in the British countryside and capital cities.”

Grosmann added that this strategy marks a new chapter for the brand after being acquired by Tattarang in October 2020. “[Since the acquisition] we have made a significant investment in our home market by creating 350 new Australian jobs in manufacturing and retail,” the CEO said. “In terms of revenue, the business has grown 82 percent. We feel it is the right time to further expand internationally, starting with the UK, and we are looking at other international markets who will fully appreciate the finest Australian craftsmanship.”

R.M. Williams has had a presence in the UK for over two decades with the brand’s first international store opening in Knightsbridge in 1989. The brand currently operates two London stores – one on New Bond Street in the city’s posh Mayfair neighborhood, as well as one on Berwick Street in Soho. R.M. Williams also sells through 90 wholesale partners nationwide.

In support of its UK expansion strategy, the company has also recently bolstered its local team in the region with the recruitment of UK general manager Karl Wederell, who joins R.M. Williams from luxury apothecary brand Aesop.

The R.M. Williams Co. was founded in South Australia in 1932 by Reginald Murray Williams, who sold it in 1988. The company’s most recent owner, L Catterton sold 100 percent of the business to Tattarang, one of Australia’s largest private investment groups owned by Andrew and Nicola Forrest, in 2020 for an undisclosed sum. The transaction marked the first time the company has been back under Australian ownership since 2014.

With the NBA regular season approaching quickly, Foot Locker Inc. has announced a multiyear partnership with the Chicago Bulls.

This deal, according to the retail giant, will include community basketball events, in-store activations and behind-the-scenes player-focused content throughout the season. Foot Locker Inc. and the Bulls will tip off their partnership on Oct. 30 when Chicago hosts the Orlando Magic at the United Center.

The Oct. 30 celebration will include a pregame event in the arena’s atrium with photo opportunities, skills and drills activities, giveaways and a youth 3-on-3 exhibition game at halftime. Also, Foot Locker Inc. president and chief executive officer Mary Dillon will present the game ball, and the retailer’s stripers will be named as honorary team captains for the evening.

For area FLX Rewards members, the retailer will also run a ticket sweepstakes for a chance to attend the game. 

“The rich legacies of Foot Locker and the Chicago Bulls — two institutions that have long been at the forefront of basketball culture — make this partnership a natural fit,” Foot Locker Inc. executive vice president and chief commercial officer Frank Bracken said in a statement. “Basketball is deeply embedded in Foot Locker’s DNA, from local community courts to the global stage of the NBA. We’re thrilled to partner with the Bulls, a legendary franchise with one of the most passionate fan bases in the world.”

In terms of the partnership’s key initiatives, Foot Locker Inc. confirmed it will participate in several community basketball events, which includes signing on as the presenting partner for Bulls Fest. The event is both a 3-on-3 tournament and a festival and that celebrates basketball, as well as its influence on style, art and culture — and, of course, the Bulls.

Also, the Bulls hosted a Youth Hoops 3-on-3 Tournament in September that was presented by Foot Locker, and more than 100 teams competed over two weekends.

As for in-store activations, Foot Locker confirmed it will host a Bulls celebration with player meet-and-greets and live entertainment on Nov. 2 at its 26-28 S. State St. location, and the retailer will launch a co-branded “Tunnel Walk” series will launch on social media to show players before they hit the court.

“This partnership showcases the Bulls’ and Foot Locker’s shared commitments to basketball culture and community and passion for creating legendary experiences,” Chicago Bulls executive vice president of revenue and strategy Matt Kobe said in a statement. “We are proud to welcome Foot Locker as the newest partner of the Chicago Bulls and look forward to inspiring and engaging fans in innovative ways together, in the arena, in their stores and in the community.”

This partnership is the latest of several efforts from the retailer in 2024 to further its investment into both the sport of basketball and its community.

For instance, Foot Locker launched its “Home Court” multibrand basketball experience in partnership with Nike and Jordan Brand in August at its 34th Street store in New York City. And during 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend in February, Foot Locker teamed up with Nike and Jordan Brand on “The Clinic,” which it described as a program “bringing basketball culture to fans, sneaker enthusiasts and local communities.”

And in November 2023, Foot Locker announced a multiyear partnership with the NBA, becoming an official marketing partner in the U.S.

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

It’s about to be even harder to go shopping at Kmart.

A Kmart store in Bridgehampton, New York — the last full service location of the retailer in mainland U.S. — is set to shutter after its final day on Oct. 20, a store manager confirmed to FN over the phone. Once this store closes, there will only be one smaller U.S. Kmart store located in Miami, Fla.

In 2022, a Kmart store in New Jersey located 15 miles from New York City permanently closed, which left just three more K-Mart stores in existence — in New Jersey, New York, and Florida — following a string of closures for the big-box chain. In July 2021, Kmart closed a location in Manhattan’s Astor Place, which was the retailer’s last location in New York City. Another Kmart Manhattan location in Penn Plaza closed in May of 2020.

Why is Kmart closing?

Kmart, which sells a variety of footwear brands such as Adidas, Crocs and Skechers, filed for bankruptcy in 2002. In 2005, Kmart and Sears combined to form Sears Holdings Corporation. At the time, the company was the country’s third-largest retailer, with almost 3,500 retail stores.

Shortly after Sears Holdings filed for bankruptcy in 2018, Transform Holdco LLC, a division of Sears’ former CEO Eddie Lampert’s hedge fund ESL Investments, acquired the struggling retailer out of bankruptcy in February 2019.

FN has reached out to Transformco, which currently owns Kmart, for comment.

How many Kmart stores are still open?

After the closing of the Bridgehampton, New York Kmart, there will be one Kmart store left in mainland U.S. in Miami, Florida: at 14091 SW 88th St.

Multiple Sears stores have also closed in recent years. In 2019, Sears Holdings liquidated another 80 Sears and Kmart locations, bringing its total store count close to 600, down from around 2,000 five years ago. That number has continued to dwindle.

Who Is Kmart’s Founder?

Sebastian Spering Kresge opened the first Kmart store in 1899 in downtown Detroit. At the time, the goal was to keep prices low, with everything selling for a nickel or a dime. Kresge expanded to 85 stores in 1912 and hit annual sales of more than $10 million.

Hurricane Milton made its exit from the Florida panhandle with less damage than initially expected. Still, shoe retailers in the state took caution and readied their stores and employees for the worst case scenario.

The storm, which included several tornadoes, killed at least five people and left 3 million without power, according to a report from the AP. The category 3, which hurricane blew the roof off of a baseball stadium, weakened as it crossed the state.

As of Thursday, several shoe retailers with locations in Florida said they were still assessing the damage, with some keeping their stores closed.

Foot Locker, which recently announced that it would move its global headquarters to St. Petersburg, Fla. in 2025 while maintaining a smaller presence in its current New York City office, told FN in that it “made the important decision to shut down all corporate operations in St. Pete this week and advised all employees to take the time they need to prepare themselves, families and loved ones for Hurricane Milton.” Many Foot Locker employees are already based in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Prior to the storm making landfall, Foot Locker shared hurricane resources with employees and closed its stores in the affected areas. The chain also noted that it will stand by its employees through this time with financial support if needed through its Foot Locker Foundation.

Rack Room Shoes said that 44 of its stores (mainly located in Florida) had been closed due to Hurricane Milton as of yesterday, following 28 stores closures across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida due to the impact of Hurricane Helene late last month. In both cases, Rack Room continued to pay employees based on their schedules and ensured that teams were safe.

In Florida, Rack Room is continuing to assess the damage and is waiting for power to be restored before opening up stores again.

“Our associates are safe and that is what’s most important. As we continue to monitor the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, we will continue to put them first,” said Whit McConnell, vice president of store operations at Rack Room Shoes, in a statement to FN. “A great deal of our footprint at Rack Room Shoes is nestled in the heart of the southeast where natural disasters, especially hurricanes, are likely to occur annually. I’m thankful to have a team that has a system in place when unfortunate events occur and to work at a company that gives selflessly in times of need.”

Rack Room said it previously donated $25,000 to the American Red Cross and added $50,000 to that donation after Hurricane Helene.

The Designer Brands-owned DSW chain confirmed to FN that its associates were safe following Hurricane Milton and said its stores sustained only minor damage from the storm. Via the chain’s recently launched DBI Cares Associate Relief Fund, employees impacted by the storm can get access to tax-free support. DBI is also offering access to counseling and other resources to help employees manage getting through two major storms in a short period of time.

Other major retailers took similar precautions to close stores ahead of the storm. According to Walmart’s website, 166 of its stores and Sam’s Clubs locations were closed as of early afternoon on Thursday.

“Teams from across the company are working to support the communities we call home,” Walmart wrote in a statement online. “We’re incredibly grateful to our associates on the ground preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Milton.”‘

Smaller shoe chains also faced a wave of closures as well. Clearwater, Fa.-based Peltz Shoes closed its six stores on Tuesday. They remained closed through early afternoon on Thursday.

This month, Ugg and Nordstrom are teaming up for an exclusive partnership as part of the retailer’s “Make Room for Shoes” campaign.

The collaboration, which runs from Oct. 7 to Nov. 17, features 11 exclusive Ugg styles for women, men, and children, available both in-store and online at Nordstrom.com.

Items include cozy, stylish boots and slippers, ranging in price from $100 to $170. Standout styles are the Ugg Classic Ultra Mini Spillseam and the Curly Tazz in multiple colorways.

Nordstrom’s Make Room for Shoes campaign began at the start of the year with On followed by Sam Edelman, Birkenstock, Larroudé, Dolce Vita and Stuart Weitzman.

“Ugg is a beloved brand with our customers and we’re happy to bring them these exclusive styles just in time for colder weather,” said Tacey Powers, Nordstrom EVP and GMM. “Our ‘Make Room for Shoes’ campaign aims to inspire customers through a curated selection of exciting new styles and exclusives — and our partnership with Ugg is a highlight of the season.”

Make Room for Shoes is a year-long project that lives in all Nordstrom stores and Nordstrom.com,

In addition, Ugg will take over The Corner at Nordstrom NYC with a limited time pop-up experience on Nov. 14. This shop is part of Nordstrom’s ongoing series of pop-ups and brand takeovers at the Nordstrom NYC Flagship in a dedicated space on The Corner of 57th and Broadway. Currently, Jordan Brand is featured in the space through Nov. 10.

Nordstrom is placing the spotlight on women’s streetwear and sneaker culture this month with its latest in-store pop-up shop.

According to the department store chain, Jordan Brand will take over The Corner shop at Nordstrom’s NYC flagship store from now through Nov. 10.

Nordstrom said that the Jordan Brand at The Corner shop will showcase exclusive apparel, sneakers, and accessories, with special product drops and curated programming throughout the duration of the shop’s presence. Every Thursday, the shop will host “Girl Talk” sessions with conversations between influential women centered on women’s roles in basketball and streetwear culture.

“This pop-up is all about celebrating women’s streetwear and sneaker culture. It’s a unique opportunity for our customers to discover exclusive drops and connect with a dynamic fashion community,” said Tacey Powers, executive vice president and general merchandise manager for shoes at Nordstrom, in a statement.

The partnership between the duo is part of Jordan’s commitment to cultivating community and evolving the brand’s legacy by establishing new intersection points of sport, fashion, and culture that underscore the power of collaboration and creative possibilities.

“The Jordan Brand partnership with Nordstrom magnifies our enduring legacy and impact on the women’s community,” D’Anna Foster, general manager of Jordan Brand women’s streetwear for North America, added. “This innovative apparel and footwear experience gives her access to styling experts that inspire her to structure the perfect head-to-toe streetwear look with confidence and individualism.”

The shop is part of an ongoing series of pop-ups and brand takeovers at the Nordstrom NYC flagship in a dedicated space on The Corner of 57th Street and Broadway. Previous brands that showcased in the space included Skims, Bode and Sanrio for Hello Kitty’s 50th anniversary.

This pop-up comes as Nordstrom continues to highlight its footwear roots this year with the “Make Room for Shoes” campaign. First announced in February, the initiative comes to life through monthly partnerships with some of the industry’s best footwear brands. So far, the retailer has highlighted brands such as On, Birkenstock, Sam Edelman, Larroudé and Dolce Vita.

According to the department store chain, Jordan Brand will take over The Corner shop at Nordstrom’s NYC flagship store from now through Nov. 10. The limited time pop-up shop features some of the Nike Inc. brand’s most coveted streetwear and sneakers for women. See all of the photos of the new shop below.