The rational for the recognition awarded to Skechers lies on the importance of wholesale over direct-to-consumer as shown by a quantitative analysis made for the occasion and which showed a 32% increase in wholesale business at Skechers for 2014 compared to the previous year (the best of all major footwear companies).

SGI Weekly Intelligence is an online trade publication for sporting goods retailers, published by the editorial team of Sporting Goods Intelligence, and it includes the latest industry news and product info.

“We thought we’d take a look at the vendors who are doing the best of job of growing their wholesale business since that presumably correlates well with the interest of most retailers”, explained Sporting Goods Intelligence founder John Horan in his Deep Intelligence column*, adding: “Not only was Skechers the brand with the fastest-growing wholesale business of the major brands but it was the only one that actually grew its wholesale business faster than its direct-to-consumer business.”

Robert Greenberg, Skechers Chief Executive Officer referred to work developed over the last 2 decades to establish and strengthen the connection with the distribution network, which resulted in this external recognition. “For more than 20 years, Skechers has strived to support our wholesale and distribution partners through a diverse range of product desired by consumers everywhere and backed by consistent marketing. This has resulted in great partnerships and success stories, including those of the last two years which are driven by wholesale business that is integral to our renewed growth story,” commented Robert Greenberg, Skechers Chief Executive Officer.

Skechers offers two distinct footwear categories: a lifestyle division which offers comfort-focused, trend-right product for men, women and kids, and the Skechers Performance Division which includes Skechers GOrun and Skechers GOwalk footwear.

* SGI Weekly Intelligence, March 30, 2015