Latest news with #FamousFootwear
Fashion United
06-08-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
Caleres promotes Brian Costello to president of Famous Footwear
Footwear group Caleres, which includes Famous Footwear, Sam Edelman, Allen Edmonds, Naturalizer and Vionic, has promoted Brian Costello to division president of Famous Footwear, effective immediately. Costello joined the footwear group in February this year as chief merchandising officer, where he oversaw all the buying and merchandising, including women's, men's and kids' athletic and fashion footwear and accessories, for Famous Footwear's US and Canada stores and e-commerce sites. In his new role as division president, he will continue to report to Caleres Inc.'s president and chief executive, Jay Schmidt. Commenting on the promotion, Schmidt said in a statement: Brian has already made a meaningful impact at Famous Footwear. His merchandising and planning expertise, strong market relationships and leadership have been invaluable as we continue to position Famous Footwear for growth as the leader in family footwear.' Costello has nearly 30 years of fashion retail experience, having held leadership roles at Nordstrom and Macy's, including in the women's shoe business at Nordstrom and all footwear and women's accessories at Nordstrom Rack. He also oversaw planning and site merchandising for the launch of 'It is incredible how quickly I felt at home with the Famous team and Caleres and I'm honoured to lead this significant part of the Caleres portfolio,' added Costello. 'I'm confident that Famous Footwear is well positioned for the future supported by our existing national brand partners, new brand partners we are adding and the power of our engaged teams - from the Associates who welcome you in the doors of our stores to our corporate team supporting them.'
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Brian Costello Named Division President of Famous Footwear
ST. LOUIS, August 05, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Caleres (NYSE: CAL), a market-leading portfolio of consumer-driven footwear brands, today announced Brian Costello has been named division president of Famous Footwear effective immediately. He will continue to report to Jay Schmidt, president and CEO of Caleres. Costello joined Caleres in February this year as chief merchandising officer where he assumed responsibility for all buying and merchandising, including women's, men's and kids' athletic and fashion footwear and accessories, and for the brand's U.S. and Canada stores and e-commerce sites. "Brian has already made a meaningful impact at Famous Footwear," said Schmidt. "His merchandising and planning expertise, strong market relationships and leadership have been invaluable as we continue to position Famous Footwear for growth as the leader in family footwear." Costello has nearly 30 years of fashion retail leadership at Nordstrom and Macy's, including leadership roles in the women's shoe business at Nordstrom and all footwear and women's accessories at Nordstrom Rack. He also oversaw planning and site merchandising for the launch of "It is incredible how quickly I felt at home with the Famous team and Caleres and I'm honored to lead this significant part of the Caleres portfolio," said Costello. "I'm confident that Famous Footwear is well positioned for the future supported by our existing national brand partners, new brand partners we are adding and the power of our engaged teams - from the Associates who welcome you in the doors of our stores to our corporate team supporting them." About Caleres Caleres is a market-leading portfolio of global footwear brands that includes Famous Footwear, Sam Edelman, Allen Edmonds, Naturalizer and Vionic and more. Our products are available virtually everywhere - in the nearly 1,000 retail stores we operate, in hundreds of major department and specialty stores, on our branded e-commerce sites and on many additional third-party retail platforms. Combined, these brands make Caleres a company with both a legacy and a mission. Our legacy is nearly 150 years of craftsmanship and our passion for fit, while our mission is to continue to inspire people to feel great…feet first. Visit to learn more about us. About Famous Footwear Famous Footwear was founded on one simple idea: everyone deserves to feel the joy that comes from a new pair of shoes. And today, with more than 830 stores across the US and Canada, and online at and Famous Footwear is the local family footwear shop, where you'll always find the right shoes from everyone's favorite brands, including Nike, Birkenstock, adidas, Crocs, New Balance and many more. View source version on Contacts Media Contact:Kelly Malonekmalone@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
05-08-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Brian Costello Named Division President of Famous Footwear
ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Caleres (NYSE: CAL), a market-leading portfolio of consumer-driven footwear brands, today announced Brian Costello has been named division president of Famous Footwear effective immediately. He will continue to report to Jay Schmidt, president and CEO of Caleres. Costello joined Caleres in February this year as chief merchandising officer where he assumed responsibility for all buying and merchandising, including women's, men's and kids' athletic and fashion footwear and accessories, and for the brand's U.S. and Canada stores and e-commerce sites. "Brian has already made a meaningful impact at Famous Footwear,' said Schmidt. 'His merchandising and planning expertise, strong market relationships and leadership have been invaluable as we continue to position Famous Footwear for growth as the leader in family footwear.' Costello has nearly 30 years of fashion retail leadership at Nordstrom and Macy's, including leadership roles in the women's shoe business at Nordstrom and all footwear and women's accessories at Nordstrom Rack. He also oversaw planning and site merchandising for the launch of 'It is incredible how quickly I felt at home with the Famous team and Caleres and I'm honored to lead this significant part of the Caleres portfolio,' said Costello. 'I'm confident that Famous Footwear is well positioned for the future supported by our existing national brand partners, new brand partners we are adding and the power of our engaged teams - from the Associates who welcome you in the doors of our stores to our corporate team supporting them.' About Caleres Caleres is a market-leading portfolio of global footwear brands that includes Famous Footwear, Sam Edelman, Allen Edmonds, Naturalizer and Vionic and more. Our products are available virtually everywhere - in the nearly 1,000 retail stores we operate, in hundreds of major department and specialty stores, on our branded e-commerce sites and on many additional third-party retail platforms. Combined, these brands make Caleres a company with both a legacy and a mission. Our legacy is nearly 150 years of craftsmanship and our passion for fit, while our mission is to continue to inspire people to feel great…feet first. Visit to learn more about us. About Famous Footwear Famous Footwear was founded on one simple idea: everyone deserves to feel the joy that comes from a new pair of shoes. And today, with more than 830 stores across the US and Canada, and online at and Famous Footwear is the local family footwear shop, where you'll always find the right shoes from everyone's favorite brands, including Nike, Birkenstock, adidas, Crocs, New Balance and many more.
CBS News
27-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Back to school shopping spree helps prepare Pittsburgh-area foster kids for the return to the classroom
The excitement or nerves for the first day of school are memories many people have, but not every child starts the year on equal footing. For many, it can be tough, especially for children in foster homes. For some kids, a new pair of shoes is more than just back-to-school shopping. It's the difference between feeling confident and feeling left out. "Not everybody can go to school with something new, and people get bullied," said foster parent Abby Graham. "Kids get bullied a lot of the time, and I think this is a great opportunity to combat that and make people feel special." Famous Footwear teamed up with Pressley Ridge and the Ticket to Dream Foundation to give foster kids a chance to feel seen and excited. "For kids in foster care who don't have that sense of stability or confidence, just the chance to pick out their own shoes when a lot of the time, they're getting hand-me-downs," said Lisa Kahle, Director of Marketing for Pressley Ridge. Each child had the chance on Saturday to pick out brand new shoes, socks, and a backpack full of supplies. "When they said she could pick any shoe, she was like, 'Wait, any shoe, not just a section.' I thought that was really cool," Graham said. "It's been so fun to see them looking at shoes," said foster parents Hannah Caudill and Jared Wink. "Just one of them to feel excited to go back to school," Caudill said. "Because school is such a constant in their lives, and excited for them to have new shoes to show to their friends." But it all goes beyond the soles of a shoe. For kids, navigating new homes, unfamiliar routines, and uncertain futures can be stressful. But helping them feel like they belong can be all the difference. "I think it helps them feel like every typical child going back to school shopping," Caudill said. "Yeah, excited about something," Wink said. "It's always fun to show off something new with your friends."
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CAL Q1 Earnings Call: Management Cites Tariff and Sourcing Headwinds, Suspends Guidance
Footwear company Caleres (NYSE:CAL) missed Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales falling 6.8% year on year to $614.2 million. Its non-GAAP EPS of $0.22 per share was 39.7% below analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy CAL? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $614.2 million (6.8% year-on-year decline) Adjusted EPS: $0.22 vs analyst expectations of $0.37 (39.7% miss) Adjusted Operating Income: $12.21 million vs analyst estimates of $19.4 million (2% margin, 37.1% miss) Operating Margin: 1.9%, down from 6.6% in the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $558.4 million Caleres' first quarter results were shaped by softer consumer demand and operational pressures across both its Brand Portfolio and Famous Footwear segments. CEO Jay Schmidt pointed to particularly weak February sales, with some improvement in March and April, though overall performance remained below plan. Management attributed the underperformance to lower gross margins, higher inventory reserves, and increased costs tied to sourcing disruptions and tariffs. Schmidt acknowledged, 'Our first quarter results fell short of expectations,' highlighting the company's exposure to both macroeconomic volatility and specific industry challenges. Additional factors included higher-than-anticipated bad debt write-downs, as customer credit conditions worsened compared to last year. Looking ahead, Caleres is suspending formal guidance due to ongoing volatility in tariffs and global sourcing. Management emphasized a focus on cost controls and structural expense reductions, with CFO Jack Calandra detailing a $15 million annualized SG&A reduction initiative. The company is also navigating uncertainty around tariff timelines and potential sourcing disruptions, which could impact both gross margins and inventory. Schmidt noted, 'We must redouble our efforts to drive growth and profitability,' while also pointing to upcoming product launches and store format changes, such as the broader rollout of the Jordan brand and continued expansion of FLAIR locations, as key initiatives to support future performance. The planned integration of Stuart Weitzman is expected to further diversify the portfolio. Management cited tariff escalation, sourcing disruption, and inventory management as the primary drivers behind the quarter's margin and earnings pressure, while highlighting selective strength in international and direct-to-consumer channels. Tariff and sourcing disruption: The company experienced increased costs and operational complexity from shifting production out of China following new U.S. tariffs. This led to order cancellations, higher costs to relocate manufacturing, and additional inventory write-downs, which collectively pressured gross margins. Inventory management challenges: Caleres was unable to adjust its inventory flow quickly enough as demand softened, resulting in elevated inventory levels and a need for higher markdown reserves, especially in its Brand Portfolio segment. International segment growth: Despite overall declines, international sales—particularly from the Sam Edelman brand—showed double-digit growth, supported by expansion in China, the Middle East, and new marketplace partnerships. Management views these international gains as a strategic counterbalance to domestic softness. Brand Portfolio performance: Lead brands such as Sam Edelman outperformed others, with new product assortments like sneakers and sandals resonating well in key markets. However, Allen Edmonds and Naturalizer faced distinct category challenges, and Vionic's decline was attributed to a timing shift in catalog drops. Famous Footwear and product initiatives: The Famous Footwear segment experienced sequential sales improvement during the quarter, aided by growth in e-commerce and the launch of new brands and store formats. The introduction of the Jordan brand and continued rollout of FLAIR stores are anticipated to boost performance in upcoming periods. Caleres' outlook is shaped by volatile tariff policies, cost-saving initiatives, and evolving consumer demand across its core segments. Tariff environment remains fluid: Management has suspended forward guidance due to ongoing uncertainty around U.S. tariffs on Chinese and global imports. Sourcing disruption and possible further escalation or reversal of tariffs could materially affect gross margins and inventory costs in the next several quarters. Expense reduction and operational efficiency: The company is implementing a $15 million annualized SG&A reduction, with savings expected to materialize in the second half of the year. This initiative is designed to offset profit pressure from lower sales and higher sourcing costs, though management noted that further opportunities for efficiency may emerge as integration partners assess the business. Product and format innovation: Upcoming launches, such as the full-door rollout of the Jordan brand at Famous Footwear and expanded FLAIR store locations, are expected to drive renewed customer engagement. Management also cited ongoing investment in international markets and the integration of Stuart Weitzman as potential growth levers, even as domestic wholesale order books remain 'fluid.' Over the coming quarters, the StockStory team will track (1) the company's ability to reduce inventory and capture anticipated SG&A savings, (2) the impact of new product launches—particularly the Jordan brand rollout and FLAIR store conversions—on segment sales, and (3) progress on the integration and performance of Stuart Weitzman. The evolution of global tariff policy and sourcing costs will also be critical to monitor. Caleres currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 4.4×. Should you double down or take your chips? See for yourself in our full research report (it's free). Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we're leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Sign in to access your portfolio
