NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) yesterday reported financial results for the 2009 fiscal fourth quarter and full year ended May 31, 2009. Fourth quarter revenues decreased 7 percent to $4.7 billion, compared to $5.1 billion for the same period last year. Excluding changes in currency exchange rates, net revenue was essentially flat with the same period last year. For the full year, revenues grew 3 percent to $19.2 billion, compared to $18.6 billion last year. Excluding currency changes, net revenue was up 4 percent for the year. Fourth quarter net income decreased 30 percent to $341.4 million and diluted earnings per share decreased 29 percent to $0.70. Fiscal 2009 net income decreased 21 percent to $1.5 billion and diluted earnings per share decreased 19 percent to $3.03.

In a conscious effort to reduce both material use and waste, The Timberland Company unveiled today its Earthkeepers 2.0 boot – the first footwear the company has designed to be disassembled and recycled, rather than discarded, at the end of its product life. After wearing them on life’s many adventures, consumers who buy the Earthkeepers 2.0 boots simply return them to any Timberland store for recycling.

Nine West Footwear Corporation, a division of Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (NYSE: JNY) ("Jones"), announced today that it has signed an agreement with Kurt Geiger Ltd., Europe's largest luxury footwear retailer, to license and distribute the Nine West and Easy Spirit brands in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Under the terms of the agreement, Kurt Geiger will offer women's footwear, handbags and small leather goods beginning with the spring 2010 product lines. Kurt Geiger will distribute the products through department stores and also intends to open freestanding Nine West stores in the UK and Ireland, including flagship locations. The initial term of the agreement is for seven years and includes an option for renewal. Additional terms were not disclosed.

Vibram has partnered with Simms Fishing Products to help bring an innovative new line of wading boots to the market this year. The StreamTread boot line, with exclusively designed Vibram soles, was developed to assist anglers in the escalating fight against aquatic nuisance species. Additionally, they provide sure footing on river and stream bottoms. The soles are designed by Quabaug Corporation, the exclusive North American manufacturing licensee for Vibram.

LaCrosse Footwear, Inc. (Nasdaq/NMS:BOOT), a leading provider of branded work and outdoor footwear and apparel, announced yesterday that it has completed closing of its acquisition of certain assets of Environmentally Neutral Design Outdoor, Inc., or END, a performance footwear company focused on product innovation and sustainability. Through the agreement LFI acquires substantially all the assets comprising END’s footwear business, including inventory, intellectual property, and other assets.

Skins Footwear, innovators of interchangeable fashion footwear, today launched a new front page to its web site (www.skinsfootwear.com), which features scrolling photos of the company’s entire spring / summer collection and hints at e-commerce and other interactive elements coming soon.

“We’ve been working hard on the next version of our web site, so I wanted to give everyone a peak at what we’re doing,” said Mark Klein, CEO of Skins Footwear. “We’re also very proud of our spring / summer line, which according to our retail partners is getting good responses across the country.”

The LA Gear Originals silhouette was a hit in Europe not long ago; now,
LA Gear and Sportie LA are bringing the Stardust to the US, in five colors
- light grey, white/blue, white/grey/green, white/lilac/green, and light
pink.

Bakers Footwear Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: BKRS), a leading specialty retailer of moderately priced fashion footwear for young women, with 239 stores, today reported first quarter sales results.

K•Swiss Inc. (NASDAQ: KSWS) yesterday announced it has completed the sale of Royal Elastics, the company’s laceless fashion footwear brand, to REH, an investment group led by Royal Elastics’ LA-based Product Design Director. The sale, which includes the company’s worldwide rights to the Royal Elastics brand, certain existing inventory, and other selected assets, is expected to result in a gain of $1.4 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2009. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. The company will report earnings for the first quarter of 2009 on May 7.

SKECHERS USA, Inc. (NYSE:SKX), a global leader in lifestyle footwear, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009.

First quarter 2009 net sales were $343.5 million compared to $384.9 million in the first quarter of 2008. Net earnings for the first quarter of 2009 were $8.2 million versus net earnings of $32.8 million in the first quarter of 2008. Diluted earnings per share were $0.18 based on 46,467,000 weighted average shares outstanding as compared to net earnings per diluted share of $0.70 based on 46,664,000 weighted average shares outstanding in the first quarter of 2008.

Heelys, Inc. (NASDAQ; HLYS) has sold its one- millionth pair of skate shoes into Japan, through their exclusive distributor, A.G. Corporation. These sales were driven by the efforts of the A.G. Corporation and the international brand strength and continuing demand for Heelys skate shoes. Launched in 2001, Japan is one of more than 70 countries around the world where Heelys skate shoes are currently distributed.

"Heelys is so proud to be partners with Mr. Araki and the A.G. Corporation,” said Heelys CEO Mike Hessong. “They were our first international distributor and have been a valued business partner of Heelys since our inception in 2001. We look forward to many successful years with them to come."

The Affordable Footwear Initiative (AFI) Coalition applauded action by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and John Ensign (R-NV) to formally re-introduce the bipartisan Affordable Footwear Act (S. 730).  The legislation would eliminate the regressive and hidden tax paid on most lower-cost and children’s shoes, or about 60 percent of the shoes sold in the United States each year.  Nine senators have joined Senator Ensign as co-sponsors of this important and timely legislation. A similar piece of legislation is expected to be introduced in the House later this month.

As frigid winter temperatures give way to eagerly anticipated sunny skies and milder weather, shoppers yearn to overhaul their closets. Despite the lingering
economic chill, fashion fans can rest assured that a wardrobe rebirth is entirely possible as Payless ShoeSource(R) unveils a spring line of fun, affordable footwear and accessory style solutions.

Crocs, Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX) announced yesterday that it has obtained an extension for its existing credit facility with Union Bank of California N.A. The maturity date of the existing facility has been extended from April 2, 2009 to September 30, 2009. The amendment includes scheduled principle and interest payments and scheduled reductions in applied interest rate.

GDS 2009 – International Event for Shoes & Accessories, and GLOBAL SHOES 2009 – leading trade show for sourcing, closed in Düsseldorf, Germany to predominantly positive results. According to preliminary counts, over 31,000 buyers came to the fairgrounds (approximately 2,000 visitors or 6% less than a year ago) and 6,200 of them also visited GLOBAL SHOES.  A total of 1,110 exhibitors from 38 countries presented the latest footwear and bag styles. At GDS, 1,870 collections were presented for the Autumn/Winter 2009/2010 season alongside trends for the current season.  In view of the current market situation exhibitors, visitors and the trade fair organizer Messe Düsseldorf all rated the results positively.

NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) yesterday announced financial results for its fiscal 2009 third quarter ended February 28, 2009. Revenue decreased 2 percent to $4.4 billion, compared to $4.5 billion for the same period last year. Excluding changes in currency exchange rates, revenue would have increased 2 percent.

There’s an universal truth accepted by both high heel wholesale sellers and retailers: While some girls declare that they will not sacrifice pleasantness for a pair of high heeled shoes, not a few of them get mad when it comes to the irresistible charm of high heels in a shop window, which is surely a not bad news for those who are doing high heel wholesale business.