Rebounding from "last year's nasty slump," the sneaker
industry is "showing signs of life," as "fashion seems to be
shifting back to" athletic shoes, according to Evelyn
Nussenbaum of the N.Y. POST. First Security Van Kasper
analyst John Shanley said, "It's a fashion cycle. It's the
demise of hip-hop, which is being replaced by more clean-cut
types of clothes. And those go better with sneakers."
Additionally, consumers are "finally excited about" new
products on the market. Black & Company's Jennifer Black
said, "There's finally enough newness in the mall to attract
customers." Nike's $125 "Tuned Air" is "one of the most
talked-about new products," and Shanley said the "most
encouraging" aspect about the Tuned Air is that "it's being
done without an endorsement. There's no Michael Jordan for
Tuned Air. Kids are buying it because they like it." But
some industry observers say that they're "not sure whether
the sneaker business is really growing, or just shifting
from some brands to others." One analyst: "There are a lot
of new players out there. Nike is maintaining its market
share. But below Nike I think there are a lot of people
just trading places" (N.Y. POST, 5/10).
