Retailers Have Plenty Of Casual Shoe Choices

school," says Bob Marquardt, casual shoe buyer at The Finish Line, Indianapolis. "We're happy with the category. You can walk by any shoe store and see people in their 20s or younger in khakis with Oxfords. The younger kids are wearing the more mainstream shoes now."

In a category that still is led by Skechers and Lugz, manufacturers are giving retailers plenty of choices. While Skechers may be the leading vendors at The Finish Line, Marquardt says some of his stores carry as many as 15 casual shoe vendors.

"There is not really a dominant vendor in causal shoes like there is in athletic footwear," Marquardt says. "You don't have a Nike and Adidas-type domination in casual shoes."

Other casual shoe staples for retailers include Vans, Rockport, Dexter and Converse.

Fashion is the driving force behind casual shoe sales whereas technology plays a big role in sales of athletic footwear.

"There is a lot less technology-wise you can do in casual shoes than with sneakers," Marquardt says. "There's not as much to play with."

However, athletic footwear vendors successfully have made the transition to casual shoes. Nike, with three new models for Spring 1999, has made great strides in casual shoes.

The lifestyle shoe walls at Foot Locker, New York, are dominated by Nike, the skateboard vendor Duffs, Converse, Vans, Puma, JNCO and Skechers. For women, Candies, Lugz, Nike, New Balance and Reebok are currently the prominent vendors.

A more conservative selection is available at J.C. Penney Co. Inc. Along with Skechers, models from Rocky, Rockport, Dexter and the retailer's own Arizona brand are prevalent.

At The Finish Line, the best-selling models are in the $50 to $75 price-point range, according to Marquardt.

"Price-points are a lot more important in casual shoes than in athletic footwear," he says. "Quality of construction is important also." <replace>q</replace>