Footwear Manufacturing Industry Overview

Excerpt from Footwear Manufacturing Report

Companies in this industry make footwear, including athletic, casual, and dress shoes as well as boots, sandals, and slippers. Major companies include NIKE, Skechers USA, and Timberland (all based in the US), along with Adidas (Germany), Asics (Japan), Puma (Germany), Reebok (UK), and Yue Yuen (China), a subsidiary of Pou Chen (Taiwan).

Competitive Landscape

Demand is driven by fashion and demographics. The profitability of individual companies depends on their ability to design and market attractive shoe models. Big companies have economies of scale in distribution and marketing. Small companies can compete successfully through superior design or marketing.

Products, Operations & Technology

For US manufacturers, men's footwear accounts for about 50 percent of sales, women's for about 20 percent, and athletic and other footwear for about 30 percent. Major export markets for US footwear include Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.