FDRA Picks Commerce Exec as Prez

ByLIZA CASABONA

WASHINGTON — The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America has tapped a new leader.

Matt Priest was named to the top post at the association last Wednesday. He replaces Pe-ter Mangione, who resigned in December.

Most recently, Priest served as senior ad-visor to former Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez.

In his new role, he plans to ramp up out-reach to FDRA members and the public and increase the association’s presence in Washington,

D.C.

“I’m excited about stepping in and working with FDRA’s members and growing our mem-bership and really increasing our D.C. pres-ence,” Priest said. “I’m going to hit the ground running. I really want to beef up what FDRA is and what we can do for our members.”

Priest said the association’s future agenda would build on the “linchpin” priorities it has always had: duty reduction, advocacy and education around compliance issues.

Priest said he planned to have an open door policy for members and the public.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to work with a very dynamic industry and association,” he said.

During his career, Priest has also been deputy assistant secretary for textiles and apparel at The Department of Commerce, overseeing programs related to the foot-wear, textile, fiber and apparel industries. At the same time, he served as the chair-man of the Committee for the Implementa-tion of Textile Agreements.

He has also served as senior advisor to the assistant secretary for import admin-istration at The Department of Commerce, advising the assistant secretary on textiles and apparel.

share, versus earnings of $12.1 million, or 26 cents, for the same year-ago quar-ter. Sales during the period were $298.1 million, compared with $302 million in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Skechers COO David Weinberg said dur-ing a conference call that the tough retail environment would continue to affect the company’s sales and profitability throughout the first half of 2009. How-ever, he said the second half of the year showed more promise. “We do believe we will return to profitability in the sec-ond half of the year,” Weinberg said. “We also believe we will emerge as an even stronger company due to our well-known and trusted brand, wide range of prod-ucts at reasonable prices and our ability

targeted to accounts such as Famous Footwear and JCPenney.

Mintzsaidthatwhilethelinewilllikelybe a relatively small portion of Skechers’ busi-ness, it’s a positive move. “It will drive traf-fic because it’s something different,” he said. “And it’s an accessible price point.”

During the fourth quarter, the company opened seven retail stores, including flag-ship stores at New York’s Union Square and San Francisco’s Powell Street. In all, the company opened 32 stores in 2008 and closed two, bringing its total to 219 locations.

Weinberg said Skechers plans to bow 18 this year. “We continue to believe these stores serve as important brand builders, as well as profit contributors to our overall business,” he said.