Reebok’s Performance Run Strategy

Welcome back to FN Daily, where we break down the biggest stories happening in footwear and retail.

Today we're diving into Reebok's strategy in performance run and looking at a preview of Foot Locker's earnings. Plus, Anne Klein launches sneakers.

Here's what you need to know.

Inside Reebok’s Strategy to Become a Major Player in Performance Running Shoes

The performance running shoe category is hot, and Reebok is the latest brand looking to capture a piece of the market.

“Running is a massive category, and we have heritage in this space, so we’re not an outsider. We’ve maybe been inconsistent, but we’ve always had a position in running and have had great products,” Reebok president and chief executive officer Todd Krinksy told FN. “The consumer is certainly open to more players than they were four or five years ago when they kept their choices between Adidas, Brooks and Nike. They’re open to challenger brands more than ever before, and [willing] to trying new things.”

The next phase in Reebok’s journey in performance run will begin on April 4 with the release of the FloatZig 1. Reebok built the road running shoe with its responsive Floatride Energy Foam, as well as its acclaimed Zig Tech technology, identifiable by a geometric design that’s familiar to most sneaker consumers. This pairing, Reebok explained, cuts down on excess weight and stiffness to allow for optimal energy return for the everyday runner.

Looking ahead, Reebok has plans to expand its FloatZig range of products. Aside from the FloatZig 1, Reebok will also release the FloatZig Symmetros on April 1, an extra stable shoe built for a supportive ride on longer miles. It will retail for $150. And in the fall, Reebok confirmed it will release the FloatZig X1, which is a model built with a carbon-fiber plate, as well as a trail running shoe, the FloatZig Adventure.