Payless ShoeSource, which calls itself "one of the largest footwear retailers in the western hemisphere," has been boosting its fashion cred by tapping designers such as Project Runway winner Christian Siriano, Isabel Toledo, Lela Rose and Silvia Tcherassi to create more stylish footwear for the discount shoe chain.

Few may realize that the retailer is a subsidiary of Collective Brands, Inc., a holding company with three business units: Payless, Collective Brands Performance + Lifestyles Group (PLG), and Collective Licensing International.

The Payless mission is to "democratize fashion and design in footwear and accessories and inspiring fun, fashion possibilities for the family at a great value." Its sister business unit, PLG, markets footwear and related products for children and adults under well-known brand names including Stride Rite, Sperry Top-Sider, Saucony, and Keds.

Collectively, the Collective Brands stable was worth a cool $1 billion in September, according to Morningstar estimates cited by Bloomberg. Naturally, such figures get Wall Street mavens excited.Continue reading...

Three footwear brands are getting a kick out of Star Wars.

Collective Brands Inc., the Kansas owner of footwear chains, is introducing Star Wars-themed shoes at its Payless ShoeSource and Stride Rite stores this summer. The lines will feature Darth Vader and other characters from the George Lucas movies and cartoon series.
 
Payless and Stride Rite have access to Lucasfilm's archive including logos, characters, creatures and aliens from all six live-action Star Wars films, as well as Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie and TV series, which airs on the Cartoon Network.Continue reading...