Business news : US Footwear Groups Partner to Boost Voice in Washington D.C.

The National Shoe Retailers Association (NSRA) and the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) announced the establishment of a strategic partnership designed to enhance the voice of independent footwear retailers in Washington.  As part of the partnership, FDRA will become the main advocacy arm for NSRA members and the more than 8,000 independent footwear retailers nationwide.

"Our new alliance with FDRA will keep NSRA members informed about all the various regulatory issues impacting the independent channel, including issues such as internet sales tax and inheritance tax.” said NSRA President Chuck Schuyler.  "As a 7.2 billion dollar industry, independent footwear retailers need a strong voice in Washington and FDRA will help us accomplish that.”

"In an effort to enhance the services our two associations provide the industry, FDRA and NSRA have formed this very important partnership,” said FDRA Chairman and R.G. Barry Brands President and CEO Greg Tunney.  "I am very excited because this collaboration will really enhance the power of our industry’s collective voice. Both organizations recognized a need to educate policy makers in Washington about the importance of the independent footwear retailer to main street economies all over the country.”

"Washington is a challenging place for many independent footwear retailers, and that is why I am so pleased with this new partnership.  It will really help NSRA’s members understand what is going on at the federal level and how it will impact them,” said Mark Denkler NSRA Chairman and CEO of Vince Canning Shoes in Delray Beach, Florida.  "I am also eager to use FDRA’s tools and resources to help us weigh in on key policies to ensure we get a fair shake in Washington.  We know FDRA is the industry’s voice in Washington and we can’t wait to help make it louder and stronger for the whole industry.”   

"As the industry’s leading voice in Washington and around the globe, FDRA is proud to have the opportunity to represent the NSRA and its members,” said Matt Priest, President of FDRA.  "Small businesses and retailers are the drivers of job growth in our economy, so it is vital that this important segment of our industry has an advocate in uncertain times.  I think it also important to note this is a historic alliance because it means that nearly 100% of the industry’s retailers will now have a voice and advocate in Washington through FDRA.”

About the National Shoe Retailers Association
Founded in 1912, NSRA is a non-profit organization that serves to significantly improve the business performance of their members through exceptional educational programs, vital cost-saving services, informational resources and powerful networking opportunities.

About the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America
Founded in 1944 by the footwear industry, the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) is the largest footwear trade association in the US.  It represents and serves the entire width footwear industry from small family owned footwear businesses, U.S. footwear factories, and global footwear companies.  It also represents and serves the full supply chain of the footwear industry from research, design and development, to manufacturing and distribution, to retailers selling to consumers all over the globe.

For more information, visit www.fdra.org.