Businessweek

R.G. Barry Corporation engages in designing, sourcing, marketing, and distributing footwear, foot and shoe care products and hand bags, tote bags, and other travel accessories. The company’s products are primarily sold in North America by various retailers of varying size and classification. Its subsidiaries include Foot Petals, Inc. (Foot Petals) and Baggallini, Inc. (Baggallini). Segments The company’s business is divided into two segments: the Footwear and Accessories. The Footwear and Accessories segment comprises three individual business units (BU): Footwear; Foot and Shoe Care products; and Handbags, Tote bags and Travel products. Footwear The Footwear segment includes slippers, sandals, hybrid and active fashion footwear and slipper socks. Dearfoams is its principal footwear brand. In addition, its footwear brand names include Angel Treads, DF by Dearfoams, DF Sport by Dearfoams, Utopia by Dearfoams and Terrasoles. The company licenses certain footwear brand names the company owns to Olivet International, Inc. (Olivet). The five-year exclusive agreement entered in 2010 gives Olivet sole right to develop and market various sleepwear, active wear and accessories products bearing the Dearfoams, DF by Dearfoams, DF Sport by Dearfoams and Utopia by Dearfoams trademarks in North and South American markets. The company’s footwear products are sold through multiple retail channels, including mass merchandisers, national chain stores, warehouse clubs, mid-tier department stores, specialty and independent stores, discount stores and e-commerce and catalog retailers. Accessories The Foot Petals and Baggallini BUs collectively comprise the Accessories segment. Foot Petals: Foot Petal products are made from high-performance urethane or similar man-made materials and various fabrics. Foot Petals products are sold under various brand names including Foot Petals, Fab Feet, Glamour Toez, Heavenly Heelz, and Killer Kushionz. Foot Petals’ products principally are sold to consumers through mass-merchants, upper-tier department stores, independent retailers, Internet and home shopping venues. The company also sells direct-to-consumer via www.footpetals.com. Competition: Foot Petals major competitors are Dr. Scholl’s, Implus Footcare, and Profoot. Baggallini Baggallini products consist of various styles of handbags, tote bags and travel accessories, and are primarily targeted toward women between the ages of 34 to 55. Its products are principally made from durable nylons, leathers and other man-made materials. Baggallini’s products primarily are sold to consumers through a network of several thousand independent retail locations, non-promotional department and chain stores and on-line retailers. The company also sells direct-to-consumer via www.baggallini.com. In February 2012, the company introduced an updated Baggallini line that included a second tier of higher-priced, more colorful and highly-styled products. Baggallini’s principal trademarks include baggallini and Le Bagg. Competition: The company’s competitors include Kipling and LeSportsac. Customers The company’s major customer includes Walmart Stores, Inc. and its affiliates. History R. G. Barry Corporation was founded in 1945.