Businessweek

Steven Madden, Ltd. designs, sources, markets, and sells fashion-forward name brand and private label footwear for women, men, and children. The company also offers name brand and private label fashion handbags and accessories. The company’s products are marketed through its retail stores and e-commerce Websites, as well as department stores, major department stores, mid-tier department stores, specialty stores, luxury retailers, value priced retailers, national chains, mass merchants, and catalog retailers throughout the United States and Canada. In addition, it has special distribution arrangements for marketing its products in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Mexico, Australia, South Africa, South America, and India. Segments The company operates through five segments: Wholesale Footwear, Wholesale Accessories, Retail, First Cost, and Licensing. Wholesale Footwear This segment includes various brands, such as Steve Madden Women's, Madden Girl, Steve Madden Men's, Steven, l.e.i. (under license), Elizabeth and James (under license), Olsenboye (under license), Stevies, Steve Madden Kids, Madden, Betsey Johnson shoes, Report, Superga (under license), International business, and certain private label business. Steve Madden Women's: The company designs, sources, and markets its Steve Madden brand to department stores, specialty stores, luxury retailers, value priced retailers, national chains, mass merchants, and catalog retailers throughout the United States. To serve its customers (primarily women ages 16 to 35), Steve Madden Women's creates and markets fashion forward footwear designed to appeal to customers seeking exciting, new footwear designs. New products for Steve Madden Women's are test marketed at company-owned retail stores. Madden Girl: The company designs, sources, and markets a collection of directional young women's shoes under the Madden Girl brand. Madden Girl is geared for young women ages 13 to 20, and is an ‘opening price point’ brand sold at major department stores, mid-tier retailers, and specialty stores. Steve Madden Men's: The company designs, sources, and markets a collection of directional men's shoes and fashion forward athletic shoes targeted at men ages 18 to 40 years old under the Steve Madden brand and sold in major department stores, mid-tier department stores, specialty stores, and independent shoe stores throughout the United States, as well as in its retail stores. Steven: The company designs, sources, and markets women's fashion footwear under the Steven trademark through major department and footwear specialty stores throughout the United States, as well as in its retail stores. Steven products are designed to appeal principally to fashion conscious women, ages 25 to 45, who shop at department stores and footwear boutiques. l.e.i.: The company has a license agreement with Jones Investment Co. Inc., under which it has the right to use the l.e.i. trademark in connection with the sale and marketing of footwear to Wal-Mart. Elizabeth and James: The company has a license agreement with Dualstar Entertainment Group, LLC, under which it has the right to use the Elizabeth and James trademark in connection with the sale and marketing of footwear. Its footwear bearing the Elizabeth and James brand, which is created by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, is distributed through luxury retailers to women ages 25 to 36. Olsenboye: The company has a license agreement with Dualstar Entertainment Group, under which it has the right to use the Olsenboye trademark in connection with the sale and marketing of footwear to J.C. Penney. Stevies and Steve Madden Kids: The company’s Stevies and Steve Madden Kids brands are designed, sourced, and marketed to appeal to young girls, ages 6 to 12, and are sold at department stores, specialty stores, and independent boutiques throughout the United States. Madden: The company’s Madden brand includes a collection of men's shoes. Madden is an ‘opening price point’ brand that is sold at major department stores, mid-tier retailers, and specialty stores. Betsey Johnson Shoes: The company owns the Betsey Johnson trademark and various othe