Matt Sharkey

"...The other good news is that there will always be a market for new, innovative and high performance product. Just look at the continued success of On, Arc'teryx and Vuori or the emergence of newer brands like Wild Rye, Gnara and LIVSN." This synopsis on the saga that has been the outdoor industry since I entered it, which recognizes that what we are doing at Gnara with our GoFly Technology is both important and working (from a PE-backed retail CEO with successful exits to Walmart and Dicks Sporting Goods, who also happens to be a personal mentor I look up to in this industry, no less) means a lot. #femalefounder #outdoorindustry #patentedtechnology #inclusivedesign #innovation #entrepreneurship #startup

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Apparel on demand. Realistic opportunity or a pipe dream? This recent BOF op-ed piece really got me thinking. “Imagine beautiful clothing, transparently and accountably manufactured at scale, only after the customer purchase, and delivered in a couple of days.” The idea is to “eliminate inventory and all of its waste by making everything on-demand at scale." Sounds like a dream!  But is it realistic? 🤔 “Inventory is at the core of fashion industry waste,” and it’s true. With 80-150 billion garments produced each year, there is no clear answer to exactly how much clothing is manufactured globally, what is being sold and worn daily, and how much takes up space in a warehouse as inventory and, worst case, as dead stock. So, removing inventory would be a start. But zero inventory? First, you need to start with your materials. There is a reason why all fabrics come with an MOQ. Making materials takes time. While, in theory, a small quantity of fabric can be produced within a couple of days, in reality, it can take up to 60 days to manufacture, dye and finish the fabric. (You don’t want it shrinking in the wash, do you? ) You would ultimately need to have some ready-made materials in “correct” colours and quality on hand to help speed up your process. This = inventory. Then, you need to consider the nuts and bolts of the equation: the correct thread quality, trims, care, and content labels in the correct colours and sizes. Again, this counts as inventory. What about fit? As a customer, unless you know the brand and your size ( even with the most consistent brands), there is still the chance for a return. That returned garment = inventory. Lastly, you need to consider customer waiting time. In today’s market, people don’t like to wait for stuff to be made. We’ve all become impatient, accustomed to instant gratification. While you can theoretically get something simple made and shipped within a day, creating one-off pieces doesn’t speak to efficiency "at scale". Most factories for a bulk order require at least 60 days to manufacture for one style. SHEIN, for example, has an ultra-fast lead time of 25 days and air freight directly to their customers, cutting down the total time of inception to customers’ hands. Depending on where these garments will be produced, you still need to consider delivery time, and air freight isn't exactly helping the carbon footprint. So, while it’s a nice idea, I’m not sure it would ever be truly achievable.  What are your thoughts? Do you think a future with clothing on demand is possible? Leave a comment below. ⬇️ ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Do you need help with your apparel processes? I help optimise performance for performance apparel brands. Send me a DM to learn more. #apparelmanufacturing #supplychain #apparelprocesses #consulting #productstrategy  https://lnkd.in/e5H8CjUM

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300-500 miles? Not only a myth, but wrong. Happy to contribute to The Wall Street Journal article about running shoe longevity. As a runner and running shoe designer, "how long do shoes last?" is one of the most frequent questions I hear. While it's been quoted forever, I've never seen research, a test method, or an industry standard that 300-500 miles life is based on. Even if it was true at one point 30 years ago shoes today are much different than those even 5 years old. New foams, new materials. There a huge range of materials, construction methods and design factors that affect longevity. The variance of runner size, weight and type and gait makes it even more complicated. Add on environmental factors, types of runs and surface conditions and I don't think any type of "across the board" lifespan rule is useful. The "twist test" in this article? Sorry, even more useless. "Does it twist" can have much more to do with materials and design (it's not twisting ever if it has a plate) than if it's worn out. I can't ever actually imagine materials breaking down so much that the physical property allows something to twist that previously didn't. Many shoes (minimal, etc.) are in fact designed to twist out of the box. PS. I've never tried the VEJA Condor 3 so can't comment on this specific shoe or claims. I was on;y asked in general about shoe design and construction. https://lnkd.in/g5nzs_Qk -- I’m the owner of The Directive Collective footwear design consultancy. We make great footwear, not just great sketches. #design #footwear #footweardesign

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If bikes didn’t get stolen, many more people would ride, and everyone would benefit. Great story in WIRED. One of the main ways that Tempo makes ebike ownership easy is by reducing the risk of theft. Bike Index is a big part of how we do that, both for their help in recovering stolen bikes (over 10,000 recovered to date) and their vast bike theft data set that helps us better price theft risk.

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Nike's recent stock plunge really caught my attention, and it's a clear sign of the shifting consumer market. Economic pressures mean that disposable income is tighter, making consumers more price-sensitive. Plus, we're seeing younger generations, especially Gen-Z, showing less brand loyalty and gravitating towards brands that genuinely speak to their needs and values. I think Nike has a real opportunity to leverage digital strategies to win back its audience. They need to lean into creative storytelling and target niche consumer segments to rebuild those emotional connections and loyalty. With new, affordable sneakers on the horizon, it's crucial for Nike to focus on authentic, targeted narratives that resonate with today's consumers. This approach can drive growth and help Nike secure its position in an increasingly competitive market. https://lnkd.in/e765mNSi

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TYR Sport, Inc. is making performance running shoes. Here's my POV as a runner and running shoe designer. It's great to see a solid performance foundation (materials, fit, quality, spec.) in these products. Making shoes is hard. The "what" is the basics. But figuring out the "Why" and "How" is the hardest job of any designer. Why should this product exist (compared to competitors)? How does the brand DNA make this design unique? Why are these the right products to make? TYR can expand into running. Dialing in the answers to these "why" questions and getting beyond the basics in design is the challenge. --- I’m the owner of The Directive Collective footwear design consultancy. We make great footwear, not just great sketches. #design #footwear #footweardesign

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Perfect vs. Progress This is an argument we have every day at Patagonia. How do we make progress towards our ambitious north stars, knowing that this is forever work, and urgent work, and that somehow we have to move forward?  (And, for my English major siblings, I’m aware that that was a run on sentence) We’re all clear on the “whys,” but the “whats” and “hows” are more obscure. We start with a product that solves a problem for its user – one that is best in class. Then we create it using the best inputs possible. Starting with the least extractive fiber, moving through the best available supply chain, and ending in a reduced resource intensity to create the product. Then, we approach the supply chain. Who’s at the forefront of clean energy usage and efficiency? What makers share our values and are willing to make these investments alongside us? All after designing for longest “time in the wild;” including durability, repairability, re-sellability, and eventual recycling. I am SO STOKED to see continued progress in the cycling industry, with leadership and proof through product from brands following this blueprint. Brands like Hunt Bike Wheels, Trek Bicycle, CSS Composites, and others who are doing the hard work to ensure we have a planet on which to cycle in the future. I'll be even more stoked to roll on a pair of silver-spoked wheels that are the embodiment of an examined product. That is what progress looks like. Now, do me a favor and destigmatize repair of carbon fiber while filling bike racks at elementary schools, and I’ll be happy! https://lnkd.in/gdA5V5sG

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Sport has a major part to play within the apparel industry, encouraging high levels of consumerism among sports fans. But what actions can be taken to improve the industry’s environmental impact? A few weeks ago I sat down with Martin Foster to discuss all this and more for The Experts in Sport podcast. If you want to learn more about this topic watch out for the 5THREAD podcast where I interview industry experts who are changing the game in sports apparel. #podcast #sport #sustainability https://lnkd.in/e9H6W7rJ

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Have a listen to my interview on the The Outdoor Biz Podcast with Rick Saez where we START with a near death diving experience ( mine ! ) as a life and leadership wake up call to never be complacent, and dive into the growth of sustainability, what will drive circularity's ( price ) singularity moment and #appliedinnovation as an accelerant, the 'why' of ambient computing and how it will feed the exponential growth of #AI and our shared life #UX indoors and outdoors, and the dilemma we now face when we now have 'Paleolithic Instincts, Midevel Institutions and Godlike Technologies'.

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Building a fashion brand comes with many challenges, but I've found that one of the most difficult parts of the process is finding a manufacturer that truly aligns with my brand's needs. In particular, my challenge for Collection 1 was finding a factory that would build out my collection with a relatively small amount of units, and develop them with high quality fabrics. Quality is VERY important to me. Unfortunately, many golf apparel options out there are made with that plasticky, unbreathable fabric that will last 3 washes and then fall apart. So quality is top of mind when producing all AIEA Golf products. In order to get the quality and quantities I wanted, I needed some assistance from development pros. I happened upon Stateless almost by mistake after hiring a 3rd party development agent that basically took my money and ran (newbie mistake). Stateless took my vision for Collection 1 and executed it seamlessly. The fabrics are fab, quality is perfection, and they held my hand through the process which was a huge help. Now I have basic clothing development knowledge and can move forward with future collections with confidence. I can't thank them enough! Take a look at the video below: https://lnkd.in/g7hbDHVM

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https://lnkd.in/gR2MPvPB I can't wait to read all of the commentary on the the pre-Olympics spot Nike just dropped. The fact that it's so polarizing will undoubtedly spark conversation on both sides. That said...I LOVE IT. Does that make me a bad person??!! From my vantage point, winning on the highest stage must involve a level of selfishness that isn't always 'acceptable' in our day. Almost every decision you make has to be self-focused - from what you eat, to when you sleep, to basically scripting out your day minute by minute. You obsess each decision, each practice, each movement you make in that practice and you must to hone your skills. If you can't tap into that level of "crazy", it's likely you won't reach the highest level. But just because you can access that inner focus towards your sport doesn't mean you can't access empathy, kindness and solid character off the field/court/pool. I've always thought it interesting that FINE line people have to walk between brilliance and unhinged. We see it in founders and athletes alike - their belief in their product/vision is so strong in order to catalyze their teams, sometimes the line gets blurred. We celebrate them when it's on the brilliance side, then blame and shame them on the times it falls to the other side of the line. Well done Nike, for going back to the well - drawing from the spirit of Prefontaine and taking a big swing. Who's ready for the Olympics!!!?? 🙋‍♀️ #Nike #Olympics #paris2024 #marketing #winningisntforeveryone

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Join the Rock Fight, LLC for my podcast conversation with Colin True. In a world of expanding consumerism, staggering choice and increasing product affordability, with decades trying to change consumer behavior otherwise, #appliedinnovation allows that all options are on the table to finally solve for waste and sustainability where we discuss: - The polarization of the American Consumer Market: the appeal and impressive price elasticity of brands that are truly connected to consumer ( HOKA, On, lululemon, HUGO BOSS ), the Rise and Rise of Value ( Walmart, Target, SHEIN ), and The Rest: brands stuck in the #MessyMiddle in between ( thank you Scott Belsky ) - The Brand Conundrum: Fiduciary Responsibility or Environmental Responsibility: can we have it both ways ? ( Patagonia ) and is it fair to keep blaming brands (?) - #digitalinnovation leading the way to the Outdoor UX ( Strava, DashLX ) and Brand Loyalty - The democratization of the Outdoors ( Hipcamp , Outdoorsy, HOLO Footwear, Jimmy Chin on Netflix , climbing walls at Public Lands, and a shout out to Tae Kim and his pioneering vision at Alite ) - The reality of ( imminently ) pending legislation and our industry organizations helping us prepare ( American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) )thank you Steve Lamar and Matt Priest - Moving beyond 'the bottle' from recycling to circularity ... mechanical, chemical, and molecular ( Circ®, Reju, Ambercycle, LanzaTech Mango Materials , Eastman, Invisible Company ) on the march to commodity price parity - The hope for the future of our industry and our planet when all options are being #innovated

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It only just dawned on me that niche running brands are the new niche cycling apparel brands. My two cents: .......... - there was an explosion of cool, niche, cycling apparel brands circa 2014 - 2018. Much of this was on the back and hard work of Rapha. As I discussed in my newsletter a few months ago, Rapha made it acceptable to walk into a boujie cafe wearing a thin layer of Polyester and horse shoes. Game changer. - but most of them died. Why? They couldn't compete with Rapha's dominance, product range / quality and marketing. How do I know? I created a inspiration instagram account in 2018 to capture all of them. The account is still alive but most of the brands are gone. - who survived and thrived? Pas Normal Studios and MAAP. I'm happy to be challenged on this, but they are the only two brands to challenge Rapha. Why do I think this? When I'm on a ride, I count the number of cyclists wearing Pas and Maap gear compared to Rapha. The numbers have increased exponentially. What's more, the cycle club I'm in is dominated by Pas and Maap. *note - the club is almost exclusively comprised of small tattoo'd East London dweller types that have either been featured on or consume house wives of clapton. Make of that what you will. - what's changed in 2024? I think niche running brands have a greater ability to succeed as their appeal is much broader than cycling and the entry point into running is much lower (let's be honest, cycling is an elitist sport / past time). - the cherry on top? it's not just niche cool running brands that are gaining traction (Acid Running, SATISFY®, Tracksmith, SAYSKY et al). It's the lifestyle brands that are incorporating running into their brand worlds (Represent, Puresport etc). Lots of opportunity for collabs / amplified exposure. CC other brand-heads, cyclists, runners - thoughts? Jolyon Varley, Daniel Parekh-Hill, Luke Hodgson, Katie Bassett. .......... *photo circa 2017 when I shifted my entire cycling wardrobe to Pas. #brand

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What's New to TheStreet... 👟💼 Nike's sluggish recovery is trying investors' patience as sales suffer from pullbacks in popular shoe lines. The impact of new products isn't expected until next year. How do you view Nike's approach to overcoming these challenges? Share your thoughts below! ⬇️ 👉🏻Follow New To The Street for more! #nike #investorsentiment #businesschallenges #marketanalysis #businessnews #business #news #newtothestreet

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Variable Responses to Super Shoes Across Speeds and Individuals We frequently write (and talk) about how "shoes are tools." Different types of shoes will work for different people and our goal here is help teach people what may or may not work for them. Racing/Super shoes are a unique type of tool meant for racing and running faster. Not everyone needs these to race, but those seeking higher performances are often drawn to these. The typical super shoe is far different from the racing shoes of the past, which were minimal, low to the ground, as light as possible and often highly flexible. The lower cushioning of these shoes often scared people away. However, super racing shoes have brought a whole of fast highly cushioned racing shoes that have attracted a far greater number of runners. Like all shoes, some may work for people while others may not. The Hoka Rocket X 2 has a unique design with an aggressive spooned plate and a ride that is softer in the heel and firmer in the forefoot. This creates an even lower drop feel that initially one feels like they have to climb out of until the midsole breaks in. The slightly firmer ride makes it better for shorter distances if the average runner is interested, but it is quite stiff and aggressive. This is a shoe that everyone could wear, but may not be appropriate for everyone. Learn more about HOKA running shoes in our full guide here: https://lnkd.in/eTC2-9Bj #hoka #hokafans

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In recent years, the footwear industry has witnessed a notable shift in consumer preferences towards wide-width sneakers. This change is primarily driven by individuals with wider feet who are seeking both comfort and style in their footwear choices. The demand for inclusive footwear options has been steadily increasing, prompting manufacturers to rethink their design strategies […]

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When outdoor sales are down and every trail, climbing, or put-in parking lot overflows with people seeking an outdoor experience, there is a clear disconnect happening between the consumer and product. Brands and retailers should remember that the shortest path to the consumer is the face-to-face interaction on the retailer floor. As this article points out, there are a lot of choices, and the majority of them are good. The opportunity is helping the customer make the best choice for their individual needs, fit and budget in a face-to-face situation with an educated retailer. Proper staffing levels, educating retail staff, and pro-deals pushed the outdoor industry from niche businesses to mainstream. Along the way, these same businesses have made SG&A cuts that have left fewer opportunities for educating retail staff and, ultimately, the consumer. Lack of knowledge sharing has led to higher staff turnover, or worse, consumers who end up in the wrong products and suffer a bad experience. That bad consumer experience often means they decide outdoor pursuits aren't for them. Then they choose to spend their money somewhere and the industry suffers for that loss. Welcome to 2024...

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🧩 PUZZLING to find “Industry Vets" shocked Nike faces challenges after setting such a lofty goal of being $50 Billion by 2020 in 2015 when their business at the time was $30 Billion 💰The Pandemic pushed this benchmark number back to 2023 when they exceeded their aspirations, reaching $51.54 Billion 🧡 Most Brands would LOVE to have experienced this type of growth in less than a decade but IMO the wheels were bound to fall off based on this places tremendous pressure on the engine 👟 🐶 And although John Donahoe is not a Shoe-Dog, being named CEO just prior to the Covid outbreak, coupled with the aforementioned target in place is a bit much to ask of even the finest of K9s 📈 The SWOOSH's "DTC Offense" really should have been in place years ago as the Brand has dominated the market-place by a huge margin for decades but that has never been their offensive strength, preferring to jam the retailer w/ products we all knew would not preform, displacing the pressure on their partners to make it magically evaporate as the conveyor belt of next season's new were already on the boats headed stateside #SoleMates 📖 Additionally, DTC requires epic Product Architecturing & Storytelling - and regardless of how you view the circumstances, the wizardry of TREVOR EDWARD's “Brand Mastery” is truly missed #Facts 🏬 IMO the Retail Partner strategy is equally about blocking competitors vs DTC is hyper-focused on optimal margins #LessonLearned 🥤 Also, a huge feat to hone & complete INNOVATION under this type of "Revenue Thirst" - so of-COURSE franchise models like AIR FORCE 1s, DUNKS & retro JORDANS become the main course vs dessert as hitting the number by all means was the quest 🌎 Since the late 90s the SNEAKER Market & landscape lacked any truly consistent compelling offerings outside of Beaverton, allowing the SWOOSH to dominate the Footwear-Wall like the 1992 DREAM TEAM on a equally global stage 🌇 Much like Europeans dominate the NBA Draft these days, we have a true market race with: New Balance, On, HOKA & Brooks Running coming to play & adidas reloading 👀 And hopefully more entries to join 🔨 NIKE still holds the dominant position over the Industry by a wide margin but to keep growing year-over-year will require more TODAY 🪞The Global Population is growing at a slower rate & SNEAKER Hoarding/Reselling should mirror as well 🍿 So the industry is becoming a "Thriller" vs the "old predictable plot" 🩳 Apparel does not drive revenue like FOOTWEAR but still remains an opportunity & my thoughts are BRAND JORDAN fleece alone has a Billion Dollar bucket to be filled ✂️ So "Cut It Out" w/ NIKE being dead, JD taking all the blame & the Sky is falling 🩸 They "DO" need a "Blood Infusion" of the depleted Prized Culture across Sales, Design & Storyteller of the past #ReckLessCuts ✨Coupled w/ some "New Hemoglobin" of Talent to pave the New-New, Mind-Blowing & Game-Changing Obects of Desire for Decades to Come 👂🏾back 2 listening

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Being a Leader has a lot of responsibilities and being one for a public company that trades in the multiple billions is indeed an important role! Running a business that off boarded numerous employees-some who had many years of service makes such excessive compensation untenable! His lowering of 11% due to less stock enhancement pales in comparison to his lack of quality leadership and letting one of the great American brands operate without distinctive innovation plans and allowing decades long category leadership be so easily taken by smaller players! Maybe it is time to elevate other talent from within or run an industry talent search and get the Swoosh going in the right direction! It could also be a committee of industry talent that should be added as a senior advisory staff- bring in new ‘non-Nike’ ideas! But paying such an enormous amount for a leader who has not led the way - is not fair to employees or investors! #nike #innovate #leadershipchange

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