Crocs Inc. acquired Italian moccasin brand Hey Dude in 2022 for $2,5 billion, but it has proven to be a liability for the American company. Due to weak sales of Hey Dude, Crocs expects the brand's revenue to decline by about 2024% year-on-year in 14,5. To help smooth things out, the group has brought in legendary sneaker designer Stephen Smith.
American designer Stephen Smith is known for creating some of the world's most iconic silhouettes for Nike, adidas, Reebok, New Balance, FILA, as well as Kanye West and YEEZY.
"We were trying to keep up with demand without really understanding where it was," Crocs CEO Andrew Rees explained to Business of Fashion about Hey Dude's latest twist.
Crocs, he says, flooded the market with HeyDude products without “devoting sufficient marketing resources to attract customers in new geographies.” Now Reese is trying to revive the brand by cementing its reputation as a shoe brand for men who value comfort over style. As part of that strategy, the group hired Stephen Smith as head of design for Crocs and HeyDude.
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