Foot Locker, Inc. is the world's leading retailer of athletic footwear and apparel. Headquartered in New York City, it operates approximately 3,600 athletic retail stores in 21 countries in North America, Europe and Australia under the brand names Foot Locker, Footaction, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker and Champs Sports. Additionally, the company's Footlocker.com/Eastbay business operates a rapidly growing direct-to-customers business offering athletic footwear, apparel and equipment through its Internet and catalog channels.
REAL ESTATE
Managing the Company’s real estate portfolio of almost 3,600 store locations efficiently requires an extensive organization of professionals that have specific expertise, including site selection, lease negotiations, construction, architecture and finance. Over the past several years, the Company has completed over 500 real estate projects annually ,including store openings, closings, remodels and relocations. At the end of 2008, approximately 90 percent of the Company’s stores were new within the past five years or had been converted to one of its current prototypes.
MARKETING
Through innovative and integrated marketing programs, Foot Locker, Inc. positions each of its retail divisions as an authority on, and destination for, athletic footwear and apparel to satisfy its core consumer’s wants and needs. A clear and concise branding message is created and conveyed through a myriad of communication vehicles, including television, magazine, newspaper, on-line, in-store signage and exclusive VIP club membership e-mails, to name a few. Sports marketing, grassroots and community- based programs are tailored to increase brand awareness and further strengthen each division’s relationship with its customers.
GLOBAL SOURCING
Key to Foot Locker, Inc.’s success is the experience of its merchant-led organization whose responsibilities include identifying new trends early to meet the needs of its target customers. This is accomplished by working closely with its vendors to deliver innovative, exclusive and fashion-right products to its stores. The Company has a large private label apparel program designed to provide quality offerings at lower price-points than branded products. These private-label products are designed by Company associates and sourced directly from third-party manufacturers. The Company also owns a manufacturing facility, Team Edition, which is its primary source of collegiate licensed apparel.
LOGISTICS
Delivering the right product, to the right place, at the right time, at the right price and in the right quantities is critical to succeed in the retail industry. This objective is accomplished by Foot Locker, Inc. through the utilization of a global network of distribution and logistics systems. A combination of Company-operated and third-party distribution centers are strategically located around the world to allow for the timely, cost-effective delivery of goods to the stores. Transportation costs are minimized by utilizing the most efficient third-party carriers available and by negotiating rates on a centralized basis.
OTHER CORPORATE SERVICES
The Company’s corporate staff also includes various departments whose associates have extensive expertise in the areas of finance, information systems and technology, human resources, legal and other corporate shared services. This shared infrastructure allows the Company to support its operating divisions with experienced professionals in a cost-effective manner by capitalizing on efficiencies of scale. Operating on a centralized basis also helps to ensure that internal standards are consistently applied across its various businesses. Corporate staff are in our New York, NY, Camp Hill, PA, Milwaukee, WI and Bradenton, FL locations.