Genesco on Tuesday mentioned it has shaped Journeys World Retail Group, uniting its Journeys, Schuh and Little Burgundy banners. The alignment solidifies Genesco’s place because the world’s main style-led, youth footwear retail group that may have sharp deal with the feminine buyer.
Journeys president Andy Grey has been promoted to CEO of Journeys World Retail Group. Journeys govt vp and chief merchandising officer Chris Santaella has been named chief merchandising officer of the brand new retail group. Santaella’s position will see him lead product methods and service provider groups throughout the brand new group. The present management groups at Schuh and Little Burgendy will stay of their roles, reporting up by this new group.
“We see clear alternatives in each market to develop share by reaching extra shoppers as we strengthen our model consciousness and elevate our experiences, Mimi E. Vaughn, Genesco’s chairman, president and CEO, mentioned. “With unified world management, we’ll maximize alternatives, strengthen market positioning with the buyer, and drive even better development with our model companions.”
Andy and Chris are the suitable leaders for this new group, constructing on their great success in repositioning Journeys, their intensive expertise in athletic and trend footwear, their expansive model associate relationships, and robust connection to youth tradition.”
Vaughn mentioned the success of Grey and Santaella in repositioning Journeys and their expertise in athletic and trend footwear, plus expansive model associate relationships and robust connection to youth tradition, make them the suitable decisions to guide this new group.
Grey joined Journeys as president in January 2024. Beforehand, he has over 20 years at Foot Locker in senior roles that embody world president, chief business workplace and chief merchandising officer. Santaella joined Journeys in February 2024 as govt vp and chief merchandising officer. Beforehand, he was at Foot Locker for greater than three a long time main world product methods, most just lately as senior vp and chief merchandising officer.
The repositioning of Journeys final yr beneath Grey’s management included evolving its all-access loyalty program and plans for an up to date retailer design, whereas Santaella’s experience introduced in new shoe kinds and investments in trend athletic and informal manufacturers.
Their efforts started to point out some inexperienced shoots final yr when the Nashville, Tenn.-based Genesco posted fourth quarter outcomes this previous March. That report mentioned that Genesco ended the quarter with a 1 % enhance in internet gross sales to $746 million, led by a 5 % enhance in gross sales at Journeys. By June of this yr, first quarter fiscal 2026 whole internet gross sales rose 3.6 % to $474 million, once more pushed by a 5 % enhance at Journeys. Vaughn mentioned on the time that the Journeys’ strategic plan to speed up development and enhance market share continued to achieve traction. And in the latest second quarter report in August, whole internet gross sales for the footwear agency rose 4 % to $546 million, with the contribution from Journeys even better as its internet gross sales rose 6 %.
On the time, Vaughn in a convention name to Wall Road analysts mentioned the Journey’s goal teen buyer was responding nicely to classes that the banner traditionally has not provided prior to now, citing to life-style operating as one instance. Additionally serving to was the inclusion at Journeys of some new manufacturers to its merchandise combine, akin to Hoka. She additionally mentioned the Journeys’ prospects are keen to pay increased costs for must-have product, regardless of the backdrop of financial uncertainty.
