Skins Kaufen - Messefeedback sehr positiv

Könnte Apple der Schuhindustrie werden. Innovative Technik, liebevolles Design bis in die letzte Spitze, äußerst kultverdächtig

www.sonnenseite.com/...template=article_detail.html&flash=true

Wie der grüne Lifestyle die Märkte erobert.
Super Artikel, komplett unter obigem Link.

Hier das wichtigste:

Wie die LOHAS Märkte und Konsum verändern
1. LOHAS-Food: Der Boom mit dem gesunden Genuss kennt vorläufig keine Grenzen
2. LOHAS-Fashion: Was moralische Mode so anziehend macht
3. Wie die LOHAS unser Verständnis von Gesundheit verändern. Das Interesse an der eigenen Gesundheit ist in den letzten Jahren nicht nur merklich gestiegen, sondern beginnt nach und nach Gesellschaft, Märkte und unterschiedlichste Branchen zu dominieren. Der Lifestyle of
Health and Sustainability hinterlässt überall seine Spuren.
4. LOHAS-Design: Öko durchdringt die Gestaltung unserer Lebens(t)räume
Der Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability müsste im Prinzip um Dimensionen wie Ästhetik, Stil oder Design erweitert werden. Denn was diese neue prosperierende Konsumentengruppe vor allem auszeichnet, ist ihr hoher Anspruch an Gestaltung und ihr Gespür für Zeitgeist.
5. LOHAS-Tourismus: Wie der grüne Lifestyle die Reisemärkte der Zukunft prägt

Text zur Anzeige gekürzt. Gesamtes Posting anzeigen...

Wie für alle anderen Lebensbereiche gilt deshalb auch für die Urlaubszeit die Devise: Keine Kompromisse, dafür aber so ethisch korrekt wie möglich. Tourismus, der sowohl die Sehnsüchte der Menschen wie auch deren ethische Ansprüche befriedigt, wird zum wichtigsten Faktor für
den Markt.
6. High-Tech und neue Werte revolutionieren die Sport und Freizeitmärkte
In ihrer Freizeitgestaltung legen die Deutschen immer größeren Wert auf soziale und ethisch korrekte Komponenten. Spaßhaben ist kein Tabu, solange es nicht auf Kosten der Gesellschaft und der Umwelt geht. Gerade auch im Sport- und Lifestyle-Bereich wächst der Wunsch nach schicken und szenigen Produkten, die aber mit gutem Gewissen konsumiert werden können.
7. Wie Informationshunger und das Bedürfnis der Partizipation die Medien-Landschaft neu strukturieren
Die Rolle der Medien und der Öffentlichkeit darf bei der Entstehung des neuen grünen Lifestyles keineswegs unterschätzt werden. Maßgeblich sind neue und alte Kommunikationsmittel mit daran beteiligt, ein umfassendes Umdenken in der Bevölkerung zu bewirken. Gleichzeitig verändern aber auch die LOHAS das herkömmliche Verständnis von Medien.

www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/...design_product+design

Soled Separately
These new shoes come in two parts—one for style and one for structure

by Tim McKeough

From skimpy Manolo Blahniks to plush Nikes, shoes are the most fetishized fashion accessory—even the casual collector has a taxonomic variety in the closet. But what if function could be separated from style, and a shoe’s ex­terior skin could be changed on demand? Not long after asking himself this question, Mark Klein, an entrepreneur with a high-tech background, pulled together a team of designers to make such a shoe a reality.

“I had a friend who was a shoe freak, and looking down at his feet one day it just dawned on me that this guy’s got eight pairs of the same shoe in different colors,” Klein says.

He had also noticed a trend toward customization across different industries, from sunglasses with interchangeable lenses to Tivo systems that allow television viewers to control their programming. Sensing an opportunity, he conceived Skins Footwear, a shoe system with two interchangeable parts: an interior structural Bone that provides orthopedic support and a floppy exterior Skin with an integrated sole that can be changed in a matter of seconds.

At the time, Klein was living in Israel (he’s now based in New York), where he recruited Kobi Levy, a young design professor at the Bezalel Academy of Art & Design, to explore the concept. Working with mold makers and manufacturers, Levy came up with initial prototypes for a Bone consisting of a multidensity thermoplastic polyurethane shell and cushioned foot beds that could slip easily into different Skins. Break in one pair of Bones and you could use them nearly forever, replacing the Skins each time the soles wore out while retaining the exact same fit and feel. But even though Klein and Levy had the functional part figured out, they weren’t happy with how the product looked.

Enter New York designer Dror Benshetrit. “We wanted him to stylize the Bone for us,” reports Klein, who says he was drawn to Benshetrit’s “minimalist” portfolio. “[Levy and I] had developed the Bone to be as anatomically correct as possible, and in doing so we had sort of put aside the aesthetic part.” Benshetrit set out to create a simple yet iconic shape that he believed could stand the test of time. “It’s very dangerous introducing something innovative to the market,” he says. “People might think it’s too difficult or weird. So it was really important for me to develop something that was intuitive and logical.” Finally Klein called on the fashion expertise of high-end shoe designers Silvano Banfi and Frank Zambrelli (who have previously worked for companies such as Gucci, Bally, and Coach) to oversee a consistent look across the range of Skins.

The company’s first collection, manufactured in Italy, is arriving in stores in March, with nine Skin patterns for men and eight for women (each available in numerous colors), starting at $160 a pair. The Bones will retail for $50. “It’s a product that just seems to make a lot of sense,” Klein says. “When people look at it, I want them to scratch their heads and wonder why no one had thought of it before.”

Provided by Metropolis Magazine—The Magazine of Architecture, Culture, and Design

biz.yahoo.com/bw/070416/20070416005311.html?.v=1

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Skins Inc. (OTCBB: SKNN - News), the developer of a revolutionary, patented, two-part interchangeable footwear structure, announced today the hiring of Antonio Pavan to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Mr. Pavan was most recently with GEOX USA, where he was an Executive Vice President and oversaw the company's American operations. GEOX USA is a subsidiary of GEOX SpA, the fast-growing Italian producer of "shoes that breathe". Prior to that, Mr. Pavan worked in senior operating positions at several international consumer branded companies, including Alessi USA, and Cinzano.

Mark Klein, President and CEO of Skins Inc., said, "We are thrilled that Antonio Pavan has decided to join the Skins team. We expect that our pending launch of Skins footwear will be very well received by retailers and consumers alike, and realize that we need to build our management team to support our anticipated growth. Antonio is the type of exceptional talent we are excited to have at Skins. With nearly 20 years experience in fashion and consumer companies, we believe Antonio will help propel the phenomenal growth we anticipate in our operations."

Separately, the company is announcing that the launch of Skins footwear will now be scheduled for delivery of Fall product in July. This will enable Skins to deliver an upgraded "bone" that will improve Skins footwear and make it more accessible to a wider audience. The company's winter products are scheduled for delivery in September.

Mark Klein continued, "As we began the physical production of the Skins collection, we discovered several key opportunities in the manufacturing process to substantively improve the fit and feel of our product, as well as improve the consumer experience at the point of sale. These alterations, while nominally changing the look of the product, so substantively improve the consumer experience that we've made the decision to redefine the launch season so as to incorporate these changes."

Isack Fadlon, co-owner of Sportie LA, one of the premier footwear retailers that will be carrying Skins, commented, "We remain extremely enthusiastic about the launch of Skins Footwear and believe the upgrades being made to the product will be very well received by our customers. The improvement in fit and feel should make this innovative design even better."

In this energetic talk, industrial designer Ross Lovegrove expounds his philosophy of organic, “fat-free” design, and offers insight into several of his extraordinary products, including the Ty Nant water bottle and the Go and Moroso chairs. He reveals the two sides of his work: Yes, he’s the pragmatic designer of beautiful, functional objects whose forms are inspired by nature. But he’s also a bit of a maverick, who envisions an electric car that multitasks as a street lamp, and installs a DNA-inspired floating staircase in his Notting Hill studio. Lovegrove concludes with a video tour of his workspace, which he shot at 3 AM.

Im aktuellen bullVestor Magazin (Auflage 1.000.0000!) wird Skins vorgestellt:

Skins and Bone: Kleide deinen Schuh neu ein!
Skins ist ein Schuh mit einer revolutionären Schuhwerk-Konstruktion. Der Schuh besteht aus zwei  Teilen: dem "Skin", was sozusagen die Kleidung des Schuhs darstellt,  und dem "Bone", das Innere des Schuhs, das Fußbett. Diese Designkonzept ermöglicht es dem Käufer, den "Bone" einmal zu kaufen und desen immer wieder neu einzukleiden. Es gibt verschiedene Styles und Varianten, es geht einfach und schnell. Entstanden ist diese Idee bei einer Dinner-Party in Manhatten, mittlerweile ist Skins das neue Schlagwort für Individualität und Funktionalität. Eine geniale Erfindung für alle Schuhliebhaber.

oder Überzieher dazu

www.nytimes.com/2007/06/17/business/....html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

The New York Times
June 17, 2007
Prototype
The Shoe Changes, but the Fit Doesn’t. He Can Explain.
By MICHAEL FITZGERALD

THE shoe is about as elemental as it gets. Although the materials, the designs and the manufacturing process have changed tremendously over the last 150 years, a shoe still comes down to a sole connected to an upper part, with inner support for the foot.

That basic concept has existed for a very long time: Ötzi the Iceman, who died 5,300 years ago in the Austrian Alps, was found in shoes that you and I would recognize, says Elizabeth Semmelhack, curator of the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto.

But if Mark Klein realizes his vision, shoes for both men and women are about to change. In late July, Mr. Klein’s company, Skins Footwear, intends to break the shoe in two, giving it an outer part, including the sole and upper, which he calls a “skin,” and a removable inner part, which he calls the “bone.”

“The bone is the constant fit and feel,” he says. “Then there’s this blank canvas for you to express yourself with the skins.”

The idea is that a shopper will buy a bone, for about $60, and several skins, which will range from $125 to $300. People will shift from one skin to the next, depending on what they’re doing, much the way they can with other kinds of apparel.

Mr. Klein, who is 33, says he thinks that his patented skin-and-bones concept will eliminate the problem people have with shoes that look good but don’t fit correctly, since the bone should guarantee the same fit for any skin in that size. He also says frequent travelers will appreciate the chance to pack only the foldable, lightweight skins, instead of full pairs of shoes.

The idea came to him one September night in 2002, when he invited friends for dinner at his apartment in Tel Aviv. Mr. Klein, who worked in marketing for ICQ, a unit of America Online, realized that one of his friends was wearing almost the same shoe as he had worn three days before — but not quite.

In fact, his friend had something like seven variations on the same shoe, largely in different colors, from different manufacturers. Mr. Klein wondered why shoes weren’t customized in the same way that computer screens are — users can design their own interfaces, or “skins,” on the screen.

His friend, whom Mr. Klein describes as “a bit of a shoe freak,” liked the concept. That pretty much ruined dinner for Mr. Klein, who — though he hadn’t previously thought that much about footwear — spent the rest of the evening contemplating how to make a two-part shoe.

It wasn’t Mr. Klein’s first entrepreneurial idea; he moved to Tel Aviv in 2000 with a plan to create a Web site covering Israel’s high-tech sector. That failed — “a very humbling experience,” he said. So he was nervous about the shoe idea, not least because he knew nothing about the market. At a gathering the next day with a group of friends, he cautiously spelled out the idea. To his relief, they liked it.

A week later, Mr. Klein quit his job and started working on his company. “If I’d had more people tell me it was a bad idea,” he says, “I probably wouldn’t have persevered.”

It helped that the concept was easy to understand. “The minute I heard about it, I thought it was a great idea. It depended on the execution,” said Dennis Walker, who now runs sales for Skins Footwear.

Mr. Walker has seen plenty of innovations in the shoe market — he mentions Reebok’s aerobic shoe for women, or the more recent Crocs phenomenon. He was also president of Rockport Shoes when the company’s concept of comfortable dress shoes was gaining popularity.

But breaking the shoe into pieces, Mr. Walker says, was a brand-new move. He says that “only a nonshoe guy” like Mr. Klein, who was watching the customization trend not just in computers but also across things like cars (Toyota’s Scion) and television (via TiVo), would have thought to do it.

The idea has kept Mr. Klein and his management team going through almost five years of design, development and fund-raising. The original lineup will feature 19 patterns, 10 for men and 9 for women. Each pattern will have three to six choices of colors or materials. They are meant for business casual and more general wear.

At the heart of the concept is the bone, which needs to be comfortable but firm. The initial bones are made from thermal polyurethane, which can be firm or flexible and can last years. Over time, the company expects to make bones out of other substances, including natural and recycled materials.

Mr. Klein bankrolled the first year of design and development himself — hiring someone to develop a prototype, then going out to raise capital. Eventually, Skins raised money by going public on the over-the-counter bulletin board.

There have been setbacks — in particular, a spring introduction this year was delayed to refine the bone and to make it more comfortable. But now that the product is almost on the market, Skins is meeting with some excitement from shoe retailers.

“We’re going to push it,” says Isack Fadlon, co-founder of Sportie LA, a four-store chain in Los Angeles.

Mr. Fadlon was skeptical when Mr. Walker called him to say he had something that would turn the industry upside down. But when he saw it, Mr. Fadlon says, “I was blown away” by the shoe and its interchangeable parts “Wow! You hit your head and say, ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’ ”

Mr. Fadlon says he thinks that the shoe has the potential to revolutionize the market. He notes that it is even a “green” product, because the bone is reusable and long-lasting.

BUT Ms. Semmelhack, the museum curator, wrinkles her nose at the idea of having to pull a bone out of a shoe. In 1951, she says, Salvatore Ferragamo introduced a patented product called the Kimo, which combined a sandal bottom that meshed with a variety of uppers that were effectively socks. That product, she notes, “didn’t become a Ferragamo classic”

Ms. Semmelhack also thinks the bone smacks of being an orthotic, which she calls “the Depends of the shoe world.”

But Joel Sigal, president of Littles Shoes in Pittsburgh, which at 20,000 square feet is one of the biggest shoe stores in the country, says he thinks that if the bone is comfortable, the shoes will sell. He says that the styling is innovative and the idea of appealing to more affluent consumers is the right place to start.

Mr. Klein, who is racing back and forth from Skins headquarters in New York to shoe stores in a dozen states and factories in China and Italy, has big plans for his little company. Skins is gearing up to introduce a high-heel bone and a winter line-up of new skins. He eventually hopes to sign licensing deals with large shoe and apparel companies for more skins and for other market segments (Skins currently isn’t making athletic shoes, for instance, or children’s shoes.) It also intends to expand into Europe.

Another shoe is about to drop, and the size of its footprint remains to be seen. But the idea is big.

www.ragingartists.com/...4/why_wait_for_summer_getskinned.html

ACCEPTING SKINS FOOTWEAR PRE-ORDERS: WHY WAIT FOR SUMMER TO GETSKINNEDALIVE?

The WorldWideWeb, May 1, 2007 - In anticipation of the Summer 07 launch of Skins Footwear, top sneaker shoe and sports apparel retailer Sportie LA has created
www.GetSkinnedAlive.com

a Web boutique dedicated to the brand, which hits stores in July.  

Skins Footwear is a revolutionary two-part, footwear structure consisting of an outer collapsible "Skin" and an inner support section called the "Bone." The design allows consumers to purchase one inner Bone and numerous outer Skins, resulting in multiple style variations from one pair of shoes, with the same feel and fit no matter what Skin he or she wears.

"Given the nature of this innovation, people have been talking about Skins for over a year, and the demand is such that we needed to create a pre-launch outlet," explained Isack Fadlon, co-owner of Sportie LA.

In March of this year, Skins Footwear announced an alliance with SLAM (Sportie LA Media), the media marketing division of Sportie LA. SLAM provides nontraditional marketing and consulting for select brands. SLAM's first effort under the arrangement with Skins was a partnership for the brand with GenArt to host the March 5th closing night of the Museum of Contemporary Art's Skin Bones exhibit.

With four stores in the Los Angeles area, and a clientele that reads like a Who's Who of fashion-conscious celebrities, Sportie LA is considered one of the chief influencers on today's sneaker scene. This past November, the company was listed #3 among Independent Retailers on Footwear News' Power 100.

biz.yahoo.com/bw/070724/20070724005680.html?.v=1

Skins Inc. to Show Spring /Summer 2008 Collection at WSA Footwear Show in Las Vegas
Tuesday July 24, 7:51 am ET

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Skins Inc. (OTCBB: SKNN - News), the developer of a patented, two-part interchangeable footwear structure, announced today that it will attend and exhibit at the WSA-Las Vegas Shoe Show from July 30th to August 2nd, 2007. WSA is the world's largest bi-annual footwear event. Skins will display their innovative footwear at the Collections segment of the show, which features the luxury, designer component of WSA, and is held at the Venetian Hotel. All those attending the show are welcome to visit Skins in suite 7229 to meet the team and to get a first hand impression of the exclusive Skins footwear.

Mark Klein, President and CEO of Skins Inc., commented, "This is an exciting time for Skins. We are very close to launching our Fall/Winter line in select retailers and will also be previewing our Spring/Summer 2008 line at WSA next week. The response from our retailers has been overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to a similar reception from our customers. We are thrilled to attend the WSA show, which will give us a chance to introduce an even broader line of Skins for next season."

www.ragingartists.com/...08/all_is_revealed_as_slam_skins.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do1e_aHCLJ4

mondomouthtv.blogspot.com/2007/09/...otwear-at-sportie-la.html

Mondo visits Sportie LA for the arrival of Skins and meets CEO Mark Klein of Skins Footwear. Skins shoes are incredibly comfortable, stylish and fun!

www.commercialappeal.com/news/2007/sep/16/skins-ampamp-bones/


Skins & bones
Skins Footwear is a patented shoe system with a flexible exterior that simplifies life

By Barbara Bradley

Sonntag, September 16, 2007

What if different styles of shoes could be pulled on like gloves over one basic shoe structure? The structure would be designed for fit and comfort so our feet would always be happy. We wouldn't need to try on shoes anymore, and they would take much less space in closets and suitcases.

That is the idea behind Skins Footwear, a patented shoe system that offers a flexible exterior, called the "skin," and a support structure called the "bone." It was recently introduced at just 21 upper-end stores across the country, including James Davis located here at 400 Grove Park in Laurelwood Shopping Center.

"It's the most unique concept I've seen in the shoe industry in years," said Lee Feil, manager and buyer for the James Davis shoe department, which offers only the men's variety.

The creator of Skins is Mark Klein of New York; vice president in charge of sales is Dennis Walker of Southwind.

Walker, 59, is a former sales and marketing executive for several footwear firms, including Tommy Hilfiger and Rockport. He found out about Skins through his company, Innovative Solutions, a consulting firm headquartered at his home that works for footwear and other industries.

"I was so intrigued by the technology, I jumped on it," he said. He and others have toyed with similar concepts, he said, "but it took a non-shoe guy to figure it out. We were so in our box."

Skins creator Klein, 33, is a former Time-Warner sales director who was based in Tel Aviv. One day he noticed that a friend had one style of shoes in eight colors and had "a Eureka moment," he said. With Israeli shoe designer Kobi Levy, he created a Skins shoe model in about five months that worked without Velcro, zippers or latches.

"To have success at retail it needs to be simple," Styne said.

He had the shoes patented, Levy designed more skins styles, and Klein quickly raised money to produce them.

Eventually, Klein would like to collaborate with major labels and produce skins created by Cohen or Bali, he said.

Bones are made of TPU (thermoplastic urethane) commonly used in athletic shoes. They are anatomically correct, mold to the foot and come in different lengths. Two separate foot beds -- one thicker than the other -- adjust for widths and half-sizes.

Men's Skins are available in fashion sneakers, a slip-on, a loafer and a dress shoe. The Women's line includes ballet flats, a casual lace shoe and a unisex athletic shoe. Other styles are in the works. They're offered in fine Italian leathers, suedes and exotic skins, as well as denim and velvet.

James Davis carries sneaker styles and a slip-on that cost $150 to $165. For a limited time, a pair of bones, which normally retail for $60, will be offered free with the purchase of a skin.

seekingalpha.com/article/47609-does-skins-inc-fit-the-mold

On a wave of marketing cool, the new hot thing in footwear—Skins and the all important Bone—finally have arrived at retail stores. Skins Inc.’s (SKNN.OB) concept may start a footwear revolution, but it’s going to take execution and education to win over the masses.

New York City-based Skins Inc. takes a “Bone,” an inner orthopedic support section, and slips over it an outer collapsible, flexible “Skin” to make a two-part shoe that is high in panache, versatile and conceptually simple yet ingenious. Buyers purchase one Bone and then have the foundation for a full Skins collection of various styles. No matter what the Skins looks like, the shoes have the same fit and feel.

The changeability of the Skins fits the shoes somewhere between footwear and apparel. Once customers own a Bone, they don’t have to worry about trying on different sizes of Skins. They can purchase different Skins from anywhere—the Internet, footwear stores or apparel shops. The light, thin Skin—made out of the same materials as traditional shoes—can easily be packed several at a time, saving both the company and Internet sellers money on shipping.

Designers of distinction continue to work on the Bone and the Skins, which are priced as a high-end product; a Bone goes for about $60 at retail and Skins can range from $100 to $200. While Skins catch the eye, the Bone is the key: A shoe needs to fit. Herein lays the rub: certain retailers report that the toe box of the Bone in the just-received 2007 collection is too shallow.

“Some of the guys are having phenomenal success at retail,” Skins Inc. CEO Mark Klein said in an interview with SmallCapInvestor.com. “Others are having fitting issues,” he acknowledged.

Klein said he and others are making rounds to the initial 21 retail sites, showing salespeople the way to fit the shoes to a customer’s foot. “I think that the Bone fits” particularly when used properly with a size-tailoring foot bed, he said. “It’s going to take awhile to teach people how to fit.”

Still, Skins Inc. is already making a “second generation” Bone to be shipped in late October/early November. Klein said it will have a toe box that is not so shallow, a perforated bottom for breathability and a harder-density bottom area. The new Bone will be shipped with the winter-collection Skins, which the company had expected to have in stores for October. Instead, they’ll lose October as a selling month. “I have zero problem with that,” Klein said.

Skins Inc. also is also tossing out a free “second generation” Bone to buyers of the first 5,000 old Bones, if these buyers sign up for the company’s Consumer Partnership Program. Once in the program, the old Bone buyers will become marketing panelists, creating a community that will play an important role in the constant development of the shoes. Arf!

Writing off 10,000 Bones and delaying the winter-collection shipments until November mean Klein now expects revenue in 2007 near $700,000 to $750,000, instead of a previous $2.0 million. For 2008, he said the company hopes for revenues of $10 million to $15 million.

This year’s sales will be the company’s first. They will come from retailers’ initial orders and fill-in orders, which the company is already seeing. At certain locations, orders also are being received for the winter collection, suggesting a strong retailer response.

At City Soles in Chicago, 40 people waited on a list for the shoes to arrive—a “huge” number, according to Tarri Breeden, a sales associate. Buyers have been “totally following through on (buying) them.” At upscale men’s apparel and footwear store James Davis in Memphis, Tenn., sizing is not an issue. “Everyone I’ve sold is happy with them,” said sales associate George McCloud. “I think it’s going to be good,” he said, adding that customers like the versatility of buying one Bone and Skins to go with it. James Davis is having its own launch of the Skins shoe later this month and is calling its invitation list of customers.

Creating buzz is nothing new for Skins, Inc. The company early this year showed its shoe at the Skin + Bones exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Arts in Los Angeles, which explored the connections between architecture and fashion (you can see a clip of it on youtube.com). Skins shoes have also been featured in fashion and fancy-living magazines. Helping build the hype is key retail partner Sportie LA, a footwear and apparel store with locations on uber-trendy Melrose Avenue. And the Skins Inc. website is an ode to Internet technology and sexy cool.

Klein called the marketing strategy “very, very intentional,” saying Skins Inc. is trying to attract people from various groups, and that melding technology and fashion is exactly what the company does. Iconoclasm aside, Skins Inc. has dashed the hopes of some investors already. In November of 2006, it said shoes would hit stores in January of this year, but missed that original rollout date because of issues at its manufacturing source in Italy. Then the company said shipments would go in late spring—“partly (because of) the pressure from Wall Street,” said Klein. No go, as a factory issue again arose. Now the shoes are being sourced from Asia. The 2008 collection is scheduled to be delivered in February and the company hopes to have 250 locations selling the shoe by the end of 2008.

As for the delays, Klein likened them to those many companies experience when introducing a high tech product: “When you are coming out with a radical new technology, you are going to have bumps along the way.”

Skins Inc.’s volatile shares have been kicked around by those bumps. Since first trading publicly in April 2006 near $1.00 each, shares hit a high in December at $3.05, when investors anticipated January shipments. Then, when the spring shipment was delayed, the stock fell to $0.76 in May. Monday’s settlement at $1.56 reflected market capitalization of $63.9 million. Average daily volume for the past three months is 260,494 shares.

As a development stage company, Skins Inc. has a loss of $7,776,813 since its inception in 2004. In the quarter ended June 30, design and development costs were $550,495 as the company geared for its launch, up from $35,293 in the same three months of 2006; SG and A costs were $1,544,164. Skins, Inc. has a factor financing facility in place and will seek to continue to raise additional capital through private equity placements. At the end of the quarter, it had $3.0 million in current assets and $562,125 in current liabilities.

In addition to the missed launches, skeptics also point to Klein’s lack of experience in the footwear and apparel business; he comes from a technology communications background. Klein dismisses this contention: “I probably wouldn’t have been able to come up with an idea like this if I was from the industry. It goes against the grain.”

Key executives at Skins Inc. substitute for Klein’s lack of experience. Among others, there is Deborah Gargiulo, hired in July as CFO, who had been CFO for Better Apparel at Jones Apparel Group, and vice-president of sales Dennis Walker, who has held positions at K-Swiss, Reebok International and Stride Rite Footwear. Klein also said he has hired a new design director, which will be announced soon.

So far, though, the process of bringing the shoe to market has been no simple matter. “If I had known what I was getting myself into I probably wouldn’t have done it,” Klein said. “It’s a good thing I was as ignorant as I was.” Now: “It’s going to take six bullets in my head to stop me from finishing what I set out to do.”

Besides, Klein has an unencumbered view of the company, talking of a future that includes a children’s line and licensing to include other labels, including, say, Skins branded by the New York Yankees or Abercrombie and Fitch. “You’re going to see Skins under several different price points,” said Klein. All the different brands will be unified by the Bone.

Revolutions take awhile. The heaviest of the design, sourcing, delivery and marketing work is done. The sizing education is underway. A lot still lies ahead, but the focus right now is to just worry the Bone by millimeters. “I don’t see this as an issue,” Klein said. “I don’t see this as an issue at all.”  

biz.yahoo.com/bw/070920/20070920005266.html?.v=1

Skins Retailers Reports Exceptional Initial Sell-Throughs
Thursday September 20, 7:30 am ET

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Skins Inc. (OTCBB: SKNN - News), a developer of a revolutionary, patented, two-part interchangeable footwear structure, announced today that the long awaited retail launch of Skins Footwear was greeted by enthusiastic consumers across the country. Many of the limited retail outlets realized outstanding "sell-throughs" as customers satisfied their pent up demand for Skins and Bones. Among those reporting strong selling were Littles of Pittsburgh with sell thru in excess of 14%, Footwear Etc. in California with sell thrus of over 11%, and City Soles of Chicago with particularly strong selling in men's of almost 11%. James Davis of Memphis doubled sales in the second week and immediately placed reorders and Sportie LA, the Los Angeles Sneaker Emporium reported astonishing initial sell thru of over 30% and attributed much of their success to their internet site. Many believe Skins unique concept of two part footwear consisting of a permanent "Bone" with interchangeable "Skins" is the perfect brand for internet retailing.

Mark Klein, President and CEO of Skins Inc., said, "We are delighted that the initial sales for Skins has exceeded our expectations. Weekly sell-throughs for established brands run approximately 3-6 percent, and for us to see numbers as high as 30%, it is the ultimate consumer endorsement." Mark Klein also added, "On that note, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who participated in the Consumer Partnership Program. We received an overwhelming public response and the invaluable feedback was directly responsible for the improvements in the engineering of our footwear. We look forward to working with our consumers in the future, so we may continue to develop superior footwear in collaboration with our Partners."

In der aktuellen Ausgabe des Börsenmagazins "Der Aktionär" wird Skins zum Kauf empfohlen!

"Der Us-Verkaufsstart von Skins neuer Schuhmode ist ein voller Erfolg. Die Aktie steht vor dem Durchbruch."

"Startschuß gefallen. Auf den ersten Blick erscheint Skins teuer, zumal der erfolgreiche Verkaufsstart bereits im Aktienkurs enthalten ist. Investoren sollten aber berücksichtigen, dass aus dem Anfangserfolg schnell ein Modetrend werden könnte. Auch die Papiere von Gummiclogs-Hersteller Crocs galten schon immer als zu teuer - und haben trotzdem um 500 Prozent zugelegt."

www.getskinnedalive.com/2007/10/...ootwear-a-perfect-fit-f.htm

Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung 04.11.07:
"Die beliebtesten Artikel für Online-Bestellungen sind Schuhe und Bekleidung, in Deutschland werden 11 Milliarden Euro online umgesetzt."

Das Beste daran, Skins eignen sich so gut wie kein anderer Schuh dafür.
Etwas überrascht hat mich die Popularität von Schuhen schon, man denkt ja eigentlich das man die erst mal anziehen will bevor man kauft. Anscheinent ist das bequeme probieren Zuhause aber für viele angenehmer.

biz.yahoo.com/bw/071107/20071107005797.html?.v=1

Skins Announces Major Breakthrough in Next Generation ''Bone''
Wednesday November 7, 9:18 am ET

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Skins Inc. (OTCBB: SKNN - News), a developer of a revolutionary, patented, two-part interchangeable footwear structure, today announced a revolutionary breakthrough in the development of its next generation “Bone”. The new Bone will be available in December at selected Skins retailers across the country. The updated design offers additional arch support, increased depth in the toe area, and circulatory airflow that creates a feeling of barefoot freedom.

Mark Klein, President and CEO of Skins, commented, “Our new Bone provides the ultimate experience in all-day comfort. The improvement in fit, feel, and aesthetics is so dramatic that we have decided to replace the existing Bones at retail and for those customers that purchased the initial version. Our goal will always be to provide the best and most advanced technology to our consumer and we are thrilled with the feedback from our Consumer Partnership Program, which allowed us to accelerate the development of the next generation Bone.

Mr. Klein continued, “Our new bone design has benefited from rigorous fit trials and the assistance of Frank Zambrelli and the design team at Banfi Zambrelli. We also received tremendous input from our retail partners during recent retail forums, both on improving the fit of Skins and Bones and also on enhancing the point-of-sale experience for Skins consumers. Lastly, we have added to our sales team and are looking forward to expanding distribution significantly in the Spring/Summer 2008 season.”

Once available, participants in the Consumer Partnership Program will be able to exchange their first generation Bone for the updated Bone at the participating Skins retailer where they originally made their purchase. If the purchase was made through an online retailer, the retailer will send the replacement Bone when they become available.

1. Der Schuh ist anders (Abgrenzung, das Erfolgsrezept von Apple)
2. Gesund (Orthopätischer Bone)
3. Schick (auf Modetrends kann schnell reagiert werden)
4. Grün (weniger Resourcenvebrauch)
5. Optimal für den Handel über das Internt geeignet

So langsam glaub ich , dass die den Al Bundy als Schuh Verkäufer eingestellt haben ! ;-)

Elie Monarch form Footwear Etc. says that today’s customer takes comfort for granted; “that’s simply the price of admission.” Comfort without style will just sit on the shelf. Comfort combined with fashion and fresh technologies are the key components to driving sales at retail. That’s why he is particularly excited about Skins. “The versatility of the designs and the very concept the brand brings to the industry will allow us to significantly increase our multi unit sales and the sizing will lead to exceptional inventory turn. We expect Skins to be among our most profitable vendors right from the start.”

Monarch continues, “In today’s homogenous retail environment, we feel a need to differentiate. Skins gives us an opportunity to stay ahead of our competition and to offer our customer the very latest in fashion technology. It’s much more personalized and even customized than the typical footwear experience. We expect Skins to change the face of the industry.”

Source: Skins Investor Newsletter November 2007

Alles schön und gut. Warum geht da trotzdem nix????
Gibt es irgendwo noch andere Info´s oder liegtt´s tatsächlich am Gesamtmarkt?
Kann nicht ganz nachvollziehen wo hier das Problem liegt!
Hat da vielleicht jemand ne Antwort drauf?
Alles läuft prima nur die Aktie nicht ! ;-(

Das übliche Problem mit Unternehmen die ein neues Produkt auf den Markt bingen. Verzögerungen! Die Erwartungen sind zu hoch, das geht in der Praxis alles nicht so schnell und so glatt wie wir uns das alle wünschen.

Im aktuellen schwierigen Marktumfeld werden solche Enttäuschungen brutal abgestraft. Die ursprüngliche Planung ging von 50 Geschäften Anfang 2007 aus, bis zum Jahresende wollte man in 300 Läden sein. Im letzten Moment wurde die Einführung auf Juli verschoben und das Ziel der Geschäfte bis Jahresende auf 70 reduziert. Die Umsatzerwartung wurde von $2.000.000 auf 750.000 reduziert, da man 10.00 Bones abgeschrieben werden mussten, wegen des Consumer Partnerships Programms.

Aktueller Stand: In 2007 gibt es wohl kaum noch Umsatz, da der Bone 2.0 erst im Dezember kommt (ca. 20 Läden)und bis dahin sind die Verkäufe mehr oder weniger auf Eis gelegt. Die 2008er Collection soll im Februar kommen, bis Jahresende 2008 will man in 250 Läden sein, der Umsatz soll 2008 in der Größenordnung 10-15 Millionen liegen.

Meiner Meinung nach macht Mark Klein aber trotz allem einen guten Job! Er hat wie ich finde das richtige "Feeling" für die Sache. Jeder der das schon mal selber probiert hat, wies wie schwierig es ist ein neues Produkt am Markt zu plazieren. Die Resonanz der ersten Käufer und auch der Medien ist sehr positiv. Im aktuellen Newsletter hat Mark Klein gesagt man habe sich absichtlich für einen kleineren Start entschieden, um erst noch Erfahrung zu sammeln.  

Da brauchen wir allso noch Geduld, so richtig wird man erst am Ende von 2008 sehen was nun Sache ist, dann sprechen die Verkaufszahlen für sich.

Da kommt mir ein schönes Sprichwort in den Sinn:
"Wie bringst du Gott zu lachen?
Erzähl im deine Pläne!"

Naja. Da war ich wohl ein wenig zu voreilig.Werde mich dann wohl in Geduld üben müssen
Vielen Dank für die Information.
Gruß Sosix
Ps. Wird das ein Knaller werden ? Ich war ja felsenfest davon überzeugt. Das einzige was mich iritiert hat ,war der Preis.Das kam mir ziemlich im oberen Schmerzgrenzbereich vor, oder liege ich da etwa auch falsch ?!

Ob Skins ein Knaller wird?
Schwer zu sagen, aber für meinen Geschmack haben die alles was man dazu braucht!
Siehe Posting 23 "Die 5 Trümpfe von Skins"
Ob die Masse der Verbraucher das genauso sieht, das wird die Zeit zeigen.
Mir gefallen sie jedenfalls sehr gut, den Preis finde ich O.K.
Die Zielgruppe sind ja nicht unbedingt die "Preisbewussten" sondern Leute, die bereit sind für einen exklusiven, innovativen und stylischen Schuh durchaus auch den einen oder anderen Dollar mehr auszugeben.

Dann harren wir der Dinge die da kommen.
Oder wie meine Oma gesagt hätte.
Gut Ding braucht Weil.
Gruß Sosix
Falls es da wieder Neuigkeiten gibt , wäre ich erfreut sie zu hören.
In diesem Sinne!

ist der tiefpunkt erreicht
ich glaube es geht jetzt nach oben
marvin

Also  man sollte hier Vorsicht walten lassen. Scheint sich zwar zu beruhigen aber bin nicht sicher ob das so bleiben wird.Hier muß man glaub ich nen langen Atem haben.Wenn ich heute die Wahl hätte würde ich noch warten.

Schwer zu sagen wo der liegen wird.
Ohne entsprechende Erfolgsmedlugnen, sprich Zahlen, wird das wohl noch nix.
Ein gutes Beispiel für so eine Entwicklung ist RemoteMDX, da kam der Kurs auch erst ins laufen, als schon 3 Quartale die positive Umsatzentwicklung gezeigt haben.

Da fällt mir schon wieder ein Spruch ein:
"Alles kommt zu dem, der warten kann."

ich glaube die grenzeliegt bei 0,20 euro der kurs hat sie zwei mal getestet und ist dann sofort wieder nach oben geprallt und wenn ich mir die letzten 2wochen anschaue ist der abwärtstrent ruhiger geworden und es kommen mehr käufer rein  

www.getskinnedalive.com/

- Skin and Bone wurde verbessert
- Consumer Partnership Programm sehr erfolgreich
- Feedback zum Soft-Lounch war sehr gut
- Produktion der neuen Serie ist schon angelaufen  und kommt in der ersten Märzwoche  Landesweit in die Läden, diesmal im großen Stil

biz.yahoo.com/bw/080319/20080319005998.html?.v=1
Skins 2008 Spring/Summer Collection Now Available for April Deliveries: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Skins Inc. (SKNN), a developer of a revolutionary, patented, two-part interchangeable footwear structure, today announced that the Skins 2008 Spring/Summer Collection will be delivered to 45 retail “doors” by mid April and 100 retail “doors” by June. The Collection is the first to showcase the new and improved “Bone”, a result of extensive research and development, allowing Skins to evolve into a revenue-generating Company.

The Company also announced today that it has recently completed a $705,000 financing. Mark Klein, President of Skins asserted, “The funds were largely raised by management, staff and original shareholders and I would like to take the opportunity to thank all those who participated and continue to have faith in the new product. We are very appreciative and look forward to rewarding their patience.”

Both the Men’s and Women’s Collections are offered in an array of styles and colors and can be viewed on the Skins website. The new footwear was broadly tested by a diverse focus group who gave resounding praise for both style and comfort, prompting management to hire an additional 5 person sales team.

Pre-selling is available online now with select retailers including, Footwear etc., (www.footwearetc.com) and Sportie LA (www.sportiela.com). Elie Monarch, Owner of the Footwear Etc. stores claims, “Skins Spring/Summer Collection is an exciting new line ranging from sophisticated to chic, all embodying the essence of the Season.” Isack Fadlon, Owner of the Sportie LA stores added, “We have always had a passionate Skins following but with the improvements they have made to the comfort of the shoes and the great, fresh new look they are unveiling, we expect they will be in very high demand.”

biz.yahoo.com/bw/080424/20080424005962.html?.v=1

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Skins Inc. (SKNN), a developer of a revolutionary, patented, two-part interchangeable footwear structure, today announced that the Skins 2008 Spring/Summer Collection is now available in the stores. The Collection is the first to showcase the new and improved “Bone”, a result of extensive consumer feedback, research and development. Based on vigorous Pre-sales the Company is anticipating high demand for the product.

The following stores are now stocked with Skins Footwear or will be stocked by this Friday. The Company will be shipping to a host of additional stores over the coming weeks including several in the New York area. Please see our website for details.

Footwear Etc.:   San Diego, San Mateo, San Carlos, Los Altos, Palo Alto,
                    §San Jose and Cupertino
Sportie L.A.: 2 stores in Los Angeles
Walking Shoe Shop: Tallahassee
Zelda's Shoe Bar: Portland
Battaglia: Miami and Aventura
City Soles: 2 stores in Chicago
John Pickens Clothier: Shreveport
Shoe Biz: 2 stores in San Francisco
Casserd Shoes: San Francisco
Summerlin Shoes: Las Vegas
Littles of Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh
James Davis: Memphis
Saxon Shoes: Richmond, Virginia
The Shoe Market: Greensboro
David Parker Shoes: Franklin, Tennessee
Kian Matthew: Englewood, New Jersey
Island Shoes: Pawleys Island, South Carolina
Lorin: Santa Monica
Step Shoes: Santa Monica
Hawley Lane Shoe: Shelton, Connecticut

Mark Klein, President and CEO of Skins Inc., said, “From day one, our strategy was to launch our Spring/Summer Collection to a select group of high-end retailers in the U.S. It has been a demanding process but we have achieved this goal today. We are very excited to be able to showcase Skins to such a progressive, fashion forward retail audience.”

money.cnn.com/2008/03/26/smbusiness/...and_bones.fsb/index.htm
Build your own shoes: Skin and bones - Mar. 27, 2008

Five years later, an entrepreneur's vision of a new shoe concept hits 100 retail stores.
By Ian Mount
Last Updated: March 27, 2008: 11:55 AM EDT

(FORTUNE Small Business) -- Mark Kline is nothing if not patient: After 5½ years of R&D, five rounds of funding, and one reverse merger, he has finally rolled out his footwear dream, Skins, in 100 stores.

"I'm like the poster boy for bootstrapping," Kline jokes.

The idea for the shoes is that customers buy one set of "bones" (made-to-measure insoles) to be interchanged with a variety of soft, collapsible "skins" (uppers and outer soles) to create several stylish looks on one comfortable base. Certainly makes packing easier.

And enduring such a long wait turned out to be a positive: Except for Crocs (CROX), the shoe market saw few hits in 2007.

"Consumers got frustrated because there was nothing new," says Marshal Cohen, chief analyst at market research firm NPD Group.

Kline predicts 2008 revenues between $6 million and $10 million, and profitability during the first half of 2009. To top of page

messages.finance.yahoo.com/...&tid=14003&mid=14003&tof=9&frt=2
Yahoo! Message Boards - Skins Inc. - Conf Call Recap

Okay so there was nothing gigantic about this call but I must say I think we are headed down the right path. MK was confident about the business and had great visions for the future. His ability to convey to us their strategy on choosing the best partners for the upcoming launches means a lot to me. They are not just selling to any and everyone who may want the shoes. Yes this process is slow but it seems as if they are doing it the correct way.

- August (fall) launch is going to be huge. 100 plus stores with stores in NY
- Profitable at 15 mil 4Q of 2009
- Great response on the style, packaging and feel of shoe
- Sell through at or above expectation
- Pursuing celebrities
- Advertising will increase
- Demand is increasing
- 5 mil of funding is coming

Overall the call put me a little at ease and I will be holding and adding share throughout the coming months.