PUMA webchat

2»

Comments

  • The Spammer wrote (see)

    How do you think distribution models will change, if at all? There seems to be increasing willingness/appetite among runners to buy online or on the basis of online information, which is in tension with the traditional nature of footwear fitting. At the same time, it seems like some of the most interesting products are quite hard to get hold of (particularly outside the US) - whether because it's not worthwhile for small specialist retailers to stock/order in niche lines, or because the large chains are focussed on higher volumes and fewer SKUs, conservatism or lack of expertise amongst buyers, etc. Do you see any changes on the horizon that will affect this situation?

    Hi Spammer,
    Thanks for the very thought provoking question. Over the last 5+ years more and more runners are buying their shoes online. It's more convenient and saves on time and money when shipping is free. The more serious runners are probably buying their second+ pair (repeat  pairs) online after having already been outfitted by a specialty store. That's why some specialty stores have their own online business so they can try and not lose all the repeat sales from their loyal clientele.

    Recreational runners might even buy their first pair online, figure out the size at home and then go from there. And the recreational runner segment is growing at the fastest rate, which means online sales will continue to grow.

    We think this trend is going to increase more and more and put more strain on the run specialty stores to stay relevant. There is also still a fair amount of consolidation taking place within the retailers, but we strongly feel that the specialty distribution channel is critical to being correctly fit in a running shoe and therefore to the industry.

    It's tough to say what the distribution channel environment will be in the future, but consolidation is inevitable so it's important that running brands continue to support the run specialty channel.

  • Kat4 wrote (see)

    I overpronate which makes buying new trainers trickier. Obviously I'm aware of buying shoes that are right for the terrain and run type, with enough cushioning for milage and weight, but is there a type or style that you could recommend that might help this? 

      

     

    Hi Kat4,

    It's a good starting point to for us to know that you over pronate. We have a range of shoes that meet different levels of over pronation, also taking into account the distance and surface you plan to run.

    Our Faas products are built on a very simple cushion scale. The lower end of the scale (Faas 100) is built with less cushion for faster runs. The high end of the scale (Faas 1000) is built with the most cushion for longer, not so quick runs. In the middle are our Faas 500 and Faas 600 models.

     

    We currently offer stability shoes with three different levels of support and cushion.

    The Faas 300 S is our most lightweight cushion shoe. This shoe is more of a lightweight racing shoe with support for mild over pronation. It is built with a traditional 8mm heel to toe drop.

     

    The Faas 500 S is the next stability shoe in our range, this shoe has a 4mm heel to toe drop and therefore should be used as a lightweight training shoe for someone who needs the added aspect of stability.

     

    The top end of our stability range is the Faas 600 S. We find this product to be used by most runners who over pronate. Also built with an 8mm heel to toe drop, this shoe has the most amount of stability.

     

    The best way to find out exactly which level of support you need would be to visit your local running store. There you can try on and compare different levels of support for over pronation from many different brands. This would be the best way to see what product best fits the shape of your foot and also find the shoe that offers the optimum amount of support for you’re over pronation.

    Cheers,

    Jordan

     

  • Bree Bianca wrote (see)

    Why do I need a separate trainer for running specifically?

    And have you got any awesome design collaborations coming up?!

     

    Hi Bree Bianca, good question! Not all trainers are specifically made for running. Some are made just to walk around in and don’t offer a lot of cushioning and support. Some are made for playing football and tennis and are made to incorporate the side-to-side movements of these sports.

    Running is a straight-forward and repetitive movement which can be pretty injury sensitive. To avoid injuries, you would need a running specific trainer that addresses these specific biomechanical movements. Firstly, it is very important to have a good cushioned midsole that can absorb the shock; when running you can impact the ground with up to 3.5 times your body weight! Running shoes typically have a stable upper construction to keep your feet safely locked onto the platform. Lastly, when you look at a running shoe you will notice that the outsole wraps up onto the toe to give you a smooth transition for toe-off.

    Design Collaborations is something that our Lifestyle Business Unit mainly works on. However, for this spring/summer 2014 season Puma did a collaboration with Solange Knowles; and is in stores now.

  • The Spammer wrote (see)

    More a set of hypothetical questions, but how would you like to change the usual product development processes, if you had the power to affect the market in that way?

    To what extent do you think the most commercially successful innovations are also those which are technically most beneficial for runners/other sports users' performance? For example, it seems like there are some innovations which are purely artistic concepts or of aesthetic value - while others are incremental changes but which still end up being set up as gimmicks in order to grab attention. I imagine it must be frustrating for both designers and marketers if you come up with something that really works, but which isn't very "sexy".

    Along similar lines, do you think is there enough room for evidence-based footwear innovation - in terms of the development timelines, research budgets, scope for improvement beyond fairly fundamental materials technology, etc.?


    A lot of interesting questions here!  Having been in the industry for 22 years I have seen a lot of product built.  Best function is always the main goal but it also has to look good to get placed on the retail shelves given the amount of choices available to consumers.

    We do have longer term product development streams and a team focused on experimenting with new concepts and getting to 'proof of concept' prototypes without the in-line timeline pressures.  These kind of critical future pipeline ideas are important for the brand's future.  Especially with the fast change of technology it's important that we have a team that has an ability to experiement with new ideas on much longer timelines.

  • Isla 3 wrote (see)

    Thanks for your advice on a racing shoe.  If I'm racing in a Faas 300 - which shoe should I do my longer training runs in?  I think shoe brands should offer a loyalty discount for multipule purchases - is this something you offer?

     

     

    Hi Isla, thanks for you quick reply! If you found the Faas 300 v3 a good shoe for your faster runs and race-days then the Faas 600 v2 will be a good shoe for your longer runs. The Faas 600 series offers the right amount of cushioning for your everyday runs with a safe 8 mm heel-to-toe drop. This shoe will go the distance but still comes in a light-weight package.

     

    Check with your local Puma store or on the Puma UK online store for seasonal sales and discounts.

  • FerrousFerret wrote (see)

    Adidas have a couple of new shoes (Boost and the bonkers looking Springblade) which seem to try to maximise "energy recovery".  Are Puma working on similar lines or is this something you've looked at and decided not to pursue? 

     

    Hi FerrousFerret, As we are constantly looking at the competitive landscape we obviously know about the energy return trend that is going on in the market right now. Here at Puma, we are constantly working on innovations and are doing extensive R & D on our own before launching any new product. Therefore, we continue to innovate our technical running lines and update them as we see fit.

     

  • @Bob, Nikhil, and other Puma guys - thanks for your answers to my questions and general insights on this thread

  • fat facefat face ✭✭✭

    Why is this still pinned to the top when no one has posted on it for over a year?

  • NessieNessie ✭✭✭

    And no-one from Puma has been in for nearly 2!

    Of course, now we've made it current again......................image

Sign In or Register to comment.