It's been copied and knocked off by anybody that's in the footwear business in one form or another.

Over this period, the profitability of the footwear business increased 150% and the company posted record results in 2002.

Lindgren disappeared seven years ago, when he left his wife, three children and a bankrupt athletic footwear business.

He met his wife, Paola, whose family was also in the footwear business at a shoe fair.

Q. Doesn't the athletic footwear business all come down to marketing?

To be sure, Nike firmly dominates the athletic footwear business and is unlikely to lose its grip anytime soon.

He was credited with pioneering the wholesale footwear business.

Wangler has been in the sports apparel and footwear business for 25 years.

Mr. Cole went into the footwear business in 1962.

Edison Brothers said it wanted to focus on its core apparel and footwear business.