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户外跑步再度兴起,运动鞋厂商逆势增长

Rachel King
2020-07-25

一场公共卫生事件,让更多的业余跑者选择了这个跑鞋品牌。

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疫情爆发后兴起的跑步、健步热潮或将让Hoka获益良多。图片来源:Russell Holiday—Courtesy Deckers Brands

如果你最近去过公园,那你肯定会发现,最近户外跑步的热潮已经再度兴起。

跑步的原因有很多,而且也因人而异,但有一点可以肯定,那就是跑步对我们的身心健康都大有裨益。如今,许多地方的体育馆和健身房都是大门紧闭,为了能在封城期间锻炼一下身体,越来越多的人加入了慢跑或者跑步的队伍。特殊时期,有些人跑步是为了获得短暂的独处,而有些人则是为了在人群中找回归属感。

Hoka是一家专业的运动鞋服品牌,开始时,其核心受众仅为专业跑者,现在,休闲慢跑者和进阶跑者也已经投入了它的怀抱。2020年的前三个月,Hoka的销售额出现大幅增长,较去年同期增长了52%。与此同时,零售领域的许多其他企业则正在面临着严重的经营困境。

近期,《财富》杂志采访了Hoka 公司的总裁温蒂·杨,询问了疫情对其工作和未来看法的影响,并了解了她是如何应对的。

Hoka 公司总裁温蒂·杨。图片来源:Courtesy Deckers Brands

为简明起见,以下采访内容有所删改。

《财富》:封城期间,健身中心都是大门紧锁,在此背景之下,户外跑步的热潮再度兴起,与1月初健身房的火爆景象不相上下。你觉得为什么会出现这种现象?跑步文化能给我们带来怎样的满足感?

温蒂·杨:当前的形势迫使我们很多人去审视自己,学会感恩并思考应该如何获得快乐。对许多人来说,快乐就是出门运动,而且很多人发现,在这样一个充满压力的时刻,经常出门呼吸呼吸新鲜空气,做做运动(无论是跑步、散步还是远足)能够很好地帮助他们放松心情、舒缓压力。

对于我们这些经常锻炼的人来说,一开始也是这样,但后来就变成了为比赛跑步,为抵达终点或获取成绩而跑步。特殊时期让我们找回了自己爱上运动的初心:运动能带给我们健康、快乐和力量。

现在,越来越多的人在人行道上跑步,有些人刚开始跑,有些人可能只是跑着玩。2019年第四季度,Hoka的销售额迎来了一波增长,2020年前两个季度的销售情况如何?近期的供需状况如何?你们公司的供应链有没有受到影响?

业务格局确实发生了变化,不过这种变化主要还是已有趋势加速发展的体现,而非业务格局的完全重塑。比如说,我们在零售端碰到了许多挑战,但是电商业务则呈现出了蓬勃发展的态势,我们将零售商视为宝贵的合作伙伴,封城期间也一直在与它们保持着密切合作。

就像我前面说过的那样,虽然疫情造成的经济冲击对我们也产生了一定影响,但跑步、健步相关业务仍然获得了高速成长。加上我们团队及时作出了一些调整,整体而言,我们还是维持住了自己在市场上的优势地位。(编者注:Hoka公司的2019财年第四季度是指2020年1月到2020年3月这段时间。)

图片来源:Russell Holiday—Courtesy Deckers Brands

在封城期间,大多数零售商都被划为非必要企业,也因此被迫关门歇业。这种情况可能会促使多数零售商将其业务完全转向线上,但Hoka的部分精选零售商仍在经营实体店。以后还会这样么?还是说你会根据所谓的“新常态”来调整Hoka的销售渠道策略?

Hoka一直致力于与零售专卖店建立良好的合作关系。作为一个“高感性”品牌,创业初期的我们鲜为人知,但我们清楚,如果消费者能有机会体验、了解我们的鞋类产品,那么他们一定会更愿意选择我们来帮助自己达成目标。我们与那些能够讲述Hoka故事、为顾客提供专业服务、帮助他们找到适合自己的产品的零售商建立起了良好的合作关系,并且这种关系还将继续维系下去。

正是得益于这种合作的支持,我们才能够在线下打造出强有力的营销团队,教育零售商,并与消费者实现良性互动。一方面我们会继续发展电子商务,另一方面,我们也会继续维系与零售商的这种重要且影响深远的合作关系,我们将与它们共克时艰,一起变得更好。

Hoka的总裁温蒂·杨说:“但我们清楚,如果消费者能有机会体验、了解我们的鞋类产品,那么他们一定会更愿意选择我们来帮助自己达成目标。” 图片来源:Russell Holiday—Courtesy Deckers Brands

公司员工是怎么应对的?都是在家工作吗?你有没有被迫裁员?

在加州戈拉塔总部上班的员工从3月中旬开始基本上就都是在家工作了。我们团队在4月就将已经把全球品牌会议都搬到了线上,甚至会在周五举办线上的虚拟“欢乐时光”聚会,本地商家和社区成员也经常作为嘉宾参与进来。

最近几个月,一个介绍我们员工居家工作环境的系列视频成了我们最受欢迎的社交媒体节目。从这个系列视频中,我们可以看到不同员工的适应情况,我们也希望它能提醒大家,其实我们也是普通人。我想,在现在这个时候,这样的提醒对大家来说都会很有帮助。我们需要同舟共济。

疫情对你个人有什么影响,你过得怎样?

谢谢关心。我没有什么可抱怨的。压力肯定有,也面临一些考验,但我们有一支出色的团队,他们的适应能力和独立思考能力为我们减轻了许多潜在负担。与家人共度一些时光对我来说也很有帮助,经常出去转转、做做运动也给我带来了许多宽慰和希望。Hoka一直将“为人们赋能”作为自己的使命,而我们的团队则给了我无穷的力量,让我能够直面各种挑战。(财富中文网)

译者:Feb

如果你最近去过公园,那你肯定会发现,最近户外跑步的热潮已经再度兴起。

跑步的原因有很多,而且也因人而异,但有一点可以肯定,那就是跑步对我们的身心健康都大有裨益。如今,许多地方的体育馆和健身房都是大门紧闭,为了能在封城期间锻炼一下身体,越来越多的人加入了慢跑或者跑步的队伍。特殊时期,有些人跑步是为了获得短暂的独处,而有些人则是为了在人群中找回归属感。

Hoka是一家专业的运动鞋服品牌,开始时,其核心受众仅为专业跑者,现在,休闲慢跑者和进阶跑者也已经投入了它的怀抱。2020年的前三个月,Hoka的销售额出现大幅增长,较去年同期增长了52%。与此同时,零售领域的许多其他企业则正在面临着严重的经营困境。

近期,《财富》杂志采访了Hoka 公司的总裁温蒂·杨,询问了疫情对其工作和未来看法的影响,并了解了她是如何应对的。

为简明起见,以下采访内容有所删改。

《财富》:封城期间,健身中心都是大门紧锁,在此背景之下,户外跑步的热潮再度兴起,与1月初健身房的火爆景象不相上下。你觉得为什么会出现这种现象?跑步文化能给我们带来怎样的满足感?

温蒂·杨:当前的形势迫使我们很多人去审视自己,学会感恩并思考应该如何获得快乐。对许多人来说,快乐就是出门运动,而且很多人发现,在这样一个充满压力的时刻,经常出门呼吸呼吸新鲜空气,做做运动(无论是跑步、散步还是远足)能够很好地帮助他们放松心情、舒缓压力。

对于我们这些经常锻炼的人来说,一开始也是这样,但后来就变成了为比赛跑步,为抵达终点或获取成绩而跑步。特殊时期让我们找回了自己爱上运动的初心:运动能带给我们健康、快乐和力量。

现在,越来越多的人在人行道上跑步,有些人刚开始跑,有些人可能只是跑着玩。2019年第四季度,Hoka的销售额迎来了一波增长,2020年前两个季度的销售情况如何?近期的供需状况如何?你们公司的供应链有没有受到影响?

业务格局确实发生了变化,不过这种变化主要还是已有趋势加速发展的体现,而非业务格局的完全重塑。比如说,我们在零售端碰到了许多挑战,但是电商业务则呈现出了蓬勃发展的态势,我们将零售商视为宝贵的合作伙伴,封城期间也一直在与它们保持着密切合作。

就像我前面说过的那样,虽然疫情造成的经济冲击对我们也产生了一定影响,但跑步、健步相关业务仍然获得了高速成长。加上我们团队及时作出了一些调整,整体而言,我们还是维持住了自己在市场上的优势地位。(编者注:Hoka公司的2019财年第四季度是指2020年1月到2020年3月这段时间。)

在封城期间,大多数零售商都被划为非必要企业,也因此被迫关门歇业。这种情况可能会促使多数零售商将其业务完全转向线上,但Hoka的部分精选零售商仍在经营实体店。以后还会这样么?还是说你会根据所谓的“新常态”来调整Hoka的销售渠道策略?

Hoka一直致力于与零售专卖店建立良好的合作关系。作为一个“高感性”品牌,创业初期的我们鲜为人知,但我们清楚,如果消费者能有机会体验、了解我们的鞋类产品,那么他们一定会更愿意选择我们来帮助自己达成目标。我们与那些能够讲述Hoka故事、为顾客提供专业服务、帮助他们找到适合自己的产品的零售商建立起了良好的合作关系,并且这种关系还将继续维系下去。

正是得益于这种合作的支持,我们才能够在线下打造出强有力的营销团队,教育零售商,并与消费者实现良性互动。一方面我们会继续发展电子商务,另一方面,我们也会继续维系与零售商的这种重要且影响深远的合作关系,我们将与它们共克时艰,一起变得更好。

公司员工是怎么应对的?都是在家工作吗?你有没有被迫裁员?

在加州戈拉塔总部上班的员工从3月中旬开始基本上就都是在家工作了。我们团队在4月就将已经把全球品牌会议都搬到了线上,甚至会在周五举办线上的虚拟“欢乐时光”聚会,本地商家和社区成员也经常作为嘉宾参与进来。

最近几个月,一个介绍我们员工居家工作环境的系列视频成了我们最受欢迎的社交媒体节目。从这个系列视频中,我们可以看到不同员工的适应情况,我们也希望它能提醒大家,其实我们也是普通人。我想,在现在这个时候,这样的提醒对大家来说都会很有帮助。我们需要同舟共济。

疫情对你个人有什么影响,你过得怎样?

谢谢关心。我没有什么可抱怨的。压力肯定有,也面临一些考验,但我们有一支出色的团队,他们的适应能力和独立思考能力为我们减轻了许多潜在负担。与家人共度一些时光对我来说也很有帮助,经常出去转转、做做运动也给我带来了许多宽慰和希望。Hoka一直将“为人们赋能”作为自己的使命,而我们的团队则给了我无穷的力量,让我能够直面各种挑战。(财富中文网)

译者:Feb

As anyone who has been to their local park recently will know, outdoor running has experienced a resurgence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are many reasons why we run, and why can be deeply personal for each runner. Running can be just as beneficial for one’s mental health as physical. With gyms and fitness centers closed in many regions, more people are going on a jog or for a run to get in some exercise during lockdown. Some are looking for a chance to (briefly) get away from whomever they might be in quarantine with, while others isolated at home might be looking for some semblance of community.

Hoka, an athletic shoe and apparel brand that has evolved from a core audience of professional runners to casual joggers and aspiring runners—saw a surge in sales during the first three months of 2020—up 52% year over year—as many other businesses in the retail space struggle to stay afloat.

Fortune spoke with Hoka president Wendy Yang for a new series, The Coronavirus Economy, about how the outbreak has affected her business, her thoughts on the future, and how she is working through the pandemic.

The following interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Fortune: With fitness centers closed during the shutdown, outdoor running has seen a resurgence on par with crowded gyms during the first week of January. Why do you think that is, and what kind of fulfillment does running culture often instill?

Wendy Yang: Recent events have forced a lot of us to take stock of what we have, what we’re grateful for, and how we find joy. For many, that joy comes from getting outside and moving, and a lot of people are finding that a regular routine of getting outside, breathing fresh air, and moving—whether that’s running, walking, or hiking—provides a crucial outlet during a stressful time.

This has even been true for those of us who were regular exercisers to begin with, but frequently had a race or some other goal on the calendar because of the destination or performance-based incentive to train. We are rediscovering why we fell in love with movement in the first place. It can provide health, happiness, and empowerment.

More people are hitting the pavement for exercise—many of whom might be casual or new runners. Hoka saw an increase in sales during the fourth quarter of 2019, but how have sales fared during the first two quarters of 2020? What has it been like to meet supply and demand during a pandemic? Has your supply chain been affected at all?

The business landscape has certainly changed, but those changes have largely reflected an acceleration of existing trends rather than a total shake-up: Namely, there have been challenges on the retail side of the business, but our e-commerce business has been thriving, and we have worked closely with our valued retail partners throughout the shutdown.

Overall, while we have not been untouched by the economic challenges posed by the pandemic, running and walking has been enjoying a boom, as I mentioned above, and with some adjustments by our team, we have maintained a very strong position. [Ed. note: Hoka’s fourth quarter ran from January through March 2020.]

During the shutdown, most retailers were designated nonessential and were forced to shutter their doors. That might encourage most retailers to shift toward online altogether, but Hoka still has a brick-and-mortar presence with select retailers. Will that continue, or will your sales channel strategy be adjusted to whatever the new normal might be?

Hoka has always had an intentional relationship with specialty retail. As a high-touch brand—one where we started out little known, but knew consumers would frequently prefer to use our shoes to meet their goals, if they had the chance to experience and learn about them—we cultivated and continue to maintain a good relationship with retailers who are able to tell our story, build trust, and offer customers a high level of expertise in the course of fitting them.

This is a driving force behind our robust field marketing program, educating retailers and interacting with consumers. While our e-commerce business continues to grow, we will continue to foster this extremely important and influential relationship with retailers, and we are working with all of them through this challenging period in their business with the intent to come out better than before.

How have your employees been coping through this? Are they all working from home? Have you been forced to make any cuts to your workforce?

Our Goleta, Calif., headquarters–based employees have largely been working from home since mid-March. Our team has adapted incredibly well, shifting to a completely virtual Global Brand Conference in April, coming together for a weekly all-hands via Microsoft Teams, and even joining together for Friday virtual happy hours with local business owners and community members serving as frequent guests.

One of our most popular social media features in recent months was a video series detailing our employees’ work-from-home setup. It showcased how different people are adapting, and, hopefully, reminded everyone that we’re human, too. I think we could all use that reminder at a time like now. We are all in this situation together.

On a personal note, how have you been faring amid all this?

Thank you for asking. I can’t complain. Our current situation has certainly proved stressful and testing, but I have a remarkable team around me, and their ability to adapt and think on their feet has eased a lot of the potential burden. It helps, too, that I am able to spend time with my family, and getting outside and moving on a regular basis has provided relief and perspective. At Hoka, our aim is to empower people, and together with my team, I feel empowered and equipped to meet our challenges head-on.

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