20 Nov NSRA Gives Out Annual Awards
The National Shoe Retailers Association inducted three new members to its Hall of Fame during the Association’s annual leadership conference held November 6-7, 2014 in Hollywood, Florida: retailer-turned-consultant Ron Scott; the late Harry Jubelirer, whose Reyers Shoe Store is widely considered the largest store in the U.S.; and Margot Fraser, who introduced America to Birkenstocks.
The NSRA honored Randy L. Brown as its 2014 Retailer of the Year. Brown is President of Brown’s Enterprises, a company with more than 80 employees, and eight stores: Brown’s Shoe Center, four New Balance St. Louis locations, New Balance Kansas City, New Balance Branson, and WhereFeetLoveUs.com. NSRA Chairman Rick Ravel (Karavel Shoes in Austin, TX) stated, “Randy always gives 100 percent. He helped build NSRA as an organization and helped us achieve a new level of respect in the footwear industry, taking time from his own business to do so. He gave generously of his time, always without complaint, and his family generously allowed him to do so. I think it’s fair to say that Randy and his family embody the best in the NSRA family and network, and we are all honored to know them.”
Drydock Footwear Group and Earth, Inc. was also named NSRA Vendors of the Year. “Vendors of the Year are companies held in high esteem by independent retailers, both for the integrity of their business practices and for their long-term commitment to the independent retail channel of distribution,” said NSRA president Chuck Schuyler. “It is with great pleasure that NSRA salutes both Drydock and Earth – they’re great to do business with, and their employees are some of the most dedicated in the industry.”