Skechers

Skechers (NYSE: SKX) is an American shoe company headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California, founded by CEO Robert Greenberg. Greenberg started Skechers in 1992 after he left LA Gear which he also founded. Skechers was started with his son as a distributor for Doc Martens; they launched their own shoe line the following year. This did not last long as they started importing knock-off Doc Martens boots which ended in a legal battle between Skechers and Doc Martins. Skechers' early products were utility-style boots and skate shoes; the company has since diversified to include thousands of athletic, casual and dress styles for men, women and children.

Skechers makes an effort to maintain a trendy and stylish brand image by using celebrity-driven advertising, and has promoted its product with singers Brandy, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, The Black Eyed Peas, Ashlee Simpson, Carrie Underwood and David Cook; actors Robert Downey Jr., Rob Lowe and Matt Dillon; athletes Joe Montana, Karl Malone, Rick Fox and Wayne Gretzky; and TV personalities Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner and Brooke Burke.

Skechers' brands include Skechers Sport, Skechers USA, Active, Cali, Shape-ups, Tone-ups, Skechers Resistance, Skechers Work and Skechers Kids. Branded separately, the company's fashion and street lines include Unltd. by Marc Ecko, Zoo York and Mark Nason.

Many Skechers shoe designs are copies of other shoe designs with very good marketing.Many Skechers designs look almost like other designers products, one notable example being the Shape Ups line, a copy of Karl Müller's MBT shoe design.

Skechers is currently involved in a class action lawsuit alleging that it has misled customers with its Shape-Ups ads. Another lawsuit is pending that questions the safety of the Shape-Ups shoes