MAGIC News

There are spokespeople… and then there are spokespets. And there’s nothing quite like a cute pooch in running shoes to get the message across that your brand has entered the running market.

At FN PLATFORM, the shoe show at MAGIC, Skechers mascot, Mr. Quiggly, spoke loud and clear that the casual-shoe icon is a force to be reckoned with in the running arena.

Even at North America’s most comprehensive footwear forum — which showcases high fashion to fast fashion and everything in between — the pup was a standout, sparking interest and endless snapshots.

Breakout star of the recent Skechers Super Bowl commercial, the French bulldog posed for pictures and garnered attention among the thousands of attendees at the February footwear show.

But he’s not just another pretty face.

According to Jason Kartalis, the company’s director of visual merchandising, Mr. Quiggly conveys a clear message. “For us, Skechers, right now we’re the underdog in the running shoe market,” he says, referencing the new lightweight running launch, the GOrun.

“The shoes he’s wearing in the commercial are our running shoes. And as you see, the underdog wins the race,” Kartalis concludes — mentioning that Olympic marathon runner Meb Keflezighi recently took first place in Houston’s Olympic trials, wearing, what else, the GOrun.

So will the brand be able to break away from the pack and emerge as a new leader in athletic shoes? Only time will tell. But an adorable dog at the definitive footwear event seems like a pretty good place to start.