Many people across the country have at least one pair of runners and that will continue for generations to come. How many of us think about where the shoes are designed. We generally suspect the shoes are made in China or South east Asia but the design work, where is it done? According to Philip Marcelo of Associated Press most of the design is in the Boston area. For a long time Rockport was based there, but it seems all the other companies have open or expanding operations in the Boston area. The New England area  has a large concentration of workers versed in design, sourcing, marketing and other aspects of the industry according to Nate Herman of the American Apparel & Footwear Association. There is a large cluster of colleges and universities in the Boston area and working for a running shoe company in the artistry, design and development of the merging of fashion, innovation and design. The companies profiled include Reebok (owned by Adidas), New Balance, Converse, Nike, and Wolverine World Wide.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, the shoe company convergence in the Boston area is reflective of many industries and why most of us are bias towards a few areas. If many people are working in the industry then they are paying attention to the industry and its suppliers and supply chain which they can follow easily. It is wonderful that Boston is an area for running shoes. As you do your research you will be able to focus on the companies and see how the industry tends to concentrate in one part of the country or another.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions.