| Collective Brands, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the wholesale and retail of footwear and related accessories worldwide. It offers footwear, including athletic, casual and dress shoes, sandals, work and fashion boots, slippers, and accessories, such as handbags and hosiery. The company also operates a shoe dyeing facility. Collective Brands sells private and branded label footwear and accessories for women, men, and children under various names, including Abaete for Payless, Airwalk, American Eagle, Champion, and Dexter, as well as Stride Rite, Robeez, Sperry Top-Sider, Saucony, and Keds. The company operates its stores in various real estate formats, including shopping malls, central business districts, free-standing buildings, strip centers, leased departments within other retailers, department stores, independent shoe stores, value retailers, and specialty stores. It has a strategic alliance with ShopKo Stores, Inc. As of February 2, 2008, Collective Brands operated 4,892 retail stores. The company was founded in 1956. It was formerly known as Payless ShoeSource, Inc. and changed its name to Collective Brands, Inc. in 2007. Collective Brands is headquartered in Topeka, Kansas. |