The Sleuth of Shoes

So what of ye, Skins and Crocs and all of thee who would bow down at their thrones?

I don't know what to make of Skins just yet. I've read, I've seen the stock chart, but without a product on the table and any revenues to really bite into, they are simply not going to be the next great footwear company. Not a Crocs. I need more information about this promising concept: an insole (Bone) that is detachable and ready to be placed in several different shoes (Skins). A $200 Italian-made coolio looking statement of style. Niche market, but possibly a very cultish niche at that.

I watch the news around Skins. Try to. It's lacking. You'd think that there would be more immediate media coverage out of Las Vegas, where the World Shoe Association trade show just wrapped up yesterday. But no. Nothing.

That's where our friend Steven James comes to the rescue. Better known as dude_in_batonrouge in cyberspace, James is a sleuth who balances his natural skepticism with true treasure-hunting skills. But if you read his writing just a bit, it's clear that he has both optimism, fact-finding and fairness all in a proper balance. I don't hesitate to say that if he had chose journalism as his profession, he would have excelled. Kicked ass. He did the ultimate due dilligence, and then shared it, which is what a good reporter does for any regional newspaper. James did it for his fellow CROX longs.

His first major piece on Skins ran at Seeking Alpha on July 16.

For his update, James made the trek from Texas to Vegas and took in the WSA trade show, shelling out nearly $300 just for the right to enter and study his two favorite footwear companies: Skins and Crocs. Read his reports and analysis, then thank him as many other investors have. Just to be clear, he's not looking to sell shoes. Just after facts, and damn it, he does it well.

Steven James on Skins: "I was Impressed by Mark at the WSA"

Steven James on Crocs: "My Visit to the Booth @ WSA"

Sole search: When you get to the YMB for Crocs, note that there are a number of very astute contributors who have been deadly accurate about the Co and stock for a long time now. Even James, for a short spell a month ago, was torn between fact and fiction before he did more digging about the facts at the urging of long-time CROX longs. The information provided and debated on any forum isn't gold, per se, but in this case with this company, it has turned out to be golden knowledge.

Pupule Paul is long CROX and has no position in SKNN.OB.