Vans is not the same as Nike Cons Adidas. Just don't.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-06-14/vf-s-vans-unit-to-add-athletic-shoes-to-challenge-nike"VF will start selling the Vans LXVI, named for Vans? founding in 1966, at sporting-goods and athletic retailers including Foot Locker Inc. (FL) (FL) and Footaction in two weeks, Kevin Bailey, Vans? president, said today in an interview at Bloomberg News headquarters in New York. The line is part of Vans? push to boost sales by $1 billion to $2.2 billion in five years.
The shoe, starting at $70, is aimed at young consumers who ?are more likely to be a teen walking around the streets in a pair of running shoes or basketball shoes,? said Bailey, 51. ?This brings a new consumer into the Vans stable of footwear.?
The new release from VF, the world?s largest apparel maker, comes as sales of skating shoes in the U.S. declined 2 percent to $504 million in the 12 months through April, according to NPD Group. The overall U.S. athletic shoe market increased 0.7 percent to $25.9 billion in the same period, the Port Washington, New York-based group said."
Yeah, Vans has roots. But that's about it, at this point.
I'd be willing to bet that the number of Vans sold to skateboarders, in skate shops, is less than 30% of their overall sales.. Admittedly, I just made that number up out of thin air. But if someone kind find some kind of real number on that, that would be cool.