B1 – Intermediate
The shoe market is changing quickly. Big brands now have strong competitors.
Nike is still the biggest. But it has problems. It focused too much on online sales. It did not make enough new products. Because of this, they lost some customers who looked for other brands.
All shoe brands have a new problem. High tariffs on shoes made from Vietnam could make the prices of sneakers much higher.
Listen to this audio and read the transcript about how the shoe business is changing.
https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/the-shoe-business-is-changing-level-3
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “rival” mean? “The footwear market is changing fast as big brands like Nike and Crocs face new rivals.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “to make a comeback” mean? “Meanwhile, Crocs has made a huge comeback.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “clever marketing” mean? “People used to think Crocs were ugly, but clever marketing and colorful charms called Jibbitz made them cool for young people.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
Discussion Questions:
- According to the article, why are Nike and Crocs struggling?
- How can they recover from these problems?
- Share your opinion on this, “Nike made a mistake by focusing too much on selling online and not enough on making new, exciting products.“
- Share your thoughts on this, “All these brands face a new problem: high tariffs on shoes made in Vietnam, which could make sneakers much more expensive for everyone.”
- Give an example of a product or brand that you think uses clever marketing.
- What are some of the most important footwear brands in your country? Why are they very popular?