Crocs Inc. is growing its shoe takeback program throughout the United States, the footwear company announced. 

The “Old Crocs. New Life” program will be available at all Crocs retail and outlet locations in the country, excluding Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Stores will have designated collection boxes for used Crocs in any condition, the retailer said. Anyone in the continental U.S. can also request a free mail kit to facilitate returning their shoes. Additionally, all participants in the program will receive a 10% discount to be used in stores or online.

“We are expanding our ‘Old Crocs. New Life’ program, taking learnings from last year’s pilot and working to create an even bigger impact together with our fans,” said Deanna Bratter, vice president, global head of sustainability at Crocs. “The growth of this program is an exciting continuation of our efforts to address the environmental and social challenges faced by the footwear industry and ultimately make a difference by keeping shoes on feet and out of landfills.”

Crocs is No. 97 in the Top 1000. The database is Digital Commerce 360’s ranking of the largest North American online retailers. The company appears in the Apparel & Accessories category.

Crocs shoe collection program

The retailer first tested out the program in an October 2023 pilot. “Encouraging results” led to the recent expansion, Crocs said.

Donated Crocs will be sorted based on the state they’re in. Gently used pairs will go to Soles4Souls, an international nonprofit. The organization focuses on providing shoes and clothing to people experiencing economic hardship, according to its website. Soles4Souls also has relationships with DSW (No. 72 in the Top 1000), Zappos (owned by Amazon, No. 1 in the Top 1000), Bombas (No. 337) and other retailers.

Heavily worn pairs of Crocs will be repurposed. That could include being upcycled into a new pair of shoes, according to the retailer. 

“Crocs will continue to leverage partnerships and product innovation to strive toward giving each received pair its next best use,” it said in a statement.

Crocs’ finances

The retailer reported that revenue grew 6% to $939 million in its fiscal first quarter ended March 31. Direct-to-consumer sales, including ecommerce, grew 11.8%, while wholesale grew 3.2%. 

Revenue for the Crocs brand grew $14.6% to $744 million in Q1. Meanwhile, the company’s Heydude brand sales declined 17.2% to $195 million. As a result, Crocs updated its forecast for the rest of the year, anticipating the Heydude brand revenue will decline 8% to 10% in fiscal 2024.

“As we continue to prioritize brand health in the North American market for HEYDUDE, and considering what we are seeing quarter-to-date, we are reducing our revenue expectations for the brand for the balance of the year,” Crocs CEO Andrew Rees said in a statement. “We are confident in the long-term opportunity for the HEYDUDE brand and are excited to welcome a new HEYDUDE President to fully unlock its future potential.”

The retailer appointed former chief marketing manager Terence Reilly to become president of the Heydude brand at the end of April. He returned to Crocs after a period as president of the Stanley Brand, the retailer behind the viral Stanley cups. He brings 25 years of global marketing and leadership experience to Crocs, the retailer said.

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