Kmart aims to appease frugal shoe shoppers

Chicago -- Kmart has changed its line up in the shoe department, aiming to attract the frugal U.S. shopper, a company executive said.

The mega-retailer has introduced 1,000 new shoe styles since the company's owner Sears Holdings Corp. cut its ties with Footstar Corp. on Jan. 1, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Thursday.

"We were neglecting to serve our Hispanic and African-American customers,"
said Nick Grayston, president of footwear for Sears.

Last weekend, Kmart used the National Basketball Association All-Star event as a launching pad for the "Protege" a sneaker co-designed by New York Knicks player Al Harrington.

Other shoe stores are also out to court bargain-hunters, the female version of which is known as the "frugalista," the newspaper said.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.