Steve Madden has never been a stranger to innovation. It has built its reputation on bold, trending designs that constantly stand out in the fashion industry. Now, the brand is channeling that same spirit into leveraging AI at the core of its retail and marketing strategies.
In collaboration with Fast Simon, Steve Madden launched AI shopping optimization across 25 e-commerce sites globally, spanning five continents and multiple languages. This initiative covers all major brands under the Steve Madden Group, including Steve Madden, Dolce Vita, and Betsey Johnson.
Fast Simon’s AI technology enhances site search capabilities, speeds up page loading via its Smart Rendering solution, and personalizes product discovery and merchandising.
Colleen Waters, Vice President of Ecommerce at Steve Madden, stated, “Expanding our partnership with Fast Simon enables us to deliver innovative and seamless shopping experiences that boost customer satisfaction and drive business growth.”
Steve Madden deployed Fivetran’s automated data integration platform to unify marketing and analytics data across multiple channels. By consolidating data from platforms such as Facebook Ads, Google Analytics 4, TikTok Ads, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, and custom sources through Connector SDK, Steve Madden’s marketing and analytics teams access a single source of truth.
Josh Krepon, President, US Direct to Consumer & Global Digital, emphasized the agility gained: “With Fivetran, we act on insights faster, anticipate market shifts, and respond to trends in real-time.”
The unified data approach enables the company to align paid and organic campaign performance, optimize spend, and enhance customer engagement with precise targeting and timely creative adjustments.
Global Revamp
In March 2025, Steve Madden partnered with RunDTC and Contentstack to overhaul its e-commerce ecosystem on Shopify, boosting conversion rates by 16% while enhancing operational efficiencies. This multi-brand global solution supports localized content management while maintaining brand consistency across 30 sites under Steve Madden, Dolce Vita, and Betsey Johnson.
“RunDTC brought extensive Shopify expertise, allowing us to streamline management, improve performance, and elevate our digital footprint,” said Jon Grigson, Vice President of Global Technology & eCommerce.
The centralized system replaced fragmented Shopify instances and reduced app bloat, creating a scalable global platform.
Steve Madden integrates AI-driven personalization tools that analyze browsing history, purchase behavior, and user preferences to provide tailored product recommendations. These capabilities improve the shopping experience, increase conversion rates, and drive cross-selling and upselling opportunities.
The brand also utilizes augmented reality features for virtual try-ons, enabling online shoppers to visualize footwear realistically before purchase, reducing returns.
The brand also faces persistent problems from global tariff fluctuations, which have impacted supply chains and raised operational costs in 2025. These challenges test the agility of Steve Madden’s inventory management and logistics systems, where data-driven forecasting and responsiveness remain very critical.
Steve Madden also vies with established footwear retailers such as DSW, Aldo, Zappos, and Nine West, each advancing their own digital and AI capabilities to capture market share in the DTC and online channels. Larger department store chains such as Nordstrom and fast-fashion platforms like ASOS and Revolve intensify the contest by combining expansive inventories with sophisticated personalization powered by AI.
Though details on AI adoption in operations are still emerging, Steve Madden employs advanced supply chain and inventory management software. Data-driven demand forecasting and logistics optimization ensure efficient inventory control, meeting customer demand while minimizing excess stock.
Steve Madden complements its technological innovation with sustainability and compliance initiatives. The company leverages digital tools for responsible sourcing and supply chain transparency, aligning business growth with a focus on the environment.
