Flip Flop Shops® Announces New Growth Initiatives

• e-Commerce Launch in October
• Unveils "Super Kiosks"
• Introduces Everyday California flip flops

SHERMAN OAKS, Calif., Sept. 13, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Flip Flop Shops, a multi-format franchisor, curates collections of the hottest brands and latest styles of flip flops, casual footwear and fashion accessories, announces format innovations, channel expansion and brand launch.

Channel expansion: E-commerce Flip Flop Shops Super Kiosks Flip Flop Shops Store Front

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/97508120-6273-4a5a-a692-36380dd7db08 

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eb3fa24f-0641-4f4c-ab30-8af77f73577d

An infographic accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fc5ab85e-f26b-4f70-bb40-88347f3c2427

The company is dedicated to providing relaxed, immersive shopping experiences that engage and delight customers.

Since its acquisition of Flip Flop Shops last year, parent company Cherokee Global Brands CHKE has focused on growing the concept by exploring large-scale strategic partnerships in the United States, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Latin America, and by expanding into new channels of distribution including retail stores, shop-in-shops, mobile, and e-commerce.

"As the one-year anniversary of our acquisition of Flip Flop Shops nears, it's great to see momentum building on so many levels despite the challenging domestic retail environment. We are looking forward to building on the numerous growth opportunities to come," said Howard Siegel, president and COO of Cherokee Global Brands.

Brian Curin, President, Flip Flop Shops believes there has never been a better time to expand  Flip Flop Shops' retail base. "Given our aggressive growth plans, we're particularly excited about identifying and cultivating relationships with seasoned operators who can become multi-unit franchisees, especially those who can quickly open and operate shops in desirable markets. Channel and format innovation remain key differentiators and growth drivers for us and will help us achieve our goal of doubling our store growth in 2017."

Current Initiatives include the following:

Channel expansion: E-commerce:  Slated to launch in mid-October 2016, Flip Flop Shops e-commerce website, www.flipflopshops.com will embody the company's commitment to fostering an authentic, healthy and stress-free lifestyle and celebrate living, working and playing "with your toes exposed^®".
  
Format innovation: Super Kiosks:  Measuring approximately 300 square feet and built in the shape of a giant flip flop, Flip Flop Shops' latest format innovation is the Super Kiosk. This unique, eye-catching retail concept provides an innovative addition to Flip Flop Shops' four-walled locations and is slated for national rollout. Super Kiosks will offer a nimble and novel format expansion to the Flip Flop Shops concept.

"We are excited about the potential to scale Flip Flop Shops Super Kiosks through a multitude of partnership models including retail shop-in-shops, and to expand Flip Flop Shops into new venues such as theme parks, resorts, cruise ships, airports and college campuses," said Curin. "Cherokee Global Brands' existing retailer relationships, along with our growing brand portfolio, will present new opportunities to expand Flip Flop Shops' presence and brand offerings."

Brand Introduction: The Everyday California^® line of casual footwear for men and women will debut in spring 2017 within Flip Flop Shops and on flipflopshops.com. The collection will be created by Cobian^®, a longtime industry leader and top supplier to Flip Flop Shops, and will feature the design details and quality construction that are the hallmark of Cobian footwear such as state-of-the-art EVA foot beds with glitter, metallic and textured accents. Everyday California's iconic logo of Brutus the surfboard-toting-bear will be emblazoned on the foot bed of the collection's signature flip flop, adding novelty.

Flip Flop Shops currently operates approximately 100 retail franchise shops in the US, Canada, Caribbean, Middle East and South Africa, with over 100 additional retail shops in development worldwide.

About Cherokee Global Brands
Cherokee Global Brands is a global brand marketing platform that manages a growing portfolio of fashion and lifestyle brands including Cherokee®, Carole Little®, Tony Hawk® Signature Apparel and Accessories®, Liz Lange®, Everyday California®, Sideout® and Flip Flop Shops®, a leading franchise retail chain, across multiple consumer product categories and retail tiers around the world. The Company currently maintains license and franchise agreements with leading retailers and manufacturers that spans over 50 countries. Its retail, franchise and e-commerce platform partnerships include: Target Stores (U.S.), Kohl's (U.S.), Sears Canada (Canada), Walmart (Canada), Argos & Sports Direct (UK and Ireland), Flip Flop Shops® (US, Canada, Caribbean, Middle East and South Africa), RT-Mart (Peoples Republic of China), Pick 'n Pay (South Africa), Falabella (Chile, Peru and Colombia), Unlimited Stores (India), Shufersal LTD. (Israel), Comercial Mexicana (Mexico), Nishimatsuya (Japan), Landmark Group's Max Stores (certain Middle East and North Africa countries), Reliance Trends Stores (India) and the TJX Companies (U.S., Canada and Europe).

About Flip Flop Shops
Flip Flop Shops is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cherokee Global Brands. Founded in 2004, Flip Flop Shops® is the authentic retail chain exclusively devoted to the hottest brands and latest styles of flip flops and casual footwear. Its mission is to live to create innovative ways to "Free Your Toes®" to promote a casual, healthy, stress-free lifestyle. Flip Flop Shops is a proud supporter of the American Heart Association and an Environmentally Responsible Retailer™. The company began franchising in 2008 and now operates shops globally throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, South Africa, and the Middle East. For more information, visit http://www.flipflopshops.com.