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Boot Barn sees data center orders drive work boot sales
Livemint··16 Sept
Boot Barn CEO John Hazen said September 15 that bulk workwear orders increasingly tie to data center construction. The retailer tracks nearby projects to stock nearly 600 stores, he told a Goldman Sachs conference. Hazen said grading needs regular boots and four-wall builds need steel-toe pairs. US construction added 22,000 jobs in August, Labor data show.
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What It Means For You
- Construction crews near new data centers may need steel-toe boots as projects move from grading to structural work, Hazen said.
- Local Boot Barn stores could stock different boot types depending on nearby AI infrastructure timelines.
- Rising construction employment can signal more bulk uniform orders for retailers serving job sites.
What's Happening
- Boot Barn operates nearly 600 stores selling western and work boots.
- Comparable sales in work boots rose for five consecutive quarters, the company has reported.
- Hazen spoke at the Goldman Sachs Global Consumer and Retail Conference in New York.
AI buildout beyond chipmakers
- Brunt Workwear told Reuters strong demand is coming from California and Texas data center markets.
- Communities have pushed back on energy and water use at some new AI facilities.
- Some AI executives have recently urged caution about development pace despite the buildout.
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