Daniel Green Company initiated a collaborative effort to develop new, open standards for data exchange among footwear suppliers, retailers, web sites, sourcing and distribution. These new standards are intended for use with XML. The working group will include representatives from a broad cross-section of the footwear industry, such as athletic, shoes, boots, women’s fashion, retail and Internet outlets. Initial plans call for the working group to define standard terms and design basic document object models that are expected to have a far-reaching impact on transaction productivity within the footwear industry. Ultimate goals include reduced inventories and waste as well as lower costs and greater variety for consumers. www.danielgreenco.com