Dive Brief:

• In the midst of back-to-school shopping, Converse sneakers are no longer available at Sears stores or the retailer’s website. The iconic shoe brand, wholly owned by Nike, has been disappearing from Sears for months now, reports Crain's Chicago Business.

• Sears dismissed the situation as essentially meaningless and a small part of their retail sales.

• Neither Sears nor Converse have shed any light on why the sneaker brand is no longer selling to the retailer.

Dive Insight:

While there are no specifics regarding why Converse is no longer available at Sears, it’s not a good sign. Crain’s Chicago Business speculates that the move may be at least in part due to a financial squeeze and payment issues at the faltering retailer.