SKECHERS USA, Inc., a global leader in the lifestyle footwear industry, announced that it has signed a retail licensing agreement with footwear retailer Shuz 4 U Ltd. to open and operate SKECHERS-branded retail stores throughout Ireland.
Under the agreement, Shuz 4 U will open its first two SKECHERS-branded retail stores in Dublin and Cork City by the end of 2010. Like the SKECHERS company-owned retail stores, the new stores in Ireland will carry a broad selection of SKECHERS product for men, women and kids. Plans call for additional stores to roll out across Ireland over the next five years.
“Our ten branded SKECHERS stores in the United Kingdom give us a highly effective means to reach consumers,” began Michael Greenberg, president of SKECHERS. “This licensing partnership with Shuz 4 U allows us to leverage strong European SKECHERS brand recognition into an expansion of our retail foothold and build on the strong wholesale business we currently have in Ireland and the UK.”
“With great style, variety and pricing, SKECHERS truly is an ideal brand for Ireland,” said Paul Gallagher, managing director of Shuz 4 U. “We look forward to offering current and future SKECHERS fans the opportunity to discover this product within a destination shopping experience.”
Shuz 4 U Ltd. was established through a partnership between managing director Paul Gallagher and executive director Sunil Shah. The founders share over 50 combined years of experience in wholesale, distribution and retail of trend-driven clothing and footwear lines throughout Ireland.
“Sunil and Paul have an intuitive understanding of the SKECHERS consumer and a deep knowledge of the Irish market,” added Marvin Bernstein, managing partner for SKECHERS, S.à .r.l. “We believe this partnership in Ireland will be the first of many retail licensing opportunities around the globe.”
Currently, there are more than 380 SKECHERS company owned, franchised or licensed stores in some of the most attractive locations in 41 countries across 6 continents.
Managing director Paul Gallagher has worked with Ecco footwear and Pepe Jeans and launched his own brand, GASOLINE, in 1989. He was named runner up for Best Independent Young Fashion Retailer-UK/Ireland in 2005. Additionally, executive director Sunil Shah is CEO of Pepe Jeans Ireland and Country Manager for Tommy Hilfiger. Shah operates seven Pepe Jeans and 16 Tommy Hilfiger retail stores in Ireland.
SKECHERS USA, Inc., based in Manhattan Beach, California, designs, develops and markets a diverse range of footwear for men, women and children under the SKECHERS name, as well as under several uniquely branded names. SKECHERS footwear is available in the United States via department and specialty stores, Company-owned SKECHERS retail stores and its e-commerce website, as well as in over 100 countries and territories through the Company’s global network of distributors and subsidiaries in Canada, Brazil, Chile, and across Europe, as well as through joint ventures in Asia.
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