MELBOURNE: The new Australian licensee of Steve Madden has lifted the lid on the extent of its wholesale and retail roll out plans.
JL Footwear managing director Jaki Lew revealed to Ragtrader she will have eight Steve Madden stores operational by the end of 2010, including an e-commerce site. Among the boutiques already open to the public are those in Pacific Fair Shopping Centre (Qld) and Westfield Doncaster (Vic).
Set to join them in the next few months are sites within Melbourne Central Shopping Centre (Vic), Jam Factory (Vic), Rundle Mall (SA), Westfield Bondi Junction (NSW) and Westfield Sydney (NSW).
Lew said the launch of the brand's local website – including an e-commerce component that will sell women's shoes and handbags – was “imminent”.
“Next year we plan on opening stores as the opportunities become available,” she said.
The brand has also struck up a relationship with David Jones, with Lew revealing Steve Madden men's and women's ranges are to be stocked nationwide by the department store.
The brand commenced its local revival with drops of spring/summer 2010/11 product into stores, with key women's styles including 'sky high' stilettos, clogs with ankle straps and heels in animal print. The high summer injection will feature 'nautical girl' and 'glam rock' designs.
Prices for the label sit around the $150 mark and sizes stretch from five to 11.
JL Footwear's acquisition of the Australian Steve Madden licence comes after the former local operators of the brand collapsed into administration in July 2009. At that time, administrators failed to find a buyer for the struggling business, with its debts amounting to more than $10 million.
Steve Madden is a US-based brand and offers shoes for men, women and children with an emphasis on young, urban styles. In addition to its local presence, Steve Madden product is available in the US, Canada, Europe, Central and South America and Asia.
Erin O'Loughlin