Iconic boot brand Blundstone is moving swiftly to tackle a larger portion of the Australian footwear market.
As previously reported in ragtrader.com.au, the brand recently ramped up its product range via the launch of its first ever line of school shoes in November.
According to Blundstone CEO Steve Gunn, the company is now gearing for further expansion, with plans to launch a range of men's casual footwear next year.
“We recognised an opportunity to play in a broader area of the footwear market than we have traditionally chosen to compete in. The launch of school shoes for back to school in 2012 and now a range of men's casual footwear for winter 2012 are core to that strategy,” he said.
“The new men's range will be retailed by key independent shoe stores across the country, including some online retailers, and while we have customers in every state, the bulk of the volume will be sold in Victoria, Tasmania and NSW.”
Gunn also revealed that the new Blundstone range will be marketed at a local level in conjunction with several retail partners.
The initial range of footwear will include eight different shoe styles, ranging from a traditionally welted leather, elastic side boot through to a leather nubuck sneaker upper on a lightweight sole.
“We have designed this range along classic lines and aim to build upon it in future, incorporating changing fashion and seasonal trends,” Gunn said.
Blundstone is an Australian owned boot making company, established in 1870 in Hobart, Tasmania. The company has sold more than 1.5 million pairs of work boots in over 30 countries around the world every year since inception.