Channel Nine-backed online footwear retailer StyleTread has entered into an exclusive partnership with Melbourne-based shoe brand, Soles.
The deal will see Soles design two exclusive footwear styles for sale on StyleTread and is the first collaboration of this kind for both retailers.
The pieces, which will drop into stores this December, include a 'Soles Boot This' cowboy style ankle boot in a black and red Aztec print, and a 'Soles Last Supper' slip-on style shoe.
StyleTread currently stocks over 120 brands and adds two to three brands every week, and, according to CEO Mark Rowland has seen a 10-fold growth in its customer base since January this year alone. This equates to over 200,000 visitors a week and the business currently serves approximately 3,000 customers per week.
However, Rowland said the decision to team with Soles was part of a larger strategy to offer customers a new point of difference.
“StyleTread, our business is built on exciting our customers. From day one we have offered free and fast delivery, free returns and a 100-day return policy. Expansion for us is in additional ways to wow customers through greater service and also by extension of range,” he said.
“As a case in point, we have recently introduced to our customers 'StyleTread Exclusives', where we work very closely with key national brands often securing exclusives prints and colourways for our customers, and this is the first instalment.”
Looking forward, Rowland said StyleTread is panning the possibility of launching a New Zealand operation, as well as expanding its product offering via an accessories line and additional footwear. A mobile application is also in the works.
“We will expand as our customers would like us to. We have had requests from customers to offer additional footwear as well as launch an accessories range and apparel and we will evaluate these opportunities over time,” he said.
“We already receive several enquiries each day from New Zealand and are considering extending our service to our friends next door, and one of the most important projects in the next few months is to launch our mobile solutions, as we can already see very significant traffic on our website coming from mobile devices.”