Shoe Zone
{{Short description|Footwear retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland}}
{{multiple issues|{{third-party|date=September 2023}}{{COI|date=September 2023}}}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Shoe Zone plc
| trading_name =
| logo = ShoeZoneLogo.svg
| logo_size =
| logo_alt = Company Logo
| image =
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| type = Public limited company
| traded_as = {{aim|SHOE}}
| ISIN = {{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|GB00BLTVCF91}}
| predecessor =
| successor =
| founded = {{start date and age|1917|7|21|df=y}} in Leicester, England
| founders = {{ubl|Michael Smith|Christopher Smith}}
| defunct =
| fate =
| location = Leicester, England, UK
| num_locations = 330
| num_locations_year = 2023
| revenue = {{increase}} 156.2m (2022)
| profit = {{increase}} 13.6m (2022)
| key_people = {{ubl|Charles Smith|(Chairman)|Anthony Smith|(Chief executive officer)|Terry Boot|(Finance director)}}
| industry = Footwear
| owners = {{ubl|Anthony Smith (29.85%)|Charles Smith (23.87%)}}
| num_employees = 2,550
| num_employees_year = 2023
| website = {{URL|https://www.shoezone.com}}
| former_name = Bensonshoe
| areas_served = {{ubl|United Kingdom}}
}}
Shoe Zone (stylised as shoezone) is a budget footwear retailer in the United Kingdom. It has over 330 stores in different cities and towns throughout the UK and over 2,500 employees. The company has an annual turnover of £156 million.{{Cite web |title=Final Results |url=https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/uk/shoe_zone/rns/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=857&newsid=1542451 |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=otp.tools.investis.com}} The company's headquarters are located in Leicester, England.{{Cite web|url=http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/business/shoe-zone-makes-great-strides-533311|title=Shoe Zone makes great strides in its 100th year|last=Mills|first=Lauren|date=2017-09-26|website=leicestermercury|access-date=2020-04-16}}{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/08961190|title=SHOE ZONE PLC - Overview (Free company information from Companies House)}}
File:Store-Image-620x370.png, England]]
History
The company was founded in England in 1917. Brothers Michael and Christopher Smith bought controlling shares in the footwear company, Bensonshoe, in 1980 (which was founded by their grandfather.){{Cite web |url=https://www.shoezone.com/AboutUs |title=Our Story |publisher=Shoezone |accessdate=25 September 2017}} By 2000, the company had 184 stores and late that year acquired The Oliver Group plc which added a further 258 stores to its portfolio.
In September 2007, Shoe Zone acquired the shoe retailer Shoefayre for an undisclosed sum from its parent, The Co-operative Group, adding 300 stores to Shoe Zone's portfolio. In January 2009, it bought Leicester-based Stead & Simpson and converted many stores to the Shoe Zone brand.
In 2021, the company made headlines when Peter Foot stepped down as finance director and was replaced by Terry Boot, a humorous double example of aptronyms.{{Cite web |title=Shoe Zone announces Terry Boot as next finance boss - replacing Peter Foot |url=https://news.sky.com/story/shoe-zone-announces-terry-boot-as-next-finance-boss-replacing-peter-foot-12240119# |access-date=2021-03-08}}
The company suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns which resulted in declining revenue. In 2020, Shoe Zone raised debt for the first time in 15 years with a £15M CLBILS facility from NatWest.{{Cite web |url=https://reorg.com/new-coverage-shoe-zone-remains-in-rental-term-talks-with-landlords-after-missed-payments-in-discussion-with-suppliers-on-delivery-disruption-amid-falling-revenue/ |title=New Coverage: Shoe Zone Remains in Rental Term Talks With Landlords After Missed Payments, in Discussion With Suppliers on Delivery Disruption Amid Falling Revenue |publisher=Reorg |accessdate=26 May 2021}}
In 2021, Shoe Zone returned a profit of £9.5M and the company announced it was debt free in January 2022.
Operations
The company sells approximately 16 million pairs of footwear per year.{{Cite web |title=What We Do: Shoe Zone Business Description - Shoe Zone Plc |url=https://www.shoezone.com/Investors/AboutUs/What-we-do |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=www.shoezone.com}} Shoe Zone also has a charity known as the Shoe Zone Trust which raises money for children's charities. Funds raised by the company have totalled over £2.3 million as of May 2022.{{Cite web |title=Our Charities {{!}} Shoe Zone |url=https://www.shoezone.com/OurCharities |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=www.shoezone.com}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Shoe Zone}}
- {{official website|https://www.shoezone.com}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Shoe companies of the United Kingdom
Category:Companies based in Leicester
Category:Retail companies established in 1980
Category:1980 establishments in England
Category:Companies listed on the Alternative Investment Market