Caleres enters joint venture with Brand Investment for Chinese distribution

By

Gabriella Lacombe

Published
Jul 9, 2019

St. Louis, Missouri-based footwear company Caleres has announced an expansion of its international strategy, with plans to distribute footwear in greater China.

The expanded distribution comes as part of a joint venture with Brand Investment Holding, a member of the Gemkell Group, and will include Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

According to a statement from the company, Naturalizer and Sam Edelman will be the inaugural brands to launch under the new partnership. Both will be marketed and sold across multiple channels, including branded retail stores and e-commerce sites. 

“This strategic partnership allows Caleres to continue to expand globally in one of the world’s biggest markets and pairs our footwear expertise and brand strength with Gemkell’s deep knowledge of the Chinese consumer and retail expertise,” said Diane Sullivan, CEO and president and chairman of Caleres. 

Both Naturalizer and Sam Edelman will launch online in the summer of 2019, with availability at brick-and-mortar in an initial group of six new stores in key cities throughout the area. This summer, the first Naturalizer door will open in Beijing and the first Sam Edelman door will be launched in Shanghai. 

According to the company, additional stores are planned for other markets as the business expands.