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American and British lifestyle and performance footwear giants, Skechers and Clarks, plans to open outlets in Kampala to tap into the expanding middle class and a growing taste for luxury brands.
Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Knight Frank in its latest market update report said the two companies have confirmed their entry into the Uganda market with stores to open in The Arena Mall in Nsambya. The Arena Mall is expected to formally open in December this year.
Started in 1992, Skechers operates more than 3,000 outlets across the world, including three in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. The company which operates through a distributor, Phirdos Kenya, also plans to open outlets in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret.
Skechers, the third largest athletic footwear brand in the United States with a profit of US$ 59.5bn recorded last year, offers two footwear categories: a lifestyle division that includes Skechers Memory Foam, the charity line BOBS and Relaxed Fit comfort shoes, and a performance division that includes Skechers GOrun and Skechers GOwalk footwear.
Through licensing agreements, it also offers branded bags, watches, eyewear and additional merchandise.
On the other hand, Clarks founded in 1825 by brothers Cyrus and James Clark, operates over 1,300 stores in 90 markets in Asia, Europe and Americas. The company also operates through franchises and third-party distribution throughout the world.
The company is commonly known for its Desert Boot, a distinctive ankle height boot with crepe rubber sole, usually made out of calf suede leather. Clarks closed 2019 with an adjusted underlying operating profit of US$27.5m – down from US$43m the previous year.
Similarly, Turkish based international fashion chain LC WAIKIKI has also confirmed entry into the Ugandan market with a 2000 metre square store at Acacia Mall.
The store was due to open in July, but has been pushed back to later in the year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This new developments comes at the time Woolworths, the South African based clothing retailer, has expanded its outlets to four with the opening of Bugolobi Village Mall. Other outlets are located at Metroplex Shopping Mall, Acacia Mall and Garden City.
Woolworths Holdings, which entered Uganda in 2011 operates multiple retail stores in more than 10 African countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Ghana, Zambia and Mozambique.
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