02 August 2005
Muscat - Shoe City, the leading footwear retailer in Muscat, will now be known as 'Shoe Mart' in line with the familiar brand name known all across the Gulf region.
According to Willie Dreyer, general manager of Landmark Group of Companies in Muscat, Shoe Mart will be launched tomorrow under the new name.
Shoe Mart, part of the Landmark Group, was operating under the name of Shoe City in Muscat as its original brand name 'Shoe Mart' was registered by a local retailer.
Shoe Mart stocks over 10 well known brands from across the world, the most prominent of them being Pablosky, Ecco, Bata, Pretty Fit, Lee Cooper, Imac, Filanto, Red Tape, etc.
Says Willie Dreyer: "Our in-house brands like Juniors and Barefeet for children; Paprika Lewre and Peppermint for women; and Duchini for men are preferred for their quality and styling. They are specially designed and developed by top shoe designers."
Being the biggest footwear and accessories retailer in the Gulf region, Shoe Mart provides a unique shopping experience with excellent customer service, adds Willie.
Talking about the customer profile, Willie says that Shoe Mart caters to the whole family and all age groups but is mainly targeted at the middle to upper income group people. "We put quality first and provide the best value for money and that has made us the preferred family footwear store in the region," Willie said.
Willie, hailing from South Africa, has been in the retail field for more than 20 years and this is his first assignment in Muscat but he finds the place very interesting and the people are very friendly. As far as Shoe Mart is concerned, Willie says that it does not have any direct competition as such because its identity is different. At present, there are Shoe Mart outlets in Al Khuwair, Seeb, Ruwi, Al Araimi (Qurum) and Sohar.
Shoe Mart has witnessed a growth of nearly 20 per cent last year after it developed its own style of Omani slippers which became very popular with the Omanis. "Omanis are very discerning footwear buyers and so they would not mind spending money on quality footwear," notes Willie.
The Landmark Group of Companies hopes to reposition itself by laying its focus on people development and mall expansion in a major way. The City Plaza will be expanded soon, then outlets are being planned in City Centre besides a move to branch out into retailing of electronic goods.
A Landmark Group shopping centre will also be opened in Salalah, probably before the beginning of Khareef season next year. The Landmark began with a BabyShop store, which was opened in Bahrain in the year 1973. Since then there has been no turning back and the group went on to establish Lifestyle stores all across the AGCC region.
Landmark marked its entry in Oman with the opening of BabyShop in Qurum in 1992. Then Shoe City was opened in 1995 followed by City Plaza in 1998.
City Plaza, BabyShop, Splash, Home Centre, Lifestyle are some of the leading retail names which are part of the Landmark Group.
The group also plans to start a new line of clothing, which will not only spell quality but also cater to the lower end of the market segment. The Lifestyle chain of stores has its presence even in India, in places like Chennai and Bangalore.
Muscat - Shoe City, the leading footwear retailer in Muscat, will now be known as 'Shoe Mart' in line with the familiar brand name known all across the Gulf region.
According to Willie Dreyer, general manager of Landmark Group of Companies in Muscat, Shoe Mart will be launched tomorrow under the new name.
Shoe Mart, part of the Landmark Group, was operating under the name of Shoe City in Muscat as its original brand name 'Shoe Mart' was registered by a local retailer.
Shoe Mart stocks over 10 well known brands from across the world, the most prominent of them being Pablosky, Ecco, Bata, Pretty Fit, Lee Cooper, Imac, Filanto, Red Tape, etc.
Says Willie Dreyer: "Our in-house brands like Juniors and Barefeet for children; Paprika Lewre and Peppermint for women; and Duchini for men are preferred for their quality and styling. They are specially designed and developed by top shoe designers."
Being the biggest footwear and accessories retailer in the Gulf region, Shoe Mart provides a unique shopping experience with excellent customer service, adds Willie.
Talking about the customer profile, Willie says that Shoe Mart caters to the whole family and all age groups but is mainly targeted at the middle to upper income group people. "We put quality first and provide the best value for money and that has made us the preferred family footwear store in the region," Willie said.
Willie, hailing from South Africa, has been in the retail field for more than 20 years and this is his first assignment in Muscat but he finds the place very interesting and the people are very friendly. As far as Shoe Mart is concerned, Willie says that it does not have any direct competition as such because its identity is different. At present, there are Shoe Mart outlets in Al Khuwair, Seeb, Ruwi, Al Araimi (Qurum) and Sohar.
Shoe Mart has witnessed a growth of nearly 20 per cent last year after it developed its own style of Omani slippers which became very popular with the Omanis. "Omanis are very discerning footwear buyers and so they would not mind spending money on quality footwear," notes Willie.
The Landmark Group of Companies hopes to reposition itself by laying its focus on people development and mall expansion in a major way. The City Plaza will be expanded soon, then outlets are being planned in City Centre besides a move to branch out into retailing of electronic goods.
A Landmark Group shopping centre will also be opened in Salalah, probably before the beginning of Khareef season next year. The Landmark began with a BabyShop store, which was opened in Bahrain in the year 1973. Since then there has been no turning back and the group went on to establish Lifestyle stores all across the AGCC region.
Landmark marked its entry in Oman with the opening of BabyShop in Qurum in 1992. Then Shoe City was opened in 1995 followed by City Plaza in 1998.
City Plaza, BabyShop, Splash, Home Centre, Lifestyle are some of the leading retail names which are part of the Landmark Group.
The group also plans to start a new line of clothing, which will not only spell quality but also cater to the lower end of the market segment. The Lifestyle chain of stores has its presence even in India, in places like Chennai and Bangalore.
© Times of Oman 2005
