Brown Shoe Company, Inc. said it will partner with MTB Group, Ltd. to begin offering global footwear brand Naturalizer to consumers through their affiliate, Monarch Group, and their Monarch retail stores throughout Russia and the Ukraine. This announcement comes on the heels of Brown Shoe’s recent expansion of Naturalizer into the United Kingdom, Germany, Korea, and Morocco, bringing the number of countries outside the U.S. where the brand is sold to 50.
Naturalizer footwear will be available in 80 Monarch outlets throughout Russia and the Ukraine, including St. Petersburg, Moscow and Kiev, by late August. While the initial launch will take place within existing Monarch stores, additional stand-alone Naturalizer shops are planned to open in 2011.
“The introduction of Naturalizer footwear to Russia and the Ukraine is a major milestone in Brown Shoe’s initiative to reach a global audience with our portfolio of compelling, consumer-driven footwear brands. There is growing international demand for footwear that combines comfort and affordability, and we’re confident that Russian and Ukrainian women will respond well to Naturalizer’s combination of comfort and style,” said Brown Shoe Chairman and CEO Ron Fromm.
“We are sure Naturalizer will be successful in the Russian and Ukrainian markets, as the brand’s benefits, including the N5 comfort elements, resonate with women around the world. The appeal of Naturalizer’s combination of comfort and style is universal, and Russia and the Ukraine won’t be exceptions. We will reach a wide range of consumers with Naturalizer footwear and anticipate it will quickly become very said General Manager, Member of Board of Directors “Monarch Group” (Russia) Evgeny Kalinin.
