One of Taiwan’s leading shoe brands will launch its business in China later this month as part of its effort to expand into overseas markets.
Joseph Lo (羅榮岳), president of Shui-Mu International Co (阿瘦實業) which markets its shoes under the A.S.O and BESO brands, said on Saturday that the 1,100-staff company was working on plans to diversify its operations and tap overseas markets.
As part of the project that started more than a year ago, Shui-Mu International will open two stores in Nanjing and one in Fuzhou in China, Lo said. Another store will open in Shanghai in the fourth quarter of this year.
These will be the company’s first overseas outlets.
Shui-Mu International now has about 250 stores nationwide selling its own brands, including A.S.O and BESO, with products ranging from footwear and purses to accessories.
In its transformation into a conglomerate, the company has also launched a chain store selling other shoe brands, and has reached deals with foreign brands to import shoes and boutiques, including Naturalizer from the US and Brazil’s Albanese, Lo said.
The company reported annual revenue of NT$3.3 billion (US$113 million) last year and is targeting NT$3.5 billion in sales this year.
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