Aldo (brand)

Last updated

Aldo Group
Company typePrivately held company
IndustryRetail
Founded1972;52 years ago (1972)
Founder Aldo Bensadoun
Headquarters
905, rue Hodge
Montreal, Quebec
H4N 2B3
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • David Bensadoun, CEO;
  • Norman Jaskolka, deputy chair
ProductsShoes & accessories
Divisions
  • Aldo
  • Call It Spring
  • Globo
  • Sperry
Website Official website

The Aldo Group, branded and stylised as ALDO, is a Canadian multinational retailer specializing in shoes and accessories. Established in 1972 in Montreal, Quebec, the company was founded by Aldo Bensadoun. Its corporate headquarters are based in Saint-Laurent, Quebec. Stores in Canada and the U.S. are owned by Aldo Group, while international stores are franchised.

Contents

History

Aldo silver ballet pumps Aldo Pumps Sparkly Silver.JPG
Aldo silver ballet pumps

Aldo shoes were founded in Canada in 1972 as a footwear concession within Le Château. The original group included stores in Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, and Winnipeg. Aldo Bensadoun known today as a global shoe giant built his empire starting in Montreal. After four generations, the Bensadoun family continues into the shoe industry. "Mr. Bensadoun never intended to follow in the footsteps of his father, a shoe retailer in Morocco and France, or his grandfather, a cobbler in Algeria" (Strauss, 2010). [1] Aldo Bensadoun learned Italian to better communicate with his suppliers in Italy, and eventually he cut out the middleman who serviced him between Canada and European manufacturers (Strauss, 2010). [1] The first freestanding Aldo store was opened in Montreal, in 1978. The brand expanded in the 1980s and 1990s, with stores operating under the name Aldo across Canada.[ citation needed ] [2] The first store outside of North America opened in Israel in 1995. The brand expanded in the 2000s into Saudi Arabia in 2001, England in 2002, and Singapore in 2003. Since then, the Aldo Group, with the Aldo and Spring banners, has further expanded on the international market. [3]

In 1991, the company launched the "Transit" banner in Canada, which later became "Spring" upon launching in the US. Five years later, they started the "Feetfirst" banner, which caters to an older clientele. Additionally the company operates "Globo Shoes" geared towards the family market. [4] In 2010, the company once again began to evolve when it introduced, in Canada, a new store concept called "Lōcale", which will replace the current "Feetfirst" stores. "Lōcale" is a footwear and accessories boutique-style concept store aimed at young professionals; it offers a number of brand names. [1] The company has also revived the Pegabo brand, which used to be its own chain of stores and is selling the brand in Feetfirst and Lōcale stores. In spring 2011, the Pegabo brand also launched at Hudson's Bay stores in Canada. [1]

In 2017, Aldo Bensadoun's son David Bensadoun was appointed chief executive of Aldo, replacing Patrik Frisk. [5]

On 7 May 2020, Aldo announced it would restructure under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. All 6,680 store associates and more than half of the employees at its headquarters have been furloughed. [6] In the midst of its restructuration, the company also move from its mythic headquarters to a nearby location in Saint-Laurent, Montreal. [7] In July 2022, it announced that it had completed its restructuring process. [8]

The company once operated the now closed or rebranded banners Little Burgundy (which it sold to Genesco), Simard & Voyer, Christian Shoes, Access, Pegabo, Transit, Stoneridge, Locale, Feetfirst and FIRST (which was the American version of Feetfirst).[ citation needed ]

In January 2024, Authentic Brands Group licensed its Sperry brand to the Aldo Group for North American operations. Aldo already works closely with Authentic on brands like Brooks Brothers and Roxy. [9]

Call It Spring

Call It Spring logo 2018.png
Call It Spring location in Toronto's Eaton Centre Call It Spring store in Toronto.jpg
Call It Spring location in Toronto's Eaton Centre

In 2010, the company made major announcements, which led to major expansion in the American market. The Aldo Group and JCPenney announced the launch of the Call It Spring brand, which would sell as a shop-in-shop concept in JCPenney stores across the United States. The Call It Spring concept was expected to be in 600 JCPenney stores by the fall of 2011 and JCPenney would be the only department store retailer of the brand. [10] The Aldo Group also announced that it was partnering with Kohl's department stores to design and produce exclusive footwear products that would be sold under private and exclusive brand names. The new Aldo-designed products were to launch in Kohl's stores for the Spring 2011 season. [11] [12]

Criticism

In December 2012, the U.S. Department of Labor found that a factory in Los Angeles producing Aldo goods was paying employees under minimum wage. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hudson's Bay (department store)</span> Canadian department store chain

Hudson's Bay, also known as The Bay, is a Canadian department store chain. It is the flagship brand of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), the oldest and longest-surviving company in North America as well as one of the oldest and largest continuously operating companies in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sears Canada</span> Canadian department store chain

Sears Canada Inc. was a publicly-traded Canadian company affiliated with the American-based Sears department store chain. In operation from September 18, 1952 until January 14, 2018, and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, the company began as Simpsons-Sears—a joint venture between the Canadian Simpsons department store chain and the American Sears chain—which operated a national mail order business and co-branded Simpsons-Sears stores modelled after those of Sears in the U.S. After the Hudson's Bay Company purchased Simpsons in 1978, the joint venture was dismantled and Hudson's Bay sold its shares in the joint venture to Sears; with Sears now fully owning the company, it was renamed Sears Canada Inc. in 1984. In 1999, Sears Canada acquired the remaining assets and locations of the historic Canadian chain Eaton's. From 2014, Sears Holdings owned a 10% share in the company. ESL Investments was the largest shareholder of Sears Canada. Sears Canada operated 125 full-line department stores at its' peak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JCPenney</span> American department store chain

Penney OpCo LLC, doing business as JCPenney and often abbreviated JCP, is an American department store chain that operates 656 stores across 49 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Departments inside JCPenney stores include Men's, Women's, Boys', Girls', Baby, Bedding, Home, Fine Jewelry, Shoes, Lingerie, JCPenney Salon, JCPenney Beauty, as well as leased departments such as Seattle's Best Coffee, US Vision optical centers, and Lifetouch portrait studios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genesco</span> American footwear importer and retailer manager

Genesco Inc. is an American publicly owned specialty retailer of branded footwear and accessories and is a wholesaler of branded and licensed footwear based in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1924 as Jarman Shoe Company, a footwear manufacturer, the company changed its name to General Shoe Company in 1931, and became a public company in 1939. By 1957, its stock would be included in the first S&P 500 Index. The company took its current name, Genesco—an acronym derived from its earlier name—in 1959. Genesco exited the business of U.S.-based footwear manufacturing in 2002 and now contracts with independent, third parties located offshore to manufacture its branded and licensed footwear. In June 2011, Genesco acquired U.K. retail chain and web business Schuh, which gave them an already well-established grounding in a market outside of the U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roots Canada</span> Canadian apparel and home furnishings company

Roots Corporation is a publicly held Canadian brand that sells apparel, leather bags, small leather goods, footwear, athletic wear, and home furnishings. The company was founded in 1973 in Toronto, Ontario, by Michael Budman and Don Green. In 2015, Roots was sold to Searchlight Capital Partners LP, an American investment firm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sephora</span> French cosmetics retailer

Sephora is a French multinational retailer of personal care and beauty products, offering nearly 340 brands alongside its own private label, the Sephora Collection. Its product range includes cosmetics, skincare, fragrance, nail color, beauty tools, body products, and hair care items.

Payless ShoeSource Worldwide, LLC, is an American multinational discount footwear chain. Established in 1956 by cousins Louis and Shaol Pozez, Payless was a privately held company owned by Blum Capital, and Golden Gate Capital. In 1961, it became a public company as the Volume Shoe Corporation, which merged with The May Department Stores Company in 1979. In the 1980s, Payless was widely known in the U.S. for its Pro Wings line of discount sneakers, which often had Velcro straps instead of laces. In 1996, Payless became an independent publicly held company. In 2004, Payless announced it would exit the Parade chain and would close 100 Payless Shoe outlets. On August 17, 2007, the company acquired the Stride Rite Corporation and changed its name to Collective Brands, Inc. As of 2020, Payless is owned by a group of investors led by Alden Global Capital and Axar Capital Management.

Shoe Carnival Inc. is an American retailer of family footwear. The company operates 429 stores throughout the midwest, south, and southeast regions, and Puerto Rico. It was founded by David Russell in 1978 and is headquartered in Evansville, Indiana.

The Izod Corporation is an American midrange clothing company that produces dressy-casual clothing, sportswear for men, and footwear and accessories. It is a division of Authentic Brands Group, and is currently marketed and manufactured by Centric Brands under a long-term licensing agreement for most products. Other Izod classics include the Harrington jacket G-9 model and V-neck and cardigan sweaters. Today, the closest competitor of the Izod brand is the Chaps brand owned by Ralph Lauren Corporation, while the U.S. Polo Assn. brand is also an indirect competitor.

Famous Footwear is a nationwide chain of retail stores in the United States dealing in branded footwear, generally at prices discounted from manufacturer's suggested prices. The chain is a division of the St. Louis–based Caleres and had more than 1,125 stores in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Frye Company</span> American shoe manufacturer

The Frye Company is an American manufacturer of shoes, boots and leather accessories. Founded in 1863, it claims to be the oldest continuously operated American shoe company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nine West</span> American online footwear retailer

Nine West, also known as 9 West, is an American online fashion retailer which is based in White Plains, New York. It was founded in 1983 and closed its brick and mortar stores business in 2018. Its products continue to be sold at other retailers.

schuh is a Scottish footwear retailer based in Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland. It has 132 stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company is predominantly a branded shoe stockist, selling over 80 brands, including: Converse, Vans, UGG, Nike, Adidas as well as its own schuh label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Furla</span> Italian fashion company

Furla is an Italian luxury brand that has been in the leather goods industry since 1927. The company produces luxury handbags and accessories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rack Room Shoes</span> American footwear retailer

Rack Room Shoes is an American footwear retailer headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, which operates more than 500 stores in 36 states under the Rack Room Shoes and Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse brands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Browns Shoes</span>

Browns Shoes Inc. is a Canadian fashion footwear retailer that owns and operates 72 stores across Canada under a variety of footwear brands. The company's headquarters is based in the Montreal borough of Saint-Laurent, Quebec.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aldo Bensadoun</span> Canadian-Moroccan businessman and philanthropist

Albert "Aldo" Bensadoun, is a Canadian-Moroccan businessman. He is the founder and executive chairman of Aldo, a retail shoe company based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Bensadoun's family foundation donated $25 million to McGill University to help found the Bensadoun School of Retail Management.

Journeys is a specialty chain retailer, owned by Genesco, of branded fashion footwear and accessories with approximately 1,200 stores nationwide. Journeys operates five retail concepts across North America including Journeys, Journeys Kidz, Shi by Journeys, Underground by Journeys and Little Burgundy. Journeys is focused on "quickly shifting fashion footwear trends.", and is described as the anti-Foot Locker.

Overland Footwear Group is a New Zealand and Australian footwear and fashion retail company. It operates the Merchant 1948 and Mi Piaci retail chains in both countries and produces its own footwear lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accent Group</span> Australian multinational clothing retail and distribution company

Accent Group Limited is an Australian and New Zealand footwear and clothing retail, wholesaling and distribution company. It has more than 800 retail stores, along with 19 brands, and more than 20 online platforms.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Strauss, Marina (3 September 2010). "ALDO's global footprint". The Globe and Mail. Toronto.
  2. Khalifa, Khalifa (31 March 2023). "Aldo Boots: The Perfect Combination of Style and Comfort". Ethic Shoe.
  3. "ALDO History". Alsoshoes.com. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  4. "Shop GLOBO Shoes, Boots, Sandals, & Accessories for Women & Men". Globoshoes.com. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  5. "Aldo: What went wrong? – Retail Gazette". 4 June 2020.
  6. "Canada's Aldo Group to restructure as COVID-19 pressure weighs". Reuters. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  7. Fournier, Marie-Eve (30 July 2020). "Aldo abandonne son majestueux siège social". La Presse.
  8. "Footwear brand Aldo completes restructuring, emerges from creditor protection | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  9. Fonrouge, Gabrielle (11 January 2024). "Wolverine World Wide sells Sperry to Authentic Brands Group in shoe retail deal". CNBC . Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  10. "JCPenney and ALDO USA INC. Team up to Bring Shop-Within-a-Shop Footwear and Accessories Concept to 600 Stores and jcp.com". JCPenney. Archived from the original on 12 July 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  11. "Kohl's Expands Private Brand Strategy with ALDO Shoes". Mypbrand.com. 16 June 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  12. "Kohl's, Aldo Ink Footwear Deal – Business – Footwear News". WWD.com. 16 June 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  13. Miles, Kathleen (14 December 2012). "'Sweatshop' Conditions Found In LA Fashion District At Contractors For Urban Outfitters, ALDO, Forever 21". The Huffington Post . Retrieved 28 January 2017.