Office launches new footwear concept

High street footwear retailer Office is set to launch a new footwear concept called Expresso. The new chain will provide value footwear to compete with the likes of Priceless, New Look and Shoefayre.

The new chain will function as a self-service enterprise. According to trade magazine Drapers, plans are thought to be well underway, although a definite opening date has not been decided on yet.

"Most of it (the Expresso concept) has been designed, but we'll hit our openings target for Office before we look at doing anything else," Office manager Richard Wharton told Drapers, explaining that the chain's priority was with opening an additional 15 Office stores this year.

It is thought that the introduction of import duties on leather footwear from China and Vietnam next month may have played a part in delaying the opening of the new formula.

A source told Drapers: "Office and its mid-market competitors Faith and Dune have been hammered by value operators offering the latest looks at pocket money prices. Leather courts sell for around £20 at New Look compared with £50 at Office, so Richard wants to get in on that part of the market."

Office included sports footwear chain Offspring and designer footwear stores Poste and Poste Mistress. Owner Tom Hunter purchased the chain, which now has more than 40 stores, in 2003.