Deichmann defies high street gloom and plans more UK shoe shops

The UK arm of shoe retailer Deichmann has defied the gloom on the high street to record higher sales and commit to opening more shops.

Expansion plans by the family-run business, which is headquartered in Germany, were outlined as the UK division filed accounts that showed turnover here in 2019 rose to £103.6 million from £98.1 million. It narrowed losses to £948,000 from a loss of £1.4 million.

Nine new stores were opened by Deichmann-Shoes UK during the period, and two closed, bringing the estate here to 109 stores.

In London it has a number of branches, including in Stratford, Walthamstow and Wood Green.

The firm’s strategic report said the chain entered this year in a good position to continue with expansion plans.

Growth plans come at time when a number of other retailers are looking to reduce shop numbers, amid tough conditions. Retailers are grappling with competition from online rivals and high business rates. Most recently lockdown forced a number of non-essential retailers to close sites in England for months.

A spokesman for Deichmann said: "Covid-19 has had an impact on many businesses worldwide and Deichmann is no exception. We have implemented health and safety measures in all of our stores to make shopping at Deichmann as safe as possible.”

But the spokesman added that the company is continuing to open stores despite the pandemic and works for three new stores by the end of 2020 are underway: “We believe in the strength of our brand.”