Geox wins Franchising Award

Shoe manufacturing group Geox just took home the Franchising Award 2010 for the innovative concept its Geox Shops. The prize is instituted by the AZ Franchising magazine and awarded every year by an academic scientific committee of the sector.

The 9th edition of the ceremony took place at Palazzo Cusani, the NATO Milan headquarters. The Franchising Awards Committee selected this edition’s five winners amongst over 1,000 Italian companies. The winners were judged on their ability to innovate the concept of point of sale in their own way and sector. Besides Geox, Natuzzi, Yamamay, NAU! Ottica and 7camicie have also received the award. The winners of the past editions include Burger King, Calzedonia, Ferrari, Pirelli Re Franchising, Tecnocasa, Italgas Più, Enel.si, Blockbuster and Mc Donald’s.

Geox made name for inventing the ‘shoe that breathes’, and received the award because it has revolutionised the footwear and clothing market both by applying technology to fashion and by creating an effective single-brand sales network. Geox Shops introduced the mono-brand shoe shop into Italy, where customers can see the collection and get a ‘hands-on experience’ of the technology applied. The shop is also a platform to communicate and promote the brand and its ‘let breathe’ philosophy.

The concept gave rise to a widespread sales network that has grown over the past years and now covers 1,015 single-brand retailers, 764 of which are franchise retailers. In the first quarter of 2010, franchise retailers accounted for 18% of the Group's overall revenue, with an increase of 1% compared to the same period of 2009.

Image: Geox