Loake to raise UK profile

Heritage footwear brand Loake is to open its first store in London in an attempt to raise

its UK profile. The Northamptonshire-based manufacturer is looking to increase its presence in the UK market and support its stockists with the opening of its first store in Piccadilly’s Prince’s Arcade later this month.

The store will showcase its English craftsmanship and will sit alongside its transactional website, which launched over three years ago.

“The opening of a London store is part of a concerted effort to strengthen our position in the home market and to support our UK stockists,” said managing director Andrew Loake. “The last few years have seen good international growth for Loake, now it is time to consolidate in the UK.”

Also this autumn, new advertising creative is appearing in key men’s style press and national newspaper supplements, including Shortlist, GQ, The Times and The Telegraph.

The footwear brand has over 1,000 stockists in the UK, and for spring/summer 2012 the brand has introduced some bold reinterpretations of classic styles to appeal to younger customer, as well as more relaxed shapes and materials in its more traditional ranges.