Maddie & Mark’s to dip toe into Glasgow scene

CHILDREN’S shoe retailer Maddie & Mark’s, which runs two stores in Edinburgh, is striding out west after embarking on an expansion drive.

The company provides fashionable shoes for children. Picture: Kate Chandler

The firm said it had chosen Glasgow as the base for its next outlet, having opted to grow the brand through a franchising model.

The first Maddie & Mark’s shop was opened by owner Imogen Douglas in 2007. With a second store opening in the Scottish capital, also in 2007, the group’s revenues are said to have now passed through the £1 million mark. The business has now become something of an Edinburgh institution, attracting customers from beyond Scotland, including deliveries as far afield as New Zealand.

Douglas said she had decided to roll out the franchising model after more than a year of planning and advice. She said: “Franchising can work brilliantly where there is a strong brand and an exhaustively detailed operations manual, and we have both.

“Investing into the franchise model means the right person will really be able to hit the ground running, thanks to all our expertise on choosing the right shop in the right location, overseeing the fit-out and helping them order the best stock for the seasons.

“Our franchise owners aren’t just investing in a name, they get our eight years of experience from day one.”

According to the latest NatWest/British Franchise Association annual survey, 92 per cent of franchises are reporting profitability.

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