British footwear brand Clarks steps up Asia focus

British shoe brand Clarks is turning the spotlight on Asia, announcing an aggressive growth plan to open 100 stores in the region in the next twelve months.The £1.5 billion business, which is celebrating its 190th anniversary in 2015, operates through retail, wholesale, franchise and online channels and has a presence in 130 markets worldwide. The company already says it has a strong footprint in China with, 600 points of sale and hundreds of stores across Asia, but is upping its Asia investments across the areas of infrastructure, people resources and capabilities in Asia Pacific to support a rapidly expanding set of markets.The brand is heavily investing in reinvigorating key existing stores in China, Japan and Singapore.Nancy Huang, president of Clarks Asia Pacific, described the company as nimble and entrepreneurial."We see great future potential for further expansion and are excited about the possibilities."C&J Clark Limited, owners of the Clarks brand, the privately owned footwear business, was founded in Street, Somerset in the UK by the Clark family in 1825. Still based in Street, the Clarks Group designs, develops and sells a wide range of footwear and accessories for men, women and children. The Clarks brand is renowned worldwide for quality and style with comfort.