Privately-owned footwear retailer Faith is stepping up the pace of its UK acquisition programme, following the successful relaunch of its brand over the past 18 months.
The new-look store format was first trialled at Touchwood in Solihull at the end of 2001, and the format has since been introduced to 15 new stores, bringing the chain to 35 outlets.
Recent openings include major centres such as The Oracle in Reading and West Quay, Southampton, while late last year a trial store was opened in Burton-upon-Trent, to see if the format would be successful in smaller towns.
Management Horizons Europe has been advising Faith on its store location strategy, and has concluded that the UK could eventually support 150 Faith stores.
It has broken the product range down into four bands, suitable for differing locations, with Faith Solo targeted at the biggest cities and regional malls.
Property consultant Blair Kirkman has been asked to find another 15 sites this year, and already has five in solicitors' hands - including a store in Birmingham's Bullring scheme.
Partner Nick Simmons said this year will also see Faith expanding into Scotland for the first time.
But the growth plans are unlikely to disrupt Faith's existing relationship with Debenhams. Faith has concessions in all of Debenhams' 100 stores and, according to Simmons, there has been a very low level of cannibalisation, when standalone stores have opened in locations already served by the department store.
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