Aldo Groupe

{category|}The ALDO Groupe owns and operates a worldwide chain of shoe & accessory stores. The company was founded by Aldo Bensadoun in Montreal, Quebec in 1972 where its corporate headquarters remain today. It has grown to become a worldwide corporation, with over 950 stores under 6 retail banners: ALDO, ALDO Accessories, Spring, Feetfirst (FIRST in the United States), Globo and Little Burgundy (formerly Stoneridge). Each banner caters to a distinct well-defined customer group. There are also ALDO outlet, ALDO Kids, ALDO Liquidation, Spring Liquidation, and clearance stores in select locations. Canadian, American and UK stores are corporate stores while international stores are franchisees. The company once operated the now closed or re-branded banners: Simard & Voyer, Pegabo, Transit and Stoneridge.

ALDO History

"'1966 – Home BaseAldo Bensadoun completes his French military service, teaching Economics at the École de Cavalerie de Saumur. Shortly thereafter, he returns to his favourite city, this time making Montreal his home.

1972 – The Early DaysALDO Shoes is founded as a footwear concession within a chain of popular fashion boutiques. The original group includes 4 Canadian stores in Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City and Winnipeg."'1978 – The First Store"'The first freestanding ALDO store opens on Sainte-Catherine Street in Montreal, Canada, ending the practice of leased departments within the chain of clothing fashion boutiques.

1980 – 1993 ExpansionBy 1980, the company becomes independent and prospers. Over the course of the next 13 years, 95 freestanding stores operate under the trade name ALDO.

1991The company launches the Transit banner in Canada, to cater to a younger client group.

1996The company launches the FeetFirst banner which carries brand names that focus on comfort and thus caters to an older client group. "'1993 – 2001 Evolution"'ALDO initiates its retail entry into the U.S. market. The first ALDO U.S. store opens near Boston, Massachusetts. Over the course of the next 9 years, approximately 125 stores open in the U.S. alone. By the end of this period ALDO also operates over 180 successful stores in regional malls and key fashion street locations in most major Canadian urban centers.

"'1994 – First International Store"'ALDO ventures outside of North America under its first franchise agreement in Israel.

2001 – Gulf StatesALDO’s success in Israel sets the course for an International business model. ALDO grants franchise rights in United Arab Emirates and other Gulf states. A third franchise is later granted in Saudi Arabia.

2002 – LondonALDO graces the high streets of London, England, opening prime locations on Oxford Street and Neal Street. The brand also finds its way to the English countryside opening in mall locations including Basingstoke, Uxbridge, Camden, Croydon, Kent & Southampton.

2003 – AsiaALDO expands to Asia, opening its doors in Singapore.

2004 – Continuing ExpansionWith the success of ALDO's stores in the United Kingdom, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, the brand continues its global expansion into Portugal, Denmark, Malaysia, and Lebanon.

2005 – Continuing ExpansionALDO is on the rise with new market openings in Australia, Ireland, India, South Africa and Poland."'2006 – Continuing Expansion"'Another exciting year of growth as ALDO opens in China, Thailand, Taiwan, Russia, Egypt, Morocco and Jordan."'2007"'Turkey, Romania, Venezuela, Panama, Indonesia, Philippines, Ukraine, Mexico and Chile join the ALDO family. By the end of 2007, over 800 ALDO stores will be operating in 40 countries across the world. In total the company also operates an additional 200 stores under its other banners.

2008 The re-branding of Transit into Spring is complete with the last Transit store re-opening as Spring in Cornerbrook Newfoundland. Aldo Groupe also starts a major environment protection program known as ALDO Next Step.

References

* [http://www.aldoshoes.com ALDO Homepage]
* [http://www.aldoaccessories.com ALDO ACCESSORIES Homepage]
* [http://www.aldokids.com ALDO KIDS Homepage]
* [http://www.myspringshoes.com SPRING Homepage]
* [http://www.feetfirstshoes.com FEETFIRST & FIRST Homepage]
* [http://www.globoshoes.com GLOBO Homepage]
* [http://www.stoneridgeshoes.com STONERIDGE (Little Burgundy) Homepage]
* [http://www.littleburgundyshoes.com LITTLE BURGUNDY Homepage]
* [http://www.youthaids-aldo.org/ ALDO YouthAIDS Campaign]