Footwear brand Chipmunks steps up international expansion strategy

Cheshire-based children’s footwear brand Chipmunks is targeting overseas markets as it looks ahead to a record 2017.

The Knutsford-headquartered business, owned by Courtaulds Footwear, is aiming to double its £1.5m turnover as it marks five years since its re-launch with Justin Taggart at its helm.

Driven by the creative and sourcing teams based in Cheshire and the Far East, Chipmunks manufactures almost all its products in its own factory in southern China, where Courtaulds have produced children’s footwear for the likes of Clarks and Marks & Spencer.

Taggart spent 18 months there, developing the brand and working with specialist teams to oversee the product development.

Boasting a large independent retail base across the UK and ROI, the collection is stocked by many big names on the UK high street including Debenhams, House of Fraser, JD Williams, and Jones Bootmaker.

Taggart has ambitious plans for the brand in 2017 and plans to launch in America and China.

He said: “We spent the first couple of years perfecting our core range and now have a commercially successful brand of quality and affordable shoes in the market and we’re expanding every week within the UK market with new independents opening all over the UK and ROI.

“Looking forward our goal now is to scale and expand the business. In addition to our tried and tested core product we introduce new lines to the footwear range each season and are currently developing apparel and accessories ranges for both the UK and overseas markets.  Accessories including hats, scarves and gloves will be introduced in the Autumn Winter 2017 collection, with a more extensive clothing range launching in 2018 including jersey t-shirts, sweatshirts rain hats, raincoats and nightwear.”

Close