NEWS


A fresh new school footwear brand launches in the UK A


new school footwear brand has entered the market – the result of one shared dream between three friends


and lifelong footwear experts. It’s called BLCK.B. Inspired by the boundless


energy of childhood and its Made for Busy Bees philosophy, the brand has been designed around the reality of modern school life, where children are constantly on the move and parents expect footwear that delivers on comfort, quality and confidence. BLCK.B said it delivers this. The brand story centres on creating footwear


that keeps pace with active children while thoughtfully considering every detail, from flexibility and cushioning to fit and everyday wear. Behind the launch is a team of footwear specialists with decades of experience designing and manufacturing children’s shoes for some of


the world’s best-known school footwear brands. Bringing together years of technical expertise and craftsmanship, the team has created BLCK.B with a clear ambition: to offer parents a carefully considered collection of school shoes that blends premium materials, comfort-led


Dubs heads to Downing Street to help boost UK-India trade


D


ubs Universe went to Downing Street last month for a special reception with Rachel


Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Kumaran Periasamy, the Indian High Commissioner, and HM Trade Commissioner, Harjinder Kang. The company was handpicked to


represent UK small businesses at the Great British Pitch India, pitching directly to Indian buyers as part of a major initiative to boost UK exports and build on the momentum of the UK- India Free Trade Agreement. Organised by Small Business Britain and supported by the


Department for Business and Trade, the aim of this flagship event is to help the UK’s 5.7 million small businesses unlock export opportunities and showcase British innovation on a global stage. This year’s event was a special UK-India event, followed by a reception at Downing Street hosted by the Chancellor. Stuart Davis, CEO and Co-Founder of Dubs, said: “The business


came about thanks to my daughter Leila. At the time she had crazy energy levels and fast growing feet, but her shoes kept slowing her down. Finding shoes that looked good and also fitted properly was virtually impossible, and coupled with the fact I was horrified to learn about the vast numbers of shoes ending up in landfill, I decided something had to be done. “From an idea I had on my sofa, chatting to my mate (and then Co-


Founder), to building prototypes, launching a Kickstarter, and taking my product to one of the world’s most iconic addresses and having a photo taken of myself outside number 10 Downing Street… It was a surreal, bonkers and very proud moment!”


design and contemporary styling. Recognising that today’s families increasingly shop online, BLCK.B has partnered with SizeWise, integrating digital foot-measuring technology into its website to help parents identify the most suitable size and width before ordering. The partnership aims to make buying children’s school shoes simpler and more reassuring in this already crowded market. “We’ve spent many years designing children’s


shoes, but we always knew there was an opportunity to do things differently,” said Justin, Kafeel and Muffassil, the Founders of the brand. “With BLCK.B, we were able to create the kind of school shoes we’d always wanted to make – beautifully crafted, incredibly comfortable and designed around the way children really move.” Launching with a collection spanning infant


through to youth sizes, BLCK.B offers timeless school-ready silhouettes including classic T-bars, loafers, Chelsea boots and sporty everyday styles, all available in both standard and wide fittings. Premium leather uppers, cushioned Ortholite memory foam footbeds, breathable linings and carefully engineered sole constructions combine to support growing feet.


LK Bennett owner enters race for Harvey Nichols


G


ordon Brothers, the US investment firm behind retailers including Poundland, Radley and LK Bennett, has reportedly joined the growing list of bidders seeking to acquire luxury


department store Harvey Nichols. The company is understood to have submitted an offer just ahead


of the latest bidding deadline, adding further competition to a sales process that has already attracted interest from a number of high- profile retail and international investors. Existing contenders are reported to include Frasers Group and Next, alongside overseas groups from the Middle East and Asia. Harvey Nichols’ owner, Sir Dickson Poon, is exploring a sale after


more than three decades of ownership. Advisers overseeing the process have reportedly told prospective buyers that a successful bidder will need to commit around £60 million to support the luxury retailer’s ongoing transformation programme, including further investment in its flagship Knightsbridge store. Founded in 1831, Harvey Nichols is one of the UK’s best-known luxury


department store chains, with stores across the UK and Ireland as well as an international presence in the Middle East and Hong Kong. However, the business has faced a challenging trading environment in recent years, reporting a succession of annual losses amid softer demand for luxury goods and rising operating costs. For Gordon Brothers, a successful acquisition would further expand


its growing retail portfolio. The investment firm has become an increasingly active player in the UK retail sector through ownership and investments in brands including Poundland, Radley and LK Bennett, and has a long track record of acquiring and restructuring retail businesses. At the time of going to print, no final decision on the sale has been announced, with the auction process expected to continue as interested parties refine their offers.


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