NEWS


Brands bid for the potential buyout of Russell & Bromley


R


umours are circulating the footwear industry that Manchester-based Apparel Brands is among the bidders


for the Russell & Bromley brand. It joins the likes of NEXT and Auralis, which


is led by Weird Fish CEO, David Butler, as reportedly competing to take over R&B. Apparel Brands is the owner of fashion labels


Bench, Nicce and Hype, as well as licensed products from Castore, Ed Hardy and Seafolly. The company has developed in recent years through expansion and acquisition. Last year it reported it grew sales from just over £36 million to £47 million to mid-2025. Apparel Brands does not operate its own


stores, prompting speculation about the future of Russell & Bromley’s physical estate if it were to succeed in a purchase. Russell & Bromley was founded in 1880 with the opening of its first store in Eastbourne; it’s a family-owned business and is still headed up by fifth-generation Chief Executive, Andrew Bromley. The British footwear retailer operates 37 stores across the UK and employs more than 450 people. In recent years, it has been working to modernise its positioning and


Tamaris strengthens its retail offering with huge investment


T


amaris is launching an ambitious new offensive on the footwear industry, with increased brand awareness,


relevance and appeal, helping to increase sales for its retail partners in the long term. The brand is saying it’s one of largest retail


initiatives in the company’s history – with investment of over Ð100 million – which has a clear focus on attracting more people into physical stores and stimulating demand for the brand. At the centre of the campaign is a clear


promise to specialist retailers: better earnings opportunities and merchandise with a significantly faster turnover. For the AW26 season, Tamaris is once again improving its margin compared to AW25. “Margin is important for retailers ¬– and we


are continuously improving it, but it is equally important that goods are not left lying around


Above: Cathleen Burghardt (Head of Marketing Tamaris) and Jens Beining (Managing Partner and CEO of Wortmann Schuh- Holding KG)


and to see a new increase in sell-through rates,” explained Jens Beining, Managing Partner of Wortmann Schuh-Holding KG and CEO of Tamaris.


appeal to younger customers, appointing Daniel Beadsworth-Shaw as its first Creative Director. Earlier this year, the brand appointed


Interpath to advise on raising new capital as part


of its five-year turnaround strategy; however, this didn’t prove overly successful and reports have emerged that the sale of the company is “the most likely route forward”. According to some outlets, major retail chain


NEXT is also exploring a potential acquisition as part of its strategy to expand its portfolio of heritage brands, and another bidder reportedly in the mix is Auralis. But with multiple parties now vying for the potential takeover, the next few months are expected to be pivotal for R&B, which has been a staple footwear brand on the British high street for hundreds of years.


“We are delighted that the many measures


and services already implemented have been so successful – but we want to do even more for the retail sector: we are creating demand that is benefiting retailers. We are investing heavily in the brand so that our retail partners can continue to enjoy above-average success with us.” The strategic focus of the future offensive


includes:  Integrating mass-reach efforts, digital touchpoints, and localised targeting to channel attention directly to its partners’ stores;  Building customer loyalty and bringing them back to high street stores, with the launch of a new loyalty programme that allows for personalised approaches and relevant offers;  With the men’s shoe sub-brand, TMRS MEN by Tamaris, it’s tapping into additional consumer segments, increasing sales per square metre and creating cross-selling opportunities;  Strengthening its European core markets to increase the radiance and impact of Tamaris;  Collaborations wil connect Tamaris with millions of people, with clear incentives to visit stores, and campaigns, in-store promotions and activities to boost sales.


6 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • FEBRUARY 2026


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