Q&A


Q: Tell us about the history of TMFG and where you are today? Gus Marshall: TMFG has been born from over 100 years of my family’s involvement in the footwear industry, dating back to 1879 when my Great-Grandfather, Arthur Marshall, sold work boots in the Shambles, Worcester under the name Marshalls Shoes. My Grandfather, Tom Marshall, carried on the business and expanded throughout Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and South Wales. My father, Andrew, then continued the reign of the shops, but after a couple of years he moved on to new ventures. After some time as a representative working for Rombah Wallace, he became an agent and eventually opened Strolling 4 Shoes, which is now owned and operated by my brother Fraser. As a child I worked in the shops and always


enjoyed it, but my main aim was to pursue a career on the stage; however, facing the reality that the arts was a very tough industry to get in to, in 2010 I inevitably started Crosby Shoe Agencies. I began with a Renault Clio, no brands and no customers, but a heap of enthusiasm! The West Midland Shoe Company and Healthy


Back Bag gave me my first opportunities, and since then the business has grown year on year. In an ever-changing market I found that just selling footwear wasn’t enough, so I rebranded as The Marshall Fashion Group.


“The days of aspirational


purchases are


coming to an end. I believe a more “inspirational” approach is required.”


Currently, I work with four fantastic brands


– Heavenly Feet (North Wales, North and East England, and Scotland), Legero and Wonders (UK mainland), and a new addition for 2025, Sophos (formerly British Bag Co.). Each of these brands brings something unique to the portfolio. Heavenly Feet offers comfort and fashion


at fantastic prices for both consumers and retailers; its dedication to delivering stylish yet practical footwear has been instrumental in its growing popularity across the UK. Legero, an Austrian brand, is going from


strength to strength in the UK; its continuous innovation in design and technology ensures it meets the ever-changing demands of consumers while maintaining its reputation for reliability. Wonders is a Spanish fashion brand with


over 20 years of presence in the UK, and is well known for delivering stylish designs and beautifully curated collections each season. Lastly, Sophos focuses on quality


everyday products at competitive prices, and its commitment to supporting UK-based craftsmanship highlights the brand’s ethos of blending tradition with modern style.


Q: How did 2024 fare for TMFG as a company and for your brands? GM: 2024 was a positive year for us. The retail landscape was challenging, especially with inconsistent weather, shipping issues, and other unexpected hurdles; however, Legero experienced healthy growth, with existing customers reporting returning consumers wanting more from the brand and new retail partners placing orders. Heavenly Feet also saw positive growth across our region, largely through the addition of new retail partners. Both Heavenly Feet and Legero work on high margins, so with increased sales comes increased profitability, which in the current climate is vital. Wonders, with its focus on fashion-forward designs and premium materials, started cementing its position as a fashion brand in footwear stores and experienced growth in the boutique sector, culminating in a nomination in The Boutique Awards for Footwear Brand of the Year!


Wonders A-3622


Q: How will you be growing your brands in the UK in 2025? GM: Given ongoing events around the world, 2025 is not going to be simple! However, people always need shoes, and in a time when consumers are told how little money they have, the days of aspirational purchases are coming to an end. I believe a more “inspirational” approach is required – giving the end consumer a reason to buy – and as brands we must provide this information for retailers to pass on to their customers. I am working alongside the brands on more


Heavenly Feet Orbit. Right: Legero Move


effective ways to help our retail partners in- store to sell more products. I feel there has been a disconnect between retailers, agents/ reps and factories with all parties seemingly working independently of each other, which feels counterproductive given that we all aim to get products into the hands of consumers.


DOWNLOAD THE FOOTWEAR TODAY APP NOW SPONSORED BY JANUARY 2025 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • 21


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52