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{{Short description|Footwear retailer}}{{other uses|schuh (disambiguation)}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox company
|  name   = schuh
|  logo   = Schuh logo.png
|  type   = [[Private company|Private]]
|  foundation     =  1980
|  founder        = Sandy Alexander
|  location       = {{nowrap|[[Livingston, West Lothian]], Scotland, UK}}
|  key_people     =  Colin Temple, Mark Crutchley, David Spencer, Kenneth Ball
|  num_employees  =  4,000+ (12345)
|  parent         = [[Genesco]] (2012–present)
|  industry       = [[Retail]]
|  products       = [[Footwear]]
|  homepage       = {{URL|https://www.schuh.co.uk}}
|
}}
'''schuh''' ({{IPAc-en|ʃ|uː}} {{respell|SHOO}}) is a Scottish [[footwear]] retailer based in [[Livingston, West Lothian]], Scotland. It has 132 stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/schuh-calls-in-kpmg-for-solutions-zh7w9sbkv|title=Schuh calls in KPMG for solutions|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=11 August 2019|first=Sam|last=Chambers|url-access=subscription}}</ref> The company is predominantly a branded shoe stockist, selling over 80 brands, including: [[Converse (lifestyle wear)|Converse]], [[Vans]], [[UGG (brand)|UGG]], [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]], [[Adidas]] as well as its own schuh label.
==History==
[[File:Schuh, Briggate (20th February 2013).JPG|thumb|right|A Schuh store in [[Briggate]], [[Leeds]].]]
The very first schuh store opened on Edinburgh’s North Bridge Arcade in 1981. schuh’s founder Sandy Alexander noticed a lack of fashionable footwear retailer outside [[London]], and he chose Edinburgh to open the very first schuh store.<ref name="Retailer of the Year Awards 2013">{{cite web|title=Winners Interview: Retailer of the Year Awards 2013|url=http://www.scottishfashionawards.com/winners_interview_retailer_of_the_year.php|website=Scottish Fashion Awards|accessdate=8 October 2014}}</ref>
The business was operating independently until 1986, when it was acquired by [[Goldbergs]]. It continued as a semi-autonomous trading division until it regained independence through a management buy-out in 1990 and schuh Ltd. was formed.
In June 2011, schuh was acquired by [[Genesco]] footwear retailer, for the sum of £125 million.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Blackden|first1=Richard|title=schuh sales staff to share £37.3m windfall after US takeover|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8595226/Schuh-sales-staff-to-share-37.3m-windfall-after-US-takeover.html|accessdate=8 October 2014|publisher=The Telegraph|date=24 June 2011}}</ref>
Schuh is [[German language|German]] for [[shoe]]. In external marketing, the company pronounces the word like the [[English language|English]] word "shoe". Because of the name, many people assume that schuh is a German company. schuh was to be originally named Lizard, until founder Sandy Alexander's colleague Mike Doherty saw the word ‘schuhe’ written at the top of an industry magazine - they dropped the 'e' and "schuh" was born.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.schuh.co.uk/help/about-us/|title=Company history|via=schuh.co.uk}}</ref>
==Timeline==
* 1981: opened first store on Edinburgh’s North Bridge Arcade
* 1983: schuh opens in Glasgow
* 1984: First English store opens in Newcastle
* 1990: Business is restructured and a new management team is established
* 1991: schuh HQ moves to Livingston
* 1992: schuh opens second store in Edinburgh and Glasgow along with Aberdeen and Newcastle
* 1994: New stores in Nottingham, Leeds, Hull, Liverpool and Manchester
* 1997: schuh opens first Ireland store in Dublin
* 2004: opened first London store at 200 Oxford Street
* 2008: 2nd London store opens in the Westfield London development
* 2009: The schuh welly exchange appears at 5 UK festivals and wins a UK Festival award for Best Brand Activation.
* 2010: Opens a ‘hometown’ store in Livingston
* 2012: schuh is acquired by US corporation [[Genesco]]
* 2012: schuh kids is launched
* 2015: schuh opens its first stores outside of the UK and Republic of Ireland in the Centro shopping centre in Oberhausen, Germany.
==Company Info==
schuh HQ and distribution centre is in Livingston, Scotland with a Press Office and design studio in London. schuh trades profitably from their 100+ high street stores and their website. schuh had a turnover of £233 million in 2012/2013 generating a profit of £25.6 million.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jeff|first1=Dominic|title=Schuh delivers record profts (sic) of £25.6m|url=http://www.scotsman.com/business/retail/schuh-delivers-record-profts-of-25-6m-1-2962279|accessdate=8 October 2014|publisher=The Scotsman|date=12 June 2013}}</ref>
The company has a fully responsive site with a strong emphasis on "mobile first approach".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Charlton|first1=Graham|title=Schuh's adoption of responsive and the importance of a 'mobile first' approach|url=https://econsultancy.com/blog/65449-schuh-s-adoption-of-responsive-and-the-importance-of-a-mobile-first-approach|website=econsultancy|accessdate=8 October 2014|date=15 September 2014}}</ref>
==schuh Kids==
2012 saw the launch of {{Proper name|schuh kids}}: the first expansion of the schuh brand since the company was acquired by Genesco in June 2011.
Since launch, the {{Proper name|schuh kids}} store concept has proved extremely popular, receiving industry recognition with a POPAI interiors award in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Flagship & Store Category Award|url=http://www.popai.co.uk/awards/gallery/2013/Details.aspx?Category=16|website=POPAI|accessdate=8 October 2014}}</ref> schuh kids is now available in all stores as well as online.
==Products==
schuh is predominantly a branded footwear stockist selling popular brands like [[Converse (shoe company)|Converse]], [[Adidas]], [[Vans]], [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] and [[UGG Australia]] as well as less known and more niche brands, and also the schuh own brand label which are designed by an in-house team of shoe designers. The schuh brand aspires to represent current fashion looks and trends. Besides footwear schuh also stocks shoe care products and accessories.
==schuh Magazine==
Launched in 1998, the schuh magazine was distributed through its stores with cover stars include Caprice, [[Katie Price]] and [[Gail Porter]]. The magazine was produced by the head office and combined features on the company and its footwear along with music and other pop culture subjects. The final schuh magazine was released in 2006.
==schuh Welly Exchange==
In 2009 schuh launched the schuh Welly Exchange at Scotland’s [[RockNess Festival]]. The schuh Welly Exchange swaps festival goers old shoes for wellington boots. The shoes are recycled by the Newlife Foundation. The schuh Welly Exchange has appeared at [[Bestival]], [[Oxegen]], [[Camp Bestival]], [[Global Gathering]], [[Creamfields]], [[Summer Sundae]] and [[RockNess]].
==schuh Design Challenge==
In partnership with [[West Lothian Council]], schuh launched the schuh Design Challenge in 1997. It has run every year since<ref>{{cite web|title=Emma wins Schuh Design Challenge|url=http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/3036/Emma-wins-Schuh-Design-Challenge|website=West Lothian Council|accessdate=8 October 2014}}</ref> and is aimed at promoting fashion design in schools located near its head office in Livingston.
==Recent awards==
* Winner: [[Scottish Fashion Awards]] 2013<ref name="Retailer of the Year Awards 2013" />
==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1981]]
[[Category:Shoe companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Companies based in West Lothian]]
[[Category:Scottish brands]]
[[Category:1981 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:Clothing retailers of Scotland]]
[[Category:2012 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Footwear retailers]]
[[Category:British subsidiaries of foreign companies]]
[[Category:Livingston, West Lothian]]