The boss of Oliver Sweeney has hailed a “revival” of the luxury menswear brand following a strategic shift which saw it expand beyond footwear into clothing and close all of its shops. The London-based business, founded in 1989 and best known for its handcrafted boots and shoes, suffered amid the pandemic. Its bricks-and-mortar retail arm collapsed into administration in 2020 and all its seven stores —spanning London, Leeds and Manchester — were permanently closed.
The group’s website remained active, however, and it expanded into clothing to boost sales, transforming from a footwear-focused heritage brand into a broader menswear retailer. The pivot under Tim Cooper, the chief executive, has paid off. The brand’s revenue grew by 18.
5 per cent to £9 million in the year to.