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German Shoe Maker Takes Bold Steps In Kenyan Market

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Josef Seibel in Kenya launch
Mr Carl-August Siebel, the chairman of Josef Seibel shoe company, and German Ambassador to Kenya Sebastian Groth during the opening of Kenya’s first concept shop in Nairobi. [ PHOTO / Courtesy ]
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Germany-based shoe manufacturer, Josef Seibel, on Friday 27th January opened its first Nairobi outlet as it begins expanding presence in Kenya. The company, founded in 1886 in Haunstein, Germany, is targeting Kenya’s ever-expanding middle and upper class consumers with European comfort standard shoe brands.

“We are bringing to the Kenyan market the same quality, fitting and designs as we have elsewhere in the world,” said Josef Siebel Africa Chairman Carl-August Seibel, during the opening of the Nairobi shop. “Nairobi is where most middle and upper class populations live and where we also have big multinational organisations including the UN headquarters.”

Mr Carl-August Seibel said the local leather the firm uses to make its huge array of shoe brands has been tested for Chromium VI chemicals to ensure the leather is safe for use. “We want to show that good quality shoes can be made and sold in Kenya,” he added. “The shoes we are doing here are distributed to at least 20 countries in the US, Europe and Canada. You can be proud as Kenyans that this is possible in the short time.”

Some of the shoes already being made at its two-year old Ukunda factory include ShuShu and Nolan range under brand name Romika.

Under ShuShu range is a set of high quality, lightweight school shoes for the active child, while its Nolan range covers low-heel slip-on shoes with double elastic bands that are “quick and easy, yet stylish and comfy.” All these are designed in Germany and made in Kenya.

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“We are priced in the segment between Ksh4,000 to Ksh7,000. In market comparison, we are competitive,” said Seibel.

As part of its expansion plan, the company is looking to train more local staff and  increase its production capacity from current 120,000 to 130,000 pairs of shoes annually and broaden its shoe offering range. “A hundred people are currently employed at the Ukunda factory. We are targeting to increase the number to 200 by the end of next year as we look to produce more shoe designs in the market,” he said.

The move, Mr Seibel said, will help to relieve the company from high import taxes when demand exceeds its local production capacity. The company trains local staff from scratch, which it said has proven a better system to meet the high international quality, comfort and safety standards.

The company will leverage on franchise models to expand presence in Nairobi with plans to open more outlets in Mombasa, other coastal towns near its factory and across Kenya.

“We have done the market study and are looking at opening 12 to 14 outlets across the country including Kisumu, Nanyuki, Nakuru, Kericho and other towns coming up,” said Josef Seibel Franchisee, Joe Ndungu. “Yes we can produce shoes here and export them to Germany.”

German Ambassador to Kenya, Sebastian Groth termed the investment another big step for Germany and Kenya and adds to the total 120 German companies in the country.

“Germany will in the future look more and more interested towards Africa and Kenya especially in regards to investment and economic relations. We are ready to open a new chapter in our relations this year to mark our 60th anniversary of Kenya-German relations,” said Groth.

Josef Seibel Group produces up to three million pairs of shoes annually and exports to 40 countries globally.

Next >> One Town, One Bar – Is That Even Possible In Kenya?

Written by
BT Reporter -

editor [at] businesstoday.co.ke

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