Aldo (shoes)
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ALDO is a worldwide chain of shoe stores (heels and boots) founded by Aldo Bensadoun in Montreal, Quebec in 1972. ALDO was founded in 1972, within a chain of popular fashion boutiques. It is now a worldwide company, with over 800 stores under 6 prominent retail banners (Aldo, Stoneridge, FeetFirst, Spring, Globo, Aldo Accesssories) each catering to a distinct well-defined customer group. Canada, USA and UK stores are corporate stores while the stores in the other country are franchisee.
"Successful companies build on their founding traditions while looking ahead to the future - and that is what we have done at ALDO," states Aldo Bensadoun, founder & CEO of the ALDO Group. Aldo is a privately-held company, which operates over 600 retail stores across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. They specialize in the creation of high-quality fashion footwear, leather goods and accessories, and pride themselves on bringing the latest footwear fashion trends to the consumer market. Aldo trend has been growing in Dubai, U.A.E. with more stores expanding across the region.
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[edit] ALDO history
[edit] 1966 Home Base
Aldo Bensadoun completes his French military service, teaching Economics at the École de Cavalerie de Saumur. Shortly thereafter, he returns to his favourite city, this time making Montreal his home.
[edit] 1972 The Early Days
ALDO Shoes is founded. It is a footwear concession within a chain of popular fashion boutiques. The original group includes 4 Canadian stores in Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City and Winnipeg.
[edit] 1980 - 1993 Expansion
By 1980, the company becomes independent and prospers. Over the course of the next 13 years, 95 freestanding stores operate under the trade name ALDO.
[edit] 1993 - 2001 Evolution
ALDO initiates its retail entry into the U.S. market. The first ALDO U.S. store opens near Boston, Massachusetts. Over the course of the next 9 years, approximately 125 stores open in the U.S. alone. By the end of this period ALDO also operates over 180 successful stores in regional malls and key fashion street locations in most major Canadian urban centers.
In addition, the Group operates over 300 stores under 8 prominent retail banners, each catering to a distinct well-defined customer group.
[edit] 2002 - Going Global
ALDO opens in London, England, in prime locations on both Oxford (3) and Neal Street (1) in addition to mall locations in Basingstoke, Uxbridge, Camden, Croydon, Kent & Southampton.
[edit] 2005 and Beyond
With the success of ALDO's stores in the United Kingdom, the brand continues its global expansion.
[edit] ALDO fights AIDS
ALDO has teamed up with YouthAIDS to raise money in order to educate people worldwide about HIV/AIDS. Tags featuring the phrases "HEAR", "SEE", and "SPEAK" and limited edition tote bags are now being sold at ALDO stores and online to help fund YouthAIDS HIV-prevention initiatives around the world.
