Indigenous footwear company, Yiko Deen, is planning an expansion of its product lines to capture a bigger share of Nigeria’s growing footwear market.
The company which stamped its authority in the shoe-making business just last year is already making waves in the industry and plans to win the market in the nearest future with a revenue target of N2 billion in 2017.
Speaking on the expansion project, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Atunde Shamsideen Olayinka explained that the move was in line with the government project to promote patronage for locally made goods both within and outside Nigeria.
He said that its Lagos factory with an output of not less than 1000 pairs of shoes a day target quality, yet affordable product for customers of all economic classes to encourage patronage.
“Our products range from school shoes to combat/jungle boots, service shoes as well as varieties of trendy, stylish shoes for general use. Already, we have the likes of Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police, including some construction and oil and gas companies as clients and we plan to attract and extend to other sectors soonest. Just this year, we have manufactured and supplied over 6,000 pairs of shoes and boots to the Nigeria police and over 2000 pairs of children school shoes and much more.
“Most of our designs are signature designs. The level of our creativity will always keep us ahead of our competitors while we also do not joke with the training of our staffs. They are all experienced and get trained on regular basis just to ensure that we provide nothing below quality and class”, he said.
Yiko Deen Footwear designs were exhibited at the Micam shoe festival at Milan, early last year alongside designs made by renowned brands like Gucci.
In the last seven months, the company introduced a number of interventions to recalibrate the industry as it strives to be a major contributor in the country’s economy in terms of employment and earnings.
As part of its extension move, this year, it has struck a deal with some Sierra Leone based companies where it has already supplied not less than 1000 pairs of safety shoes.
