Aldo, the Canadian-born fashion footwear and accessory maker, is one in a collection of new brands to be launched in Malta at The Point, Sliema, at the end of the month.
Brought to Malta by Retail International, Aldo specialises in shoes and accessories for men and women. After its aggressive expansion plan, Aldo is now present across all continents and operates more than 600 corporate stores in Canada, the US and the UK, and over 400 franchised stores in 44 other countries.
The company likes to describe Aldo as a lifestyle, rather than solely a brand, and attributes its growth to the principles on which founder and chief executive officer Aldo Bensadoun created the company in 1972: Love, integrity and respect.
The brand's principles have also been applied to its corporate social responsibilities: Since 1985, Aldo has committed millions of dollars to Aids awareness and research under its 'Aldo Fights Aids' campaign and has donated the entire net proceeds from the sale of specific products to the cause.
"Aldo is a brand we have wanted to bring to Malta for a while and when the opportunity to have a shop at The Point came about, we felt the timing was perfect," Aldo brand manager Rachel Gauci Maistre told The Times Business.
"The brand is a great combination of high fashion style shoes, bags and accessories at affordable prices with a varied selection of styles that will appeal to the discerning Maltese customer. Although new to the market, Aldo is very well known among local consumers. The passionate reaction we received from people who heard that Aldo was opening in Malta has been very encouraging."
Retail International's first Aldo franchise store will be located on The Point's Level -2. Ms Gauci Maistre described the shop fit "modern and fresh". The merchandise will be accessibly displayed within a fun, upbeat environment. The products are designed to be on trend, with new styles arriving regularly.
The store will be run by a manager, assistant manager, and a shop assistant and two part-timers, who will be trained by an Aldo international sales and operations trainee specialist.
"At Aldo it's all about the people - from customer care to providing the latest in quality and cutting edge trends, season after season," Ms Gauci Maistre pointed out. "Aldo's dedicated team of buyers and stylists constantly travel the world to keep the fashion pulse."