Payless opens in the Middle East

TOPEKA, Kan., KUWAIT CITY and RIYADH, Saudi Arabia Payless ShoeSource has opened its first stores in the Eastern Hemisphere. In partnership with its franchisee M.H. Alshaya, the leading retailer in the region, Payless celebrated the grand opening of its first Payless ShoeSource stores in the Middle East, with a 220-square-meter store located in The Avenues mall in Kuwait, and a 240-square-meter-store in the Sahara Mall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

"We are excited to grand open our first-ever stores in the Middle East and to bring shoppers in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia all that Payless has to offer -- great style, quality and brand names - all at a great price," said Matthew Rubel, chairman, CEO and president of Collective Brands, which owns Payless ShoeSource. "These grand openings represent a significant milestone in the international expansion of our Payless stores, as well as many firsts for Payless - our entrance into the Middle East, the Eastern Hemisphere, and to franchise our stores. We are pleased to have such a tremendous franchisee in Alshaya, with its significant retail expertise, infrastructure and deep knowledge of the region."

Through the franchise arrangement, Payless provides Alshaya with retail operations and merchandising expertise. Alshaya provides retail location strategy, construction, logistics, and store staffing. Alshaya will utilize Payless' newest store format, referred to as the "Hot Zone," and purchases Payless product directly from Payless' seasonal assortment.