Walk the Mile With Payless Shoes

Payless is a leading shoe brand company which started out in 1956. The company has its headquarters in Topeka, Kansas. This retail industry not only sells shoes but also deals in accessories and hand bags. Payless shoes are termed as the largest company when it comes to footwear for the entire family in the entire western and northern part of the globe. Payless shoes has its stores in the entire unites states and beyond the country it has stores in the Caribbean countries, Canada and one in Japan as well. They are market leaders when it comes to shoes in the U.S.

One in every 10 shoes for adults is a Payless shoe and one in every six shoes for children is another Payless shoe. Critics have noted that the stores of shoes resembled wholesale marts and were not particularly suited to draw in customers who would like a good display first before them, before they like the actual product. The big heads in the company got thinking and came up with innovative design alterations in the company looks. Major changes in the design of the retail outlets were taken up in the year 2005. The outlets were revamped and the brand logo also was changed to make it look more hip, thought the trademark orange was still retained. The new logo came into force on June 27 2006.

The company has had its share of ups and downs as well. Pay less Shoes Company has been under critic's scanner too many a times due the company's strategy to open up stores in historic buildings and then changing their facade into something completely hip, this completely changes the look of the building and strips it off its character. Like a leading website states, "Pay less is a notorious abuser of historic buildings". The company had to witness a sag in its performance in the year 2005 under pressure and competition from another leading company Wal-Mart. The critics termed them as some of the ugliest in the market, this then led to the subsequent revamp of the stores and the company as a whole. The company saw a significant merger with Stride Rite at a price of $20.50 per share. Its name was then changed into Collective Brands. Pay less Shoes are going up and strong and periodically come out with new collections every year.