Apex Footwear has opened around 32 new outlets across Bangladesh over the past two months ahead of the Eid shopping rush, as Ramadan — which typically generates about 30 per cent of the company’s annual sales — drives one of the busiest retail periods for the country’s footwear market.
For many families in Bangladesh, Eid shopping is closely tied to buying a new outfit along with a pair of shoes, making Ramadan the most important sales season for apparel and footwear retailers.
Apex Footwear Head of Marketing Md Raihan Kabir said customer turnout during Ramadan has improved compared with the past few years, with shoppers visiting stores from across the country.
“Approximately 30 per cent of our annual sales usually take place during Ramadan,” he said.
Kabir said the company introduced a wide range of collections this season with a strong emphasis on designs that combine style with comfort, reflecting customer demand during the warm Ramadan–Eid period.
“Customers now look for footwear that is both stylish and comfortable, especially during Ramadan when people spend long hours outside shopping and attending social gatherings,” he said.
Among Apex products, sandals have emerged as the most popular category this season as many buyers prefer footwear that matches Punjabi outfits commonly worn during Eid festivities.
Most customers are choosing products in the mid-range segment, with footwear priced between Tk2,500 and Tk3,500 selling the most across Apex outlets.
To meet Eid demand, the company introduced more than 2,500 new designs across different product categories this year.
Within the company’s portfolio, Apex, Venturini and Nino Rossi have recorded particularly strong sales during the Ramadan shopping period.
Kabir said the broader footwear market has remained relatively slow in recent years due to economic pressures and changing consumer spending patterns, although Apex has continued to post steady growth.
“This has been one of our best years because our growth has remained consistent,” he said.
Retail expansion has been part of that strategy.
Kabir said Apex opened around 32 new footwear outlets over the past two months ahead of Eid. The expansion comes as organised brands gradually strengthen their presence in Bangladesh’s largely fragmented footwear market, where Apex remains the market leader.
Apex Footwear Limited was established in 1990 by Syed Manzur Elahi, building on the leather business he began in 1975 after acquiring and reviving the struggling Orient Tannery, later renamed Apex Tannery.
The footwear company initially focused on export markets before entering the domestic retail sector in 1997, eventually building one of the country’s largest footwear retail networks.
Over time the company diversified its brand portfolio to include labels such as Venturini, Maverick, Nino Rossi, Moochie and Sprint, targeting different customer segments.
Kabir said the company’s immediate priority remains ensuring product availability and customer service throughout the Ramadan shopping season.
“Our top priority during this Ramadan will remain serving customers until the night before Eid,” he said.
