Taipei, May 15, 2008 (CENS)--Hush Puppies/Converse, an affiliate of Pou Chen Group, a globally leading Taiwan-based manufacturer of sports shoes, is one of the agents of Hush Puppies, the largest casual shoe brand in the United States, and sold more than 200,000 pairs of Hush Puppies in Taiwan last year, enabling the canine-logo brand to replace Clarks to become Taiwan`s most popular casual footwear.

To leverage the marketing effect of Hush Puppies, Hush Puppies/Converse is going to work with the brand`s other two agents on the island to set up soon a flagship store in Taichung, central Taiwan, selling Hush Puppies products. These two agents are Pauline Epistles and Leading Generation Corp.

Actually the three companies hold Hush Puppies franchises to sell its products: for instance, Hush Puppies/Converse carries the brand`s casual shoes, Pauline Epistles focuses on the brand`s casual garments, and Leading Generation markets mostly the brand`s watches and timepieces. And the projected joint-venture store is to sell all kinds of Push Puppies products, including shoes, bags, clothes, watches, and related accessories. The trio plans to set up, one each, such combination stores in the north and south of the island by end of this year.

Currently Hush Puppies/Converse has about six self-owned stores and some 18 exclusive booths in department stores while Pauline Epistles has about 17 exclusive booths in department stores.

Taiwan has a potential market for casual shoes of around 600,000 pairs yearly. Hush Puppies sold in 2000 about 20,000-30,000 pairs, which soared to 200,000 pairs last year, with such figure expected to grow 10%.
(by Judy Li)