Dodo's

Dodo's is a footwear retail brand operating across Southern Africa. According to the company, it runs around 120 shoe stores spread across South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini (Swaziland), with a footprint that reaches urban, metropolitan and rural areas. The brand is positioned as a value-oriented, fashion-conscious shoe retailer serving a broad, largely middle- and lower-income customer base. The Dodo's name has a long history in South African footwear. The company states that the original Dodo's brand opened its first store in Cape Town in the early 1900s and became synonymous with quality high-fashion and contemporary footwear. By the 1950s, under Barney Dodo, the business had grown into a major commercial force: a retail group of some 280 stores trading as Edworks, Tiptoze and Dodo's, supported by manufacturing operations producing roughly 200,000 pairs of shoes per week and a tannery that processed over half the hides in the country. That original group was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The modern Dodo's chain traces its lineage to a later venture. In 1988 Barney's son Ralph Dodo, with business partner Phil Sagar, established Rampar Trading, which opened its first store, Streetbeat Shoes, in Buthe Butha, Lesotho, in July 1989. Over the following nine years more than 75 Streetbeat stores opened in South Africa, Lesotho and Botswana. Streetbeat deliberately targeted a lower-income market segment with conservatively styled, high-quality, affordably priced footwear, in contrast to the upmarket merchandise of the original Dodo's boutique stores. In 2007 the company introduced a range of well-priced footwear with an upscale aesthetic inspired by European fashion capitals, aimed at emerging middle-market consumers. The move proved successful, and as the brand gained popularity among younger, trendier, aspirational shoppers, the Streetbeat stores were renamed Dodo's after the company repurchased the name. Today Dodo's operates as a privately held Southern African footwear retailer under Rampar Trading, combining value pricing with fashion-led ranges and maintaining a community investment programme focused on education and child welfare.

The Dodo's name in South African footwear dates back to the early 20th century. According to the company's own account, the Dodo's brand opened its first store in Cape Town in the 1900s and became known for quality high-fashion and contemporary footwear. By the 1950s the business had grown into a major commercial force under Barney Dodo. At its height the group operated some 280 stores across the country under the banners Edworks, Tiptoze and Dodo's. It was vertically integrated, with manufacturing operations whose nationwide factories produced around 200,000 pairs of shoes per week, and a tannery that processed over half the hides in the country. The company was also listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The modern Dodo's chain has a separate origin story. In 1988 Barney's son, Ralph Dodo, struck out on his own with business partner Phil Sagar and established Rampar Trading. Their first store, Streetbeat Shoes, opened in Buthe Butha, Lesotho, in July 1989. Over the next nine years more than 75 Streetbeat stores opened across South Africa, Lesotho and Botswana. Streetbeat departed from the upmarket merchandise of the original Dodo's niche boutiques and concentrated instead on a lower-income market segment, offering conservatively styled, high-quality, affordably priced footwear. In 2007, seeking to attract emerging middle-market consumers, the company introduced a range of beautifully crafted, well-priced footwear with an upscale aesthetic inspired by trends from European fashion capitals. The range was a major success. While retaining the loyalty of its established lower-income, more conservative customer base, the brand grew popular among younger, trendier, aspirational consumers. As a result, the Streetbeat stores were renamed Dodo's after the company repurchased the name. Today Dodo's operates as a privately held footwear retail chain under Rampar Trading. The company reports around 120 shoe stores spread across South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini (Swaziland), with a footprint in urban, metropolitan and rural areas. It also maintains a corporate social investment programme focused on education and community welfare, including classroom construction at two schools, the renovation of a creche accommodating 93 children in Mabopane Township, a daily feeding scheme, educational toys, a pair of shoes for each child, and bursary opportunities.

• 2007

  Company introduces an upscale-aesthetic, well-priced range aimed at emerging middle-market consumers.

• 1989

  First Streetbeat Shoes store opens in Buthe Butha, Lesotho.

• 1988

  Ralph Dodo and Phil Sagar establish Rampar Trading.

• Original Dodo's brand opens its first store in Cape Town.

• By the 1950s, under Barney Dodo, the group operates about 280 stores as Edworks, Tiptoze and Dodo's, with manufacturing and a tannery, and is listed on the JSE.

• More than 75 Streetbeat stores open across South Africa, Lesotho and Botswana over nine years.

• Streetbeat stores are renamed Dodo's after the company repurchases the name.

Value-oriented, fashion-conscious footwear retail for middle- and lower-income consumers across Southern Africa.

• Men's footwear

• Women's footwear

• Children's footwear

• Fashion and contemporary shoes

• Conservatively styled, affordably priced footwear

1. 1Dodos Shoes | Shoe Shops South Africa | Buy Shoes Onlinedodos.co.za
2. 2About Us | Dodos Shoes | Shoe Shops South Africadodos.co.za
3. 3Corporate Social Responsibility | Dodos Shoes | Shoe Shops South Africadodos.co.za
4. 4Dodo'swikidata.org