Gebrüder Götz

Gebrüder Götz is a German mail-order and online retailer specialising in shoes, founded on 1 July 1939 by brothers Franz and Walter Götz in Würzburg. The company began as a regional shoe seller and grew into one of Germany's best-known shoe mail-order businesses, later expanding internationally through the internet. For decades it was the leading mail-order shoe retailer in Germany until the arrival of competitors such as Zalando around 2010. The company operates an e-commerce website (gebrueder-goetz.de) offering footwear for women, men and children, as well as bags and accessories. Its product range includes own-brand and third-party brands such as Skechers, Waldläufer, Remonte, Rieker, Paul Green, Lloyd, Josef Seibel, Bugatti, Gant, Brütting and Kaerlek. In addition to online sales, it has a store and warehouse in Würzburg. The company faced financial difficulties in the late 2010s, leading to management changes and restructuring. It remains a private company.

Gebrüder Götz was founded on 1 July 1939 by brothers Franz and Walter Götz in Würzburg, Germany. Initially operating at a regional level, the company grew over the decades into a major mail-order business for shoes. In 1970, it expanded its range to include ready-to-wear clothing and home equipment. Mail-order accounted for about 80% of its business, with catalogues distributed at 500,000 copies; the remaining 20% of sales came from its store and warehouse in Würzburg. Until 2010, when competitors such as Zalando emerged, it was the leading mail-order shoe retailer in Germany. The company also distributed 50,000 catalogues in Austria and operated a dedicated Austrian website. In 2017, the company posted a profit of about 152,000 euros, which fell to 59,000 euros in 2018, indicating an acute risk of insolvency. Due to the negative development, new directors Nikolaus Borst and Karl-Otto Lang were appointed in April 2019, alongside long-time managing director Peter Götz; 14 full-time positions were eliminated and employee salaries were temporarily reduced. In August 2020, it was announced that the company would sell its fashion house in Würzburg-Zellerau to the Walter Group from Baden-Württemberg effective 1 January 2021. The sports figure Magdalena Neuner served as a model for Gebrüder Götz from 2007 to 2014. Today, the company continues to operate its online shop, offering a wide range of footwear brands for women, men and children, as well as bags and accessories.

• Founded by brothers Franz and Walter Götz in Würzburg.

• Expanded range to include ready-to-wear clothing and home equipment.

• Magdalena Neuner begins as a model for Gebrüder Götz (until 2014).

• Faces competition from Zalando; loses position as leading mail-order shoe retailer.

• Reports profit of about 152,000 euros.

• Profit falls to 59,000 euros, indicating risk of insolvency.

• New directors Nikolaus Borst and Karl-Otto Lang appointed; 14 full-time positions cut.

• Announced sale of Würzburg-Zellerau fashion house to Walter Group effective 1 January 2021.

Traditional German shoe mail-order retailer with a broad range of comfort and fashion footwear for the whole family, now operating primarily online.

• Skechers Slip-ins Sneaker LEOPARD DREAM CONTOUR FOAM

  Women's sneaker, black, 89.99 €

• Waldläufer Schnürstiefeletten AMIATA

  Women's lace-up ankle boots, blue, 149.99 €

• Remonte Stiefel

  Women's boots, brown, from 129.99 €

• Kaerlek Schnürstiefeletten

  Women's lace-up ankle boots, brown, 139.99 €

• Waldläufer Schnürstiefeletten Saiga

  Women's lace-up ankle boots, green, 139.99 €

• Brütting Trekkingschuhe MOUNT PINOS LOW

  Women's hiking shoes, purple, 79.99 €

• Paul Green Chelsea Boots

  Women's Chelsea boots, red, 179.99 €

• Rieker Winterboots

  Women's winter boots, taupe, 79.99 €

• Lloyd Halbschuhe EEZY PLUS

  Men's low shoes, brown, from 179.99 €

• Josef Seibel Halbschuhe BAXTER 51

  Men's low shoes, black, 109.99 €

• Bugatti Boots

  Men's boots, brown, 99.99 €

• Rieker Chelsea Boots

  Men's Chelsea boots, brown, 89.99 €

• Gant Chelsea Boots ST.FAIRKON

  Men's Chelsea boots, brown, 189.99 €

• Bugatti Winterboots

  Men's winter boots, green, 99.99 €

• Waldläufer Winterboots LINO

  Men's winter boots, brown, 149.99 €

• Rieker Slipper

  Men's slippers, black, 69.99 €

• Magdalena Neuner as model

1. 1Gebrüder-Götz official websitegebrueder-goetz.de
2. 2Gebrüder Götz on Wikipedia (French)fr.wikipedia.org
3. 3Gebrüder Götz on Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Bugatti Boots Braungebrueder-goetz.de
5. 5Remonte Stiefel Braungebrueder-goetz.de
6. 6Rieker Slipper Schwarzgebrueder-goetz.de