The Danish footwear manufacturer, Ecco, has clocked up successes in many global markets. Despite several promising start-up partnerships, however the market has always proved difficult in Türkiye.

In 2000, Ecco cemented a sales and distribution partnership with Desa Deri, which produces fashion leather garments for the UK-owned company, Marks and Spencer. Desa manufactures its own brand-name shoes in Italy and at one point, an Ecco shoe outlet in a major coastal resort city was under discussion. However, the two firms found that their targets, pricing, marketing strategy and long-term goals were divergent and the collaboration came to an end.

Ecco is now testing Turkish waters again, this time with the possibility of Birtug Foreign Trade Company Limited of Istanbul becoming a partner. Birtug is a trade and marketing company for machinery and components for shoe making. Managing Director, Mr. Ender Yazicioglu, is also president of the Footwear Components Association (AYSAD). There are currently no immediate plans to produce any of the Ecco range in Türkiye.

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