StrideWalk: Reinventing Retail with a Homegrown Footwear Brand

In 2013, Pak Leather Industries Limited (PLIL) and Pak Leather Group Retail Division (PLGRD) formally separated, with PLGRD retaining the right to use the ‘PakStep’ brand until March 2024. Under the leadership of CEO Ammar Zubair, PLGRD initiated the establishment of ‘StrideWalk’ as its new flagship footwear retail brand. This transition required organizational restructuring, including the development of independent functions in supply chain management, product development, manufacturing and information systems. To manage the change process, PLGRD’s leadership emphasized market segmentation, brand positioning and communication strategies. In 2018, cross-functional teams were introduced to redesign organizational systems, values and strategy, with the intention of encouraging coordination across departments. These initiatives contributed to the launch and subsequent growth of StrideWalk in Pakistan’s footwear retail market. Going forward, PLGRD planned to embed practices of innovation and collaboration as part of its organizational culture to support future operations.