Umi Signs Partnership with Badorf Shoe

Children’s footwear brand Umi LLC has announced a new strategic partnership with Badorf Shoe Co.

Effective Jan. 1, the Lititz, Pa.-based Badorf will assume all selling, distribution and retailer customer service of the Grafton, Wis.-based footwear brand in the U.S. The arrangement will start with Umi’s fall ’10 collection. Umi will continue to ship and serve its retail customers for spring ’10 from its distribution center in Grafton.

Going forward, Umi will continue its product development, design and branding for the collection worldwide. It will also invest additional resources to expand its international presence, which currently includes distribution in the U.K., Canada and Greece.

In a company release, Mark Kohlenberg, president and CEO of Umi, said, “Linking with Badorf for our U.S. distribution enables Umi to direct its market development resources to identifying quality international distributors to carry the Umi collection. We are targeting key European, South American and Asian markets for future Umi expansion.”