Sergio Rossi's Lively New Step

Are Sergio Rossi stores coming to the United States? Last November, Gucci Group NV acquired 70 percent of Calzaturficio Sergio Rossi, the manufacturer and retailer of sexy footwear for women, based in San Mauro Pascoli, Italy, for the past 40 years. Since then, most of Gucci's $40 million investment has gone toward plans to expand production and build new stores.

Today, 25 freestanding stores, mostly in Italy with a few in other European countries, comprise the Sergio Rossi retail empire. The footwear is also available in some upscale U.S. department stores like Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. Gucci intends to double the number of Sergio Rossi stores in the next three years, focusing on the U.S. and Japan.

In addition to adding stores, Gucci will also concentrate on increasing Sergio Rossi's production, which is currently about 550,000 pairs a year. The plan is to step up its merchandise production by one-third and to create a new Rive Gauche line for Gucci's Yves St. Laurent, the French group the retailer purchased last year.

So far, Sergio Rossi has introduced a men's line, a first for the footwear manufacturer, and will introduce leather accessories and bags this fall. Gucci's creative director, Tom Ford, announced plans for the company's new marketing image to be unveiled in Milan next spring.