Stead & Simpson shoe chain to close 90 shops Naomi Shefford, marketing and property director at Shoe Zone, the discount shoe group that owns Stead & Simpson, said the decision to close the shops "was not taken lightly." She added: "In locations where we have two stores on the same high street, or where stores were not profitable for us, we had to make a business decision to ensure the company continues to be successful. Our staff are our number one priority and we appreciate the store closures have not been easy for them. However, where we have a Shoe Zone or another Stead & Simpson store near to any closures, we are doing everything we can to ensure our staff keep their jobs within the business. Stead & Simpson has 227 shops and employs roughly 1,400 staff. It was bought by Shoe Zone in 2008 after collapsing into administration. Shoe Zone is making the closures by winding up the operating company that holds the stores, Tyler Ltd. This is likely to infuriate landlords, whose leases will be left worthless. Ms Shefford, however, said that the closures will strengthen Shoe Zone. She added: "With all the recent action we have taken, we anticipate a further improvement in profitability in 2013 now that the business can focus on the remaining stores and our increasingly successful websites."