‘Balen shoes’ are available here!

Since 15 Jestha, there has been a discussion about a shoe from Goldstar showrooms and outlets to social media. Interest in it has increased dramatically after Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) wore Goldstar’s ‘Arc Series’ shoes. Videos of customers reaching the outlet the day after the budget speech in search of the shoes, which have an MRP of Rs 1,500, are also found on social media.

As the discussion on social media continues to grow, famous vlogger and dentist Shashank Tamrakar has also said that we should promote the indigenous brand by buying shoes. In a video posted on TikTok, he said, ‘It is waterproof. It is much more comfortable than I thought. After Balen sir wore it, we also had to follow the trend. Pointed shoes for Rs 1,400. Along with Made in Nepal, we should also support local businesses.’ 

Goldstar outlets have also increased the number of customers being informed by saying, 'Balen's shoes'.

A few days ago, a video posted from the TikTok ID of Goldstar showroom Chabahil states, 'Even though the company does not have stock, it is said that it has it.' The video says, 'The company has already sold out. The company does not have stock. But we have stock. It is only Rs 1,400. Delivery is available nationwide.'

While leaving the budget speech for the upcoming fiscal year, Prime Minister Shah showed off his Goldstar shoes, according to Vidushi Rana, executive director and MP of Goldstar Stride Limited. 'I did not ask the Prime Minister to wear them, it was by chance,' she said, 'He showed off his Goldstar shoes himself. I did not even think about it. I also got emotional.'

Rana also said that by wearing Goldstar shoes, the Prime Minister respected not only his company but also the country's indigenous footwear industry. ‘It is a matter of pride for me to go to the House wearing Goldstar, Prime Minister, and it is also an honor for all domestic industries,’ she said.

In the 10 months of the current fiscal year, shoes and slippers worth Rs 2.55 billion and 1.55 billion were exported. Rana said that all the white sneakers in the factory have been sent to the market. ‘We have sent all the white shoes in the factory to the market. They are being sold in the market,’ she said, ‘We are getting good feedback. We are asking to increase production as per demand.’

After Prime Minister Shah wore Goldstar shoes, not only the company but also the entire footwear industry is excited. Rana says that if the government imposes a ban on illegal imports, low invoicing, and concessional rates on raw materials, the country can become self-reliant in footwear within a few years. Entrepreneurs complain that they have to compete with the most illegal imported shoes and slippers. 

According to the Trade and Export Promotion Center, footwear worth Rs 2.55 billion 1.528 billion was exported in the 10 months of the current fiscal year. While exports amounted to Rs 1.50 billion 2.729 million in the same period of the previous fiscal year. According to the center, exports have increased by 69.79 percent in the same period of the current fiscal year compared to the previous fiscal year. 

While footwear worth Rs 2.5 billion was exported, such materials worth Rs 7.95 billion were imported in the 10 months of the current fiscal year, according to the center's data. Compared to the previous fiscal year, imports in the current fiscal year have decreased slightly. Footwear worth Rs 8.3 billion was imported in the 10 months of the last fiscal year.  Prasanna Gautam, director and founder of 'KD Shoes Industries', a footwear manufacturer of the 'Caliber' brand, also said that the positive impact has increased after the Prime Minister wore Nepali brand shoes. 'The Prime Minister wore shoes and only Goldstar was advertised. There are other brands,' he said, 'They have also had a good influence on sales.' 

Gautam believes that after Prime Minister Shah wore Nepali brand footwear, the overall Nepali brand has been better. 'Goldstar's shoes were sold, the business of Nepali brands including Caliber may have been affected, or it may have been that there was no business,' he said, 'but I see that the overall Nepali brand has been better because of that.' 'We are probably the first to manufacture full white sneakers in Nepal,' he said. 

Gautam said that if all consumers use and promote Nepali brands just like Prime Minister Shah, we can also have an impact on the domestic market and the global market. 'Initially, support had to come from our own country. We should first be self-reliant domestically. Then we should enter the global market,' he said. 

Gautam said that Caliber is selling 5 to 600 pairs per month in Dubai and 1200 pairs per day in the Nepali market. He said that despite the increasing demand, there is a shortage of skilled manpower. Caliber products are being sold and distributed through 72 showrooms across the country, he said. The entrepreneur says – ‘If all consumers use and promote Nepali brands, we can have an impact on the global market as well as the domestic market.’

Gautam says that there has been some reduction in the importation of footwear and slippers, including counterfeits and replicas, in recent times. He said that it would be easier if such footwear and slippers were imported less.

He explained that the showroom concept was put forward with the aim of not only selling products to Caliber consumers but also informing them about their company, raw materials, etc.

Gautam has experience that most people use Nepali brands rather than wearing fake brand shoes. But he has experience that young people under the age of 25 try to wear shoes with logos of brands like Nike and Adidas, even if they are fake. ‘The future is the youth, we should create an environment for them to wear Nepali brand shoes from now on,’ said Gautam. 

Gautam says that if smuggling and imports of shoes with fake logos of branded companies can be stopped, the country will become self-reliant in footwear. 

Gautam says that if taxes on raw materials required by the footwear and slipper industry are reduced, good quality goods can be made at reasonable prices. ‘If that happens, sales can increase further,’ he said, ‘it seems that it should be subsidized. He understands that self-reliance should not be achieved by making fashionable shoes alone and that attention should be paid to basic needs, quality and durability. 

According to the Shoe Manufacturers Association of Nepal, the country consumes 100 million pairs of shoes and slippers annually. Of that, 85 million pairs are of Nepali-made brands and the rest are imported shoes, said association president Rudra Prasad Neupane. He estimates that 8 million pairs of shoes will be exported this year. ‘Up to 10 percent of the shoes and slippers that are popular in the world market and that customers want must be imported from the formal market. Otherwise, domestic companies will have a monopoly in the market. Carteling should not be allowed. It will create competition,’ Neupane said, ‘We can make the country self-reliant by producing 90 percent of the country’s demand internally. That is also possible this year.’