British Shoe Corporation's (abbreviated to BSC within the Company and footwear industry) origins began with Freeman Hardy Willis being incorporated as a limited company on the 20 December 1876.  The Company retained that name until 1 June 1967, when the name was changed to B.S.C. Footwear Limited. On the  31 December 1981 the company name changed to British Shoe Corporation Ltd. The Company name changed again on the 5 February 1996 to Saxone Limited and then again on the 3 February 1997 to Footwear Corporation Limited. On the 9 August 2002 the Company name was changed for the last time to Genco (FC) Limited.

The brands that were under ownership of BSC included:

  • Butler Shoe Corporation (USA)
  • Cable & Co
  • Curtess
  • Dolcis
  • Freeman Hardy Willis (Freeman Hardy & Willis)
  • Hush Puppies
  • Lilley & Skinner
  • Manfield
  • Orchard
  • Roland Cartier
  • Saxone
  • Shoe City
  • Shoe Connection
  • Shoe Express
  • Tip Toe
  • Trueform (True-Form)

BSC was part of a wider conglomerate called Sears PLC, that has its origins as J Sears Boot Company Limited. Sears PLC had numerous brands that it managed including:

  • Adams Children's Clothing
  • Lewis's
  • Freemans Catalogue
  • Jowett Cars Limited
  • Miss Selfridge
  • Richard Shops
  • Sears Card (Store Card, based in Solihull)
  • Selfridges
  • The Selfridge Hotel (London)
  • Wallis
  • Warehouse
  • William Hill Bookmakers

All this would not have been possible without the determination, drive and passion of Sir Charles Clore, aka Santa Clore, who was infamous and even mentioned in the UK Westminster Parliament:

 

https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1962/feb/14/private-monopolies

 

However, sadly the Company entered into decline, starting in September 1992, with a company announcement of fall in profits and a host of store closures. More can be seen here about the demise of BSC:

 

https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/12-february-1998/british-shoe-misses-its-step/