Skechers has opened its first store in Rio de Janeiro, its ninth in Brazil, and its second company-owned location.

Previously, the brand operated in the country through third-party retailers. Last month, Skechers accelerated its direct-to-consumer strategy in Latin America with the opening of its first company-owned store in São Paulo.

Located in BarraShopping, the Rio de Janeiro store spans 185sqm and offers a range of lifestyle and performance footwear, including casual, sport, and walking shoes, as well as sandals and children’s products.

Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers, said the company plans to continue investing in Brazil through additional store openings, e-commerce expansion, and partnerships with wholesale accounts.

“We plan to grow our presence in key cities, expand our digital capabilities, and broaden our assortment in the market,” he said.

• Further reading: Skechers opens first performance store in the US.