Amy Huberman’s involvement helps shoe firm to step into the limelight

The recruitment of actress, Amy Huberman to inspire designs for shoes for a Co Monaghan shoe firm has coincided with a lift in fortunes of the business.

In December 2012, the author launched her first shoe collection for Buddha Brand and figures lodged with the Companies Office show that the firm increased its accumulated profits from €369,687 to €385,432 in the 12 months to the end of January 31, 2013. The figures show that Buddha Brand Industry Ltd’s cash pile increased more than four-fold during the period, going from €64,351 to €250,931. The full impact of Ms Huberman’s collaboration with Buddha Brand will be reflected in the firm’s accounts to the end of January this year.

Ms Huberman debuted on the Irish retail scene with the design of her “American Beauty’ leather ankle boot for Buddha Brand.

The actress is collaborating with Castleblaney brothers Jim and Barry McArdle of Buddha Brand who were behind Tommy Bowe’s Lloyd & Pryce men’s footwear range.

The collaboration involves Amy choosing her favourite footwear looks which the McArdles have manufactured in Portugal and Brazil.

The brothers are the fourth generation of their family in the footwear business started by their great grand uncle Matt Connolly who had shoe shops around Ireland.

Separate figures lodged by the McArdles’ sister firm, Shoe City Ltd show that it recorded a profit of €683,741 for the 15 months to the end of January with its cash pile totalling €944,115 at the end of the period.

The company was only established in 2011 and the figures show that the company’s directors have loaned €1.14m to the firm.