The American footwear brand Skechers is opening a store at Gretna Gateway Outlet Village.

The shop is due to begin trading in March and follows the arrival of Next and Jacques Vert – a specialist in mother-of-the-bride and groom outfits – which opened in a 19,000sq ft extension at Gretna Gateway last summer.

California-based Skechers was founded in 1992, and sells athletic and casual shoes aimed at trend-savvy men, women, and children.

The company is recruiting for the new shop at Gretna where it is seeking a store manager, assistant store manager, a senior sales associate and part-time sales associates.

It will occupy unit 48, currently filled by clothing retailer Double Two.

Double Two is not leaving, however. The shop will close next week and re-open a week later in unit 54, formerly occupied by Calendar Club.

Gretna Gateway achieved record trading figures in 2015 for the seventh year running.

It says the increase was in part due to the arrival of Next and Jacques Vert but, even without them, like-for-like sales were up three per cent.

Outlet villages offer big brands at discounted prices. Gretna Gateway has more than 50 retailers and cafes including M&S, Nike, GAP, Clarks, Molton Brown, Berghaus, Polo, Ralph Lauren and Costa.

The complex opened in 1999, trades from 10am to 6pm seven days a week and employs 550 people.