[citation needed] In June 2011, Genesco acquired U.K. retail chain and web business Schuh, which gave them an already well-established grounding in a market outside of the U.S.[not verified in body] James Franklin Jarman, J.H.

Jarman, led the company to slowly diversify, especially as more of the manufacturing was being conducted overseas;[citation needed] as well, it entered into fields such as sports—at one-time manufacturing and selling football (soccer) balls—and retail ownership, including the New York department store Bonwit Teller and the five-and-dime store S. H. Kress & Co..[citation needed] In 1973, directors of Genesco, who had oveseen W. Maxey Jarmen's subsequent naming of his son (J.F.

[10] On January 2, 1977, the ten sitting directors of Genesco voted unanimously to oust the young Franklin M. Jarman from his positions of president and chief executive officer, retaining him as board chairman, but only with duties and authority as allowed him by the interim CEO, William M. Blackie,[11] with a committee of the board tasked with identifying a permanent CEO.

[10][needs update] The company suffered from over-diversification at one point, and the ongoing manufacturing operations in the southern United States continued to depress results for a long period of time.

[citation needed] In February 2002, Genesco Chief Executive Ben Harris, noting that "[s]ales of welted shoes ha[d] fallen as consumers... adopted more casual attire"', said that demand for that product "ha[d] reached a level at which it can be better satisfied from other sources", and—despite previous year company statements "sternly reject[ing]" closure of the Johnston & Murphy, Nashville, Tennessee plant[12]—and announced a layoff of 40 workers, and closure of the plant.