Do you have an online shop/website and do you use social networking for business? Yes, we launched the North Shoes’ website
www.northshoes.co.uk. The company’s website effectively its third ‘shop’ – in June 2009 and can now literally boast customers all over the globe. Also, use Facebook and Twitter. What William North began from Hacconby and took into Bourne in 1876 is now reaching out across the world.
How are you finding the footwear market currently? We are doing very well, because we offer quality customer service.
What’s selling well? Any particular trends? Which are your best selling footwear brands – and why? Converse are very hot this Spring. Rieker and Loake are our best sellers.
Any tips on stock offers, novel ideas for clearing lines or advice for independent shoe retailers who might be feeling the pinch? Clear lines on your webshop.
The Second World War intervened and John joined the RAF and then in India before joining North Shoes in 1946. John led the company for 40 years and was responsible for its first expansion, launching a shop in neighbouring Holbeach in 1960. They leased the property in the High Street for ten years, with John dividing his time between spending two days a week in Holbeach and the rest in Bourne.
John retired from the business at the age of 84. He was joined by his elder son, my father, Roger North, in 1964 after Roger had completed two years’ training with Norvic and Clarks.
As Bourne expanded, so did North Shoes. In the Sixties Bourne’s population grew and North Shoes needed to grow with it. By 1975 18 North Street had ceased to be the family home as the shop took over the building. It had begun life in 1876 as a six-bedroom property and had been the home for all five generations of the shoe dynasty.
The need for more stock room meant that the upstairs flat, developed in 1969, had to give way to storage as North Shoes increased their stock to keep up with customer demand. Roger worked alongside his father until John retired in 1986. Roger masterminded a modernisation of the shop, increasing the floor space yet again in the mid-Seventies and seeing off the threat of national retailers by offering a specialist, personal, service that allowed customers to get the correct footwear from a wider choice of manufacturers than other high street businesses could offer.
In 1975 Roger and Michelle moved out of the upstairs flat as the shop was extended downstairs and upstairs was taken over by stock. Roger gradually took over the reins of the business in the early Seventies and Michelle took on the book-keeping responsibilities from John.
By now my parents were visiting shoe trade events across Europe to keep abreast of fashions as North Shoes’ customer catchment area grew to take in Stamford, Peterborough and Sleaford and surrounding villages. More expansion followed in 1989 to meet demand. North Shoes was given a new shop front as the business took over the whole of the building’s ground floor frontage.
Until 2006, when I joined the business, there was a danger that Roger’s retirement would mark the end of an era. But in 2008 my father handed over the reins to the fifth generation of Norths – something only two shoe businesses in the whole of the UK can better.
Carrying on the family tradition for growth, we moved into Peterborough in March 2009 with the opening of Footprints in Westgate. The move saw the company re open an established shoe retailers in the city, employing a manageress and four part time members of staff. Continuing the further expansion, we opened a shop in Stamford in July 2011.
What is your favourite men’s footwear brand/manufacturer – ditto ladies/children’s brand – and why? Men’s: Loake. Great price for the Quality. Ladies: Rieker, for quality and style. Children’s: Ricosta, quality and fit.
How do you select your products – which criteria do you use / what are your customers looking for? Always quality that fits.
Which footwear/fashion shows do you attend, how do you rate them? GDS, MICAM AND MODA
Do you have a favourite footwear agent? We have some great reps!
Have you always had a passion for footwear? How many pairs of shoes do you own? Do you have a favourite pair? Yes, it's in the blood. I own many pairs of Loakes, as well as other brands.
And, the next step? Any plans for the future, new lines, retail systems/new technology, etc.? Always looking for something new!
Contact Us: Bourne Shop - Tel: 01778-422886 Stamford Shop - Tel: 01780-755400 Peterborough Shop - Tel: 01733-313890 Email:
info@northshoes.co.uk www.northshoes.co.uk
SEPTEMBER 2012 • FOOTWEAR TODAY
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