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STRAP


Cheryl Taylor, Editor, talks to Michelle Lane of Soles With Heart, West Malling, Kent, winner of the Best New Independent Retailer Award 2014.


Q&A:


Name: Michelle Lane Shop: Soles With Heart, West Malling, Kent


Brands: Petasil, Hush Puppies, Keds, Riccosta, Sketchers, Primigi, Camper, Joules. Birkenstocks, Bo Bell, Pediped Leli Kelly, Superfit, Hi-Tec, Umi


Home Town: West Malling, Kent Family: Husband David and son Oliver age 9


How did you get into footwear? Tell us about your background and your current business? I had been in the same field for 25 years and decided I needed a new


direction in my career. I decided children’s shoes would be a great idea as I found it hard to find different footwear for my son. Unfortunately after two months of being open I was diagnosed with cancer. This has been so hard a new business, a family and cancer, luckily all three could not survive so I got rid of the cancer!


Where are your premises located and how many people do you employ? Do you have a high turnover of staff? Tell us about your shop(s), the local area, your customers and their requirements? We are in a Kentish village with 98% of the shops being independent this


is fairly unique. Our customers are of a wide diversity. The main comment we have from the customers is that they can pop in after school and still be home by 4’ish. Having free parking is an absolute advantage too plus fantastic fitting


and stock of course. We opened in April 2013 and are staff are great and very loyal


Do you have an online shop/website and do you use social networking for business? We find that Facebook and Twitter help us immensely. We are starting our on-line business, hopefully, in April.


How are you finding the footwear market currently? We have little experience in the past market but have found people really do want quality footwear and good fitting.


What’s selling well? Any particular trends? Which are your best selling footwear brands – and why? Petasil and Ricosta are selling fantastically well for school shoes.


The quality is great we are constantly being told by parents they are amazed by the quality and softness of the leather. We use Superfit for our casual and shoe trainers - they are continually


being purchased and are approved by the podiatrist we work with. Sketchers sell easily, especially for boys as they offer fun design and good value.


36 • FOOTWEAR TODAY


• MARCH 2014


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