STRAP
Cheryl Taylor, Editor, talks to Lynn Clark of Finale, Corbridge, runner up in the National Shop Front Of The Year Award, 2015.
Q&A:
Name: Lynn Clark Shop: Finale
Brands: Paul Green, Le Babe, Peter Kaiser, Caprice, Remonte, La Badia, Hogl, Vidoretta, Capollini, Adesso, HB, Fitflop, Bumper, Van Dal, Hego’s, Sabrinas, Ipanemas
Home town: Corbridge, Northumberland Family: Partner Terry and daughter Faye
How did you get into footwear? Tell us about your background and your current business? I have always been interested in fashion and the fashion industry. I joined a mail order company that wanted to open stores around the country, I opened stores for them in various areas and travelled around the country managing these stores for a number of years. I learnt a great deal about the fashion industry, buying stock and all the aspects of running shops and managing staff.
I decided to open my own shop after spotting an opportunity in the
gorgeous Corbridge ten years ago. Finale had been a shoe shop for many years before I purchased it from its previous owner who was retiring. When I took over, I introduced new brands and expanded the range of styles offered, to meet the needs of both old and new customers.
36 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • JUNE/JULY 2015
Where are your premises located and how many people do you employ? Tell us about your shop, the local area and your customers? I employ four people in Finale, my daughter Faye who has been with the business for three years, Linda who has been with the business since I purchased it having worked for the previous owner, Pat who has been with me for eight years and Gaynor who has been with me for six years.
Finale is both a local shop and a destination, we have a lot of customers
who live in the local area and have visited the shop for many years. We also have many customers who travel from areas such as Carlisle, Scotland, Tyne and Wear and Newcastle, as well as a strong tourist trade. Corbridge is a lovely area to work and live in, it is a thriving village full of independent shops offering wonderful items and services. We have a strong traders’ association and we meet on a regular basis to plan village events and support and encourage each other. Many of our customers come to Finale for a personal shopping service, they want advice on styles, fitting and the opportunity to try on a selection of stylish and comfortable shoes. Some customers have requirements for wider fitting shoes, shoes to accommodate orthotics or shoes to fit feet with the lumps and bumps, that we all get as life progresses!
Do you have an online shop/website and do you use social networking for business? Faye developed our website
www.finaleshoes.com a couple of years ago and we have recently decided to upgrade this.
It has proved a useful
resource for customers looking at our collections prior to visiting the shop and also for customers who don’t live in the local area but may have visited us and found their perfect pair previously. We also get orders from around the world for particular brands that customers love and from customers that have been recommended by friends. We have active Facebook and twitter accounts and use these to keep customers up to date with new stock arrivals.
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