How important is shoe fitting to your business? Are you or any of your staff members of the Society Of Shoe Fitters? It is very important to us. All our staff are members. In fact we currently have 3 new members of staff now doing the SSF course.
Does your shop sell other items besides footwear, bags, gloves, tights, socks, below the ankle products? We just sell shoes, bags and shoe care products (nice and simple).
Do you use an EPOS (retail technology) system in your shop? We use the top to toe epos system which is linked to our website. You always get a few technical issues, but easily sortable. But in general we are very pleased with it.
Any tips on stock offers, novel ideas for clearing lines or advice for independent shoe retailers who might be feeling the pinch? Here is a good tip for when you prepare for your sale. For the majority of women their left foot is bigger than the right, and vice versa for men. So, when you put your ladies’ shoes out for the sale you automatically put the right shoe out, it’s how they are packed and because it is the easy option. Well, we don’t, delve deeper in the box and put the left out. It’s harder work but believe me it’s worth it. I will let you work out the logic and the benefits.
What is your favourite men’s footwear brand/manufacturer – ditto ladies/children’s brand – and why? My favourite Gents brand has got to be Mephisto. They don’t skimp on quality. If it must be that price so be it. A lot of companies de spec shoes to keep the price down and you can tell. This is something that Mephisto just don’t do. My favourite Ladies shoe must be Gabor. Always very clean when they
come in, with such a vast array of choice and colours. It’s one brand I struggle to buy, as I wish I had a higher budget!!!
How do you select your products – which criteria do you use / what are your customers looking for? I always try and keep my ear to the ground on the shop floor as it’s not always what you sell it’s what you are asked for, and what you are missing out on. Basically, keep selling what are doing well and always try to bring in new brands to keep it fresh.
Which footwear/fashion shows do you attend, how do you rate them? Moda and occasionally GDS. Moda has gone down a bit in the last few years as there are fewer suppliers there these days. Maybe if the NEC brought their inflated prices down there would be more suppliers prepared to show, thus a higher number of retailers visiting. Well that’s my logic!!
Do you have a favourite footwear agent you can tell us about? Tough, I have quite a few. But, I am not going to give you a current one, in fact my all-time favourite agent is no longer with us. He sadly passed away a few years ago to cancer, and I still miss him to this day. His name was Neil Matterson, and if you knew him then you will know exactly where I’m coming from. He was such a character, and a big loss to the shoe trade. I met him when I first went into shoes and as he lived locally to me I knew him very well.
Have you always had a passion for footwear? How many pairs of shoes do you own? Do you have a favourite pair? Yes, I have always had a passion for shoes. I don’t have many shoes (believe it or not), probably about 10 pairs. I guess that may be quite a lot for a man. My wife always complains that most of our holiday luggage weight is due to my shoes! My favourite shoes are my Ecco tracks which I wear to take out my two
border collies, and considering the amount of exercise they need I don’t seem able to wear them out (That’s the shoes and the dogs !)
Any famous customers? Yes. We’ve had a few.
• Robin Van Persie (Ex Man Utd player) No discount for him as I’m a Man City Fan!!!
• Les Dennis • Sam Vokes (Burnley footballer) • Sally Lindsay (Mount Pleasant and Coronation St) • Anne Reid (Dinner Ladies and Last Tango in Halifax) • Barbara Knox (Rita in Coronation St) • Eileen Derbyshire (Emily Bishop in Coronation St) • Paula Tilbrook (Betty in Emmerdale)
And, the next step? Any plans for the future, new lines, retail systems/new technology, etc.? I have no more plans at the moment. After a crazy two years I’m taking a break from any more plans!!!!
Contact: Haslams Footwear T: 01625 525980 E:
haslamsofwilmslow@gmail.com W:
haslamsofwilmslow.co.uk
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • 35
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