Cheryl Taylor, Editor, talks to Independent Footwear Retailer Amanda Kent, of Solent Shoes, Portchester. In my teens I had worked alongside my Mum for an independent
Q&A:
Name: Amanda Kent Shop: Solent Shoes
Brands: Padders, Padders+, Waldlaufer, Caprice, Chatham, Leggero from SS19
Home town: Shop is located in Portchester, I live in Lee-on-the-Solent. Am originally from Northamptonshire.
Family: Husband and son aged 13
How did you get into footwear? Tell us about your background and your current business? When I turned 45 I knew I needed a change in career direction. I wanted to do something interesting and do something for myself to have more work satisfaction. Having been a military spouse for 26 years my work in finance had been
something that worked around my husband’s career as a Commander in the Royal Navy, but it was never a number one career choice for me. I had always been the ‘anchor’ for our home life and for our son, so when I suggested a career change my husband was 100% behind the idea wanting the chance to support me.
34 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
retailer called David & Margaret in Towcester, Northants and I have never forgotten what the family taught me about adult and children’s shoe fitting, the importance of wearing good quality shoes and how to give great customer service. The next step was to refresh my knowledge with a shoe fitting course run
by the Society of Shoefitters. When I received my course material and attended the workshops I just knew I’d found my passion again!
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? The premises is at 6 Castle Street in Portchester, Hampshire (just down the road from beautiful Portchester castle and not far from the stretch of water between the South Coast and the Isle of Wight, The Solent). It is currently just me serving in the shop and I have family that help on busier days. The type of customer I currently see tends to be senior adults or adults with foot health problems.
Do you have an online shop/website and do you use social networking for business? Solent Shoes has a Facebook and Instagram page plus an information website which we will develop into an online sales website. Although there is no comparison to coming into the shop to be fitted, I do feel the website is necessary for the accessories and other items I sell. I use social media to advertise on local community pages and to direct local people to the Solent Shoes social media pages.
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