very important to measure the foot to find customers their perfect fit.
Q: What’s selling well right now? What are your best-selling footwear brands and why? Angela: I have to say, Art is our number one brand. We introduced it three years ago and the styling allows us to target a customer who is looking for something different. Additionally, this has also brought new customers into our store as they’re attracted by the quirkiness of this gorgeous Spanish brand! Art has grown so quickly among our customer
base, but they also quite like other similar brands like Paula Urban and Maria Lya. Between them all, they offer a wonderful selection of colours and styling and we find our customers quite often chop and change between these three brands.
Q: What are your views on the independent footwear and fashion sector at the moment? Angela: Our customers require something edgy – something they won’t find in the high street chains, but something they still want to be comfortable in every day. We believe our brand mix supports our customers’ tastes and allows them to express their individuality with quality, inexpensive footwear. There have been many footwear store closures over the last few seasons, including some very high profile retailers, but there are customers out there who will need to feed their passion for gorgeous footwear – and independent stores like ours can cater to that. Margin is so important for independent
retailers, especially now with all the added costs that the Government has imposed. Therefore,
“Our shop is definitely unique – it’s feminine, fashionable and classic but with a twist!”
buying the right brands that can support you with in-season repeats – with enhanced margins – are key factors when buying stock for new seasons. We will grow our turnover in pairs but we have to grow our margins faster to keep up with increasing business costs.
Q: How do you think the Government could best help footwear retailers at this challenging time? Angela: Business rates are a disaster! It’s like the Government wants to close down everyone’s favourite shopping destinations; they need to support the independent retailers that continue to make the UK’s high streets and town centres worth a visit! So I think a review of all the sky- high business rates that we have to pay is long overdue; I know certain groups are lobbying for change, I just hope it gets us somewhere. There are too many stunning old shopping
streets being destroyed that are now full of coffee shops, phone shops, restaurants and charity shops. These streets used to have gorgeous independent fashion footwear stores, like ours, and beautiful boutiques – and this gave people a real reason to visit. Our customers love the fact that they find new unique styles and looks from quality brands every time they visit.
Q: Do you have any plans for the future? Angela: Just keep doing what we’re doing… Every day we look forward to serving our very loyal customer base and we always love interacting with them – whether they are famous or not, local or from anywhere in the world. We will always offer great styling and quality product, and people know that about us.
Contact
Elizabeth Ann Shoes, Cathedral Close, Exeter, EX1 1EZ.
APRIL 2026 • FOOTWEAR & FASHION TODAY • 45
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
