see how we operate, they often say “you wouldn’t get service like this anywhere else” – especially when we also see the customer out of the shop by getting the door for them, doing that little bit extra goes a long way to customers being happy. We tend to be able to cater for most customers’ needs as we carry
formal traditional shoes for the special event or more casual styles for every day; we also carry a large stock of children’s school shoes. In an ideal world we would fit everybody up with some footwear, but we are realistic and know that’s not possible, but we make sure we give them the best possible service so they will leave remembering us and then will hopefully come back and try again.
Q: Do you have an online shop or website, and do you use social networking for business? A: We have a website but we use this mainly as a shop window where people can see the brands we stock and images of the styles, but we encourage customers to come to the shop and try the footwear on as not every shoe will fit the same just because it’s the same size. They also get to see and feel the quality of what they are buying rather
than ordering it online and it not fitting or not looking how they thought it would. We do use Instagram and Facebook to put out the latest styles that have come in, and we also advertise regularly in our local newspaper. We’re also in the process of sorting out a radio ad for the local radio station too!
Q: What’s selling well right now? What are your best-selling footwear brands and why? A: We are certainly finding since the pandemic that the choice of footwear people are wearing is a lot more casual rather than formal. We always sell ladies’ Rieker, Remonte and Ara shoes and in men’s we do well with Imac, Anatomic and Rieker. We have started stocking Skechers in the last year
in men’s and ladies’ and these have really taken off – especially the slip-ins and I think this is down to so many people wearing trainers these days. With everyone so busy rushing around, they are so easy to put on.
Q: What are your favourite footwear brands at the moment and why? A: I wouldn’t say I have a favourite men’s brand; I like Barker shoes as they offer some traditional styles and a good mix of some standout different styles which always look good. Again, on ladies’, not necessarily a favourite, but Waldlaufer are very good because when the customer puts them on, nine times out of 10 they buy them due to the comfort they offer.
Children’s footwear has always been Start-Rite; the way they are made
and how well they last with the abuse they take in a school day, both my children have worn Start-Rite shoes for school and pretty much one pair last for a whole school year.
Q: How important is shoe fitting to your business? A: It’s definitely an important part of our business – especially when we fit children’s school shoes – to make sure they leave the shop with the best fit possible. When it comes to adults, we still offer to measure their feet for them as this gives us chance to get them sat down, comfortable and to find out a bit more of what they are after. They will often say they haven’t had a fitting since they were a child!
With the fitting most of our footwear comes in half sizes and we carry various widths across different brands.
Q: Do you sell other items besides footwear, such as bags, socks or other accessories? A: We carry a range of handbags – some for everyday use, and some clutch bags to match the shoes for a special occasion.
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