Q&A
Independent Footwear Retailer of the Month
Cheryl Taylor talks to ladies’ and children’s footwear retailer, Angela Kennedy, of Piedini, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
Q&A
Name: Angela Kennedy Shop: Piedini
Brands: Art, Fly London, Alicia, Dune, Geox, Lelly Kelly. Boss. DKNY, Marc Jacob, Sophie Webster, Mini Melissa, Igor, Carl Lagerfeld, Diesel, Mayoral
Home town: Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
Q: How did you get into footwear? Tell us about your background and your current business? A: I got into the footwear business by default. I previously owned a card, gift and furniture store in the North of England, and the shop next door became available. The person that owned it wanted to let it as a children’s shoe shop, as he owned a children’s clothing store, so I decided that I would change my direction. I sold my business, rented the shop, and went into children’s shoes. I travelled to various shows in Italy, placed orders for stock and opened my footwear store.
Q: How has Covid-19 impacted your business? Tell us about your experiences, the difficulties you have encountered and how you have managed to overcome these? A: Covid hit three weeks after I opened the shop! We had a massive problem – the shop was closed, and I couldn’t get all my stock, which was being shipped from abroad! So, I decided to take the small amount of stock that had already been delivered and take it home to sell on Instagram and Facebook. I’d had my previous business for over five years and built up a large following on those platforms, but when I sold the business I included the accounts and the followers which was a huge mistake. It was extremely hard work, building up followers and selling stock from
home. It took many hours online but I managed to sell most of the small amount of stock that I had delivered. Finally, Covid rules lifted, and we were allowed to open the shop. I
plastered the name of my store all over social media. I put leaflets through doors and carried on from there. However, there were dry rot problems in the shop so I needed to find other premises!
Q: Tell us about your shop now and the local area where you’re based? A: After a trip to Lytham St Annes, I decided that I would like to live and work there. It was a bold move especially on my own, but I took the plunge I put my house up for sale and it sold within two weeks. I bought an apartment in Lytham, and I managed to buy a beautiful little shop just up the High Street, called ‘Piedini’ and I started again, selling ladies and children’s shoes. As the Owner, what I sold in the store was up to me, unlike the case in the previous store which I rented. I soon realised that my lady customers
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were buying the childrens’ shoes in the larger sizes; they were wearing the shoes themselves but just buying them at a lower price tag! Over the course of last year, I made the decision to stop selling children’s shoes and stock ladies’ shoes instead, which I adore. Ladies’ shoes are much easier to sell and not nearly as hard to store, as they take up much less room. I’ve worked tirelessly this year clearing the children’s shoes at very low prices. I will be closing the shop for two weeks in January 2024 when we
are going to have a refit and rename the shop to Angela Kaye, Ladies Footwear and Accessories.
Q: Do you have an online shop or website, and do you use social networking for business? A: We do have a website, but I tend not to sell through the website
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