Press | Footwear Today

Footwear Industry Awards 2018 – Press Coverage

Jack Cheeseman — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 17:56:19 +0000

National award for WJ French and Son, Southampton’s oldest shop

Jack Cheeseman — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 14:38:35 +0000

WJ. French and Son based in Bedford Place, Southampton has been trading for more than 200 years during which time it has been managed by members of eight different generations of the same family.

Now Caroline French, the current managing director, is celebrating with her staff after the store was named Independent Family Footwear Retailer of the Year in the Footwear Industry Awards in Birmingham.

Caroline said: “It’s not every day that you get the opportunity to take over a family business that has been in Southampton since 1803.

“It is a real honour to have received this award and to gain recognition for our work. This is down to the hard work of all our staff and the support of the loyal families who shop with us.”

“But the staff are incredibly hard-working and loyal and that has been a tremendous help. Our manager has been with the business for 51 years and the average length of service is 20 years, so that’s a lot of shoe-fitting knowledge and expertise.

“I’m the first woman to be running the family business but my grandmother, great- grandmother and great-great-grandmother all worked alongside their husbands, either in the office or on the shop floor. I have known many of the staff members since I was young so it is like working with a big extended family.”

Caroline, a former city chartered surveyor took over as MD from her father Richard two years ago when he retired.

The company sells and repairs shoes for all ages and also specialised shoe fitting for those with narrow or wide feet or people with health issues such as diabetes.

The business can trace its its roots back to 1794, when Francis French began his apprenticeship as a shoemaker.

By 1803 he had become a master shoemaker and started his own business in Kingsland Place, Southampton.

His son William purchased the current shop in Bedford Place in 1890, which was thus extended in 1964.

Caroline says she aims to maintain the high standards set by her father and grandfather.

Since taking over, she has an improved website and new stock control and cash desk systems, however she reiterated that the key to her success was “exceptional customer service”.

“We have loyal customers who have been coming to us for generations, who understand how important it is to have shoes that are not only fashionable but also well fitting. We strive for excellent customer service at all times so it is a real honour to have received this award and to gain recognition for our work,” said Caroline.

Source: Southern Daily Echo

Awards a shoe-in for family firm

Jack Cheeseman — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 18:27:21 +0000

A Bourne-based family shoe firm has walked off with its sixth national award in just six years.

North Shoes, who have traded from North Street since 1876, are celebrating after being named men’s independent retailer of the year at the prestigious Footwear Industry Awards 2017.

And store manager Ryan Clements made it a golden double by beating off literally hundreds of rivals to be named Society of Shoe Fitters (SSF) Student of the Year.

It’s the third time North Shoes have won the men’s independent retailer of the year accolade and delighted managing director James North – the fifth generation at the helm of the business – said: “It’s an honour to win this award three years in a row and it shows just how much dedication to offering a quality fitting service for men can bring your business.

“I’m really chuffed for Ryan – he’s put hours of dedication and hard work into his SSF course. He’s a credit to the company and the North Shoes family.”

Ryan, who has only been managing the Bourne store for a year, said: “I feel incredibly proud. The SSF had their biggest intake of students this year and there were literally hundreds who could have been up for the award.

“It was an honour to receive it at a ceremony attended by the bosses of all of the leading shoe firms in the world. It took me a year to complete the course alongside my job. It’s a great achievement, but my family, friends and James and the team at North Shoes have been fantastic and really supportive.”

Ryan is not resting on his laurels. After learning all elements of shoe construction, fitting and foot health through the SSF course he’s now training as a foot health practitioner and added: “I love my career and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”

North Shoes, who have stores in Peterborough, Stamford and Cambridge, were also shortlisted in the ladies’ independent retailer and independent family retailer categories and Cambridge branch manager Paul Luesby was shortlisted in the personality of the year section.

The Footwear Industry Awards were launched in 2012 to honour good practice and in addition to their three men’s independent retailer successes, North Shoes have also won the independent family retailer and ladies’ independent retailer crowns since 2012.

This year’s awards were presented at a gala night at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham. Cheryl Taylor, editor of Footwear Today magazine, said: “A key function of the awards is to recognise independent footwear retailers and the fantastic job they do – from start-ups all the way through to established businesses and multiples.

“To win a coveted Footwear Industry Award is a real quality mark for a footwear retailer, communicating to customers that they offer unrivalled products and service. Congratulations to North Shoes, who are our Men’s Independent Footwear Retailer of the Year 2017, for their fantastic achievement!”

CAPTION: Winning team… from the left, James Jackson (North Shoes shows manager), Ryan Clements (Bourne manager), James North, Rosemary Gray (Peterborough manager), Paul Luesby (Cambridge manager) and Lee Marshall Rose (North Shoes operations manager).

A Leicestershire independent footwear store has stomped to success at a National Footwear Industry Awards, scooping the National Shop Front Of The Year 2017 award.

Jack Cheeseman — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 11:30:40 +0000

The nationally acclaimed awards, held at the National Motorcycle Museum this week, considered that Stomp Footwear of Narborough, which is run by three working-mums, Debbie Evans, Lucy Boyle and Rebecca Simpson, to be top of the class thanks to their eye-catching, engaging and innovative window displays, designed especially to engage with local school-children.

Launched in October 2013, when their children came of school age, the three friends spotted a gap in the market for design-led, fitted childrens’ shoes and now stock ranges from the likes of Camper, Birkenstock, Dr Martens, Toms and LelliKelly, attracting repeat custom from across the County.

The Award organisers commented;

“The National Shop Front of the year award recognises and rewards the creativity and ideas of independent retailers. The FIA team know that designing and organising a display often goes unappreciated for independent retailers. However, an eye-catching, relevant and well thought out window display can help drive footfall, increase consumer interest and stimulate impulse purchases. A window display that has taken time, effort and skill demonstrates the retailers’ passion for their customers and for the footwear industry”.

Co-owner, Debbie Evans, said;

“We love to change our window displays as often as we can – we believe the frontage is, literally, a shop window into the store and we want to reflect our stylish but fun approach to both mums and kids alike. We are thrilled to have been recognized for this – on such a huge level. The judges took particular time to comment on our recent LCFC window, which even had passing members of the public taking photographs, as well as giving top marks to our Back To School window. The pressure is now on for our Easter window, which we’ll need to make egg-stra special!”

Stomp Footwear is at 2 Station Road, Narborough, Leicestershire, LE19 2HR. Tel 0116 3190606 for more information. www.stompfootwear.com