Comments on: 10 Classic English Shoemakers Part 3: New and revived Brands http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/ What Makes A Man is for and about stylish men, from the simple life to life’s luxuries. Sat, 4 Feb 2012 15:24:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Ph Julemont http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/comment-page-1/#comment-105181 Ph Julemont Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:07:25 +0000 http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/#comment-105181 Hi John, Thank you for your reaction and comments. It helps me much to have a feed back from somebody used to these shops. Like I said, these were personal reactions about what I felt this last week visit. This was my first time in Grenson's shop and I really felt to have to run out ! I think, if they don't want that image to be sprayed over newcomers, they should really work on this. I'm personally addicted to Cheaney (the best for my feet) and, even if I bought a bunch of shoes, I do think they can do better. We're never so critical than with the ones we love most! Have a great year 2012 and btw thank you very much for your helpful website. Philippe Hi John,
Thank you for your reaction and comments. It helps me much to have a feed back from somebody used to these shops.
Like I said, these were personal reactions about what I felt this last week visit.
This was my first time in Grenson’s shop and I really felt to have to run out ! I think, if they don’t want that image to be sprayed over newcomers, they should really work on this.
I’m personally addicted to Cheaney (the best for my feet) and, even if I bought a bunch of shoes, I do think they can do better. We’re never so critical than with the ones we love most!
Have a great year 2012 and btw thank you very much for your helpful website.
Philippe

]]> By: John Van Rijn http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/comment-page-1/#comment-104983 John Van Rijn Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:06:57 +0000 http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/#comment-104983 Hi, PH Julemont, I appreciate you taking the trouble to comment on the stores, especially as you are a visitor to London. I really appreciate your perspective. On the subjects of your comments, I have the following observations; Grenson. I have always found the service here to be excellent, though you are right about the small size of the shop. It hinders them, I think Grenson would do much better with a bigger shop. Cheaney. Here we have to agree to disagree. The Bond Street shop was tiny and incredibly cramped, I felt like I was inside a closet. I agree that the staff gave good service but under very difficult conditions. I really like the new shop, it has the capacity to show off the whole of the Cheaney range and I find it a pleasure to shop there. In my experience the service has been superb, even better now that the staff have the room to do their job well. Church’s. One of the interesting things about the takeover of Church by Prada has been how they have re-tuned their service to better serve visitors to the UK. I agree that this is a good thing. Again, a pleasure to hear from you, feel free to comment anytime. JVR Hi, PH Julemont,

I appreciate you taking the trouble to comment on the stores, especially as you are a visitor to London. I really appreciate your perspective.

On the subjects of your comments, I have the following observations;

Grenson. I have always found the service here to be excellent, though you are right about the small size of the shop. It hinders them, I think Grenson would do much better with a bigger shop.

Cheaney. Here we have to agree to disagree. The Bond Street shop was tiny and incredibly cramped, I felt like I was inside a closet. I agree that the staff gave good service but under very difficult conditions. I really like the new shop, it has the capacity to show off the whole of the Cheaney range and I find it a pleasure to shop there. In my experience the service has been superb, even better now that the staff have the room to do their job well.

Church’s. One of the interesting things about the takeover of Church by Prada has been how they have re-tuned their service to better serve visitors to the UK. I agree that this is a good thing.

Again, a pleasure to hear from you, feel free to comment anytime.

JVR

]]> By: Ph Julemont http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/comment-page-1/#comment-104871 Ph Julemont Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:45:49 +0000 http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/#comment-104871 Last visit to London : Grenson : worst service I ever had in a shoe store (including low prices retailers). Tiny crowded store, the best place not to take care about what you're buying. Previous comment on non England made shoes is perfectly correct: Grenson mix both kind of shoes in the same area! ALWAYS LOOK TWICE ON WHAT YOU BUY! More like a hawker then a reliable store. Cheaney : always great shoes with great prices but service has lower since their departure from Bond Street. They want to be close to their professional customers (OK) but forget the abroad ones who wants to take time and get good advice. Lobb: disappointed by the look of the store shoes! some seems already marked and leather is surely not perfect. Saw two customers from far away coming specially for Lobb and wandering why they were so bad is these shoes. With a price over 800, you may ask. Wandering if this company's not taking advantage of it's reputation? We have 'tourist' buyers, if we lower our quality, they won't see it! Church's: like Grenson they have a brand made in Italy marked 'English shoes Made in Italy'! but quite distinctive. Service is well placed and turned to newcomers. Best shoes are set to a quite high price for this quality, a way to justify the high prices for the lower quality? Of course, these are just personal feelings and have not been challenged by companies. Last visit to London :
Grenson : worst service I ever had in a shoe store (including low prices retailers). Tiny crowded store, the best place not to take care about what you’re buying. Previous comment on non England made shoes is perfectly correct: Grenson mix both kind of shoes in the same area! ALWAYS LOOK TWICE ON WHAT YOU BUY! More like a hawker then a reliable store.
Cheaney : always great shoes with great prices but service has lower since their departure from Bond Street. They want to be close to their professional customers (OK) but forget the abroad ones who wants to take time and get good advice.
Lobb: disappointed by the look of the store shoes! some seems already marked and leather is surely not perfect. Saw two customers from far away coming specially for Lobb and wandering why they were so bad is these shoes. With a price over 800, you may ask. Wandering if this company’s not taking advantage of it’s reputation? We have ‘tourist’ buyers, if we lower our quality, they won’t see it!
Church’s: like Grenson they have a brand made in Italy marked ‘English shoes Made in Italy’! but quite distinctive. Service is well placed and turned to newcomers. Best shoes are set to a quite high price for this quality, a way to justify the high prices for the lower quality?
Of course, these are just personal feelings and have not been challenged by companies.

]]> By: Classic English Shoes: The Country Brogue | What Makes a Man http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/comment-page-1/#comment-79748 Classic English Shoes: The Country Brogue | What Makes a Man Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:52:07 +0000 http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/#comment-79748 [...] For more about Barkers we wrote about them here [...] [...] For more about Barkers we wrote about them here [...]

]]> By: The solution for bench-made shoes | What Makes a Man http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/comment-page-1/#comment-77269 The solution for bench-made shoes | What Makes a Man Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:06:35 +0000 http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/#comment-77269 [...] My earlier articles on good English shoemakers (Including Jeffrey West, Oliver Sweeney and Cheaney) are here and here [...] [...] My earlier articles on good English shoemakers (Including Jeffrey West, Oliver Sweeney and Cheaney) are here and here [...]

]]> By: Robert http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/comment-page-1/#comment-63904 Robert Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:39:42 +0000 http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/#comment-63904 Excellent shoe information. I'm looking for a shoe like the walking shoe formerly made by the sadly now defunct Hawkins of Derby. These shoes were tough as all get out, but looked good enough for town wear. I went through three sets of soles before they were done. Now cannot find anything similar. Another fine UK firm with good products allowed to die on the vine for no particular reason! I hope you can suggest something? Excellent shoe information. I’m looking for a shoe like the walking shoe formerly made by the sadly now defunct Hawkins of Derby. These shoes were tough as all get out, but looked good enough for town wear. I went through three sets of soles before they were done. Now cannot find anything similar. Another fine UK firm with good products allowed to die on the vine for no particular reason! I hope you can suggest something?

]]> By: Gary Brockman http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/comment-page-1/#comment-25523 Gary Brockman Sat, 18 Dec 2010 02:19:43 +0000 http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/#comment-25523 No classic English sandals? With an strap? Just a little more sophisticated than we used to wear to school? No classic English sandals? With an strap? Just a little more sophisticated than we used to wear to school?

]]> By: Michael http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/comment-page-1/#comment-23088 Michael Tue, 09 Nov 2010 10:10:49 +0000 http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/#comment-23088 Just hought a pair of Grenson shoes and have returned them. Why? They're not made in England. They say "England" on the box but they looked just not quite right - especially since there is little printed on the inside of the shoe. Concerned, I rang the factory they told me they were made in India. I don't mind paying a premium price for a premium shoe but I object to paying money for an "English" shoe costing the same as other genuinely English shoes but where huge profits are made by outsourcing the work elsewhere. Yes, some Grenson shoes are still made in England but this to my mind is devious marketing of the worst kind. If you have any doubts, don't buy Grenson if you want an English shoe. Always read the label. Carefully. If it doesn't say Made in England, it isn't made in England. Just hought a pair of Grenson shoes and have returned them. Why? They’re not made in England. They say “England” on the box but they looked just not quite right – especially since there is little printed on the inside of the shoe. Concerned, I rang the factory they told me they were made in India.

I don’t mind paying a premium price for a premium shoe but I object to paying money for an “English” shoe costing the same as other genuinely English shoes but where huge profits are made by outsourcing the work elsewhere.

Yes, some Grenson shoes are still made in England but this to my mind is devious marketing of the worst kind. If you have any doubts, don’t buy Grenson if you want an English shoe.

Always read the label. Carefully. If it doesn’t say Made in England, it isn’t made in England.

]]> By: Oliver Sweeney – Summer Sale starts 19th June | What Makes a Man http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/comment-page-1/#comment-6786 Oliver Sweeney – Summer Sale starts 19th June | What Makes a Man Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:28:14 +0000 http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/#comment-6786 [...] Oliver Sweeney make distinctive, stylish and upscale shoes.   They are the modern face of English shoemaking and pioneers of modern styling, their shoes are a hybrid of Italian and English style, with Oliver Sweeney’s creative genius thrown in for good measure. Their shoes are extraordinarily comfortable and are built around an “anatomical last” designed to support the foot with maximum comfort.  We wrote in some detail about their shoes here [...] [...] Oliver Sweeney make distinctive, stylish and upscale shoes.   They are the modern face of English shoemaking and pioneers of modern styling, their shoes are a hybrid of Italian and English style, with Oliver Sweeney’s creative genius thrown in for good measure. Their shoes are extraordinarily comfortable and are built around an “anatomical last” designed to support the foot with maximum comfort.  We wrote in some detail about their shoes here [...]

]]> By: What Makes a Man » 10 Classic English Shoemakers Part 2: The Traditional Brands http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/comment-page-1/#comment-1505 What Makes a Man » 10 Classic English Shoemakers Part 2: The Traditional Brands Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:06:44 +0000 http://www.whatmakesaman.net/wordpress/2008/09/22/10-classic-english-shoemakers-part-3-new-and-revived-brands/#comment-1505 [...] Part 3 of this article “New and revived brands” is here  [...] [...] Part 3 of this article “New and revived brands” is here  [...]

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