barney15c Posted December 8, 2011 Posted December 8, 2011 Correction i meant Priceless.....Bad news for us larger footed folk in the UK, Barratts who own the Big Shoe Boutique brand are one of the few mainstream / high street retailers that sell larger sized (upto UK10/11) shoes. They have recently been selling the type of fashionable shoes that we would not normally have had access to at high street prices. I sincerely hope they manage to sort out their financial difficulties as choices of large sized up to date styles are far and few between. I will only be left with Evans and they are patchy when it comes to modern styles. In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king!!!
at9 Posted December 8, 2011 Posted December 8, 2011 A couple of links to news articles: http://www.retail-week.com/sectors/fashion/footwear/barratts-priceless-plunges-into-administration/5031923.article http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/08/barratts-idUSWLA978720111208 They still seem to be trading online so the responsibility of fulfilling any new orders is now with the administrators. Not sure about orders that have not yet been delivered or about returns.
CRabbit Posted December 8, 2011 Posted December 8, 2011 It's quite unfortunate that we may well lose this retailer, or at least see them downsize to a less accessible level. That said, I never bought a singe thing from them, so it won't be a massive loss for me. Chris
Dr. Shoe Posted December 8, 2011 Posted December 8, 2011 That said, I never bought a singe thing from them, so it won't be a massive loss for me. Chris Oh well, that's OK then! Graduate footwear designer able to advise and assist on modification and shoe making projects.
ilikekicks Posted December 8, 2011 Posted December 8, 2011 Administration? Is that like Organized Bankruptcy? REPEATEDLY ARGUMENTATIVE, INSULTING AND RUDE. BANNED FOR LIFE.
barney15c Posted December 9, 2011 Author Posted December 9, 2011 They did go into administration in 2009 but obviously managed to get out of it only to fall back in to it again. Lets hope they are able to continue trading without shedding the big shoe boutique brand, would be a real shame as recently they have been selling some lovely larger sized ladies shoes. In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king!!!
Guest Posted December 9, 2011 Posted December 9, 2011 I'm not surprised. Ordered three pairs of shoes from them for christmas last year for Chris. One came - wrong size no paperwork! second came two weeks later 22nd with full invoice and nill stock for the third. No other emails to advise. Did the return and complained three times no real answers very disappointing. good bit they never claimed payment from paypal. I've visited the portsmouth store and think the stock looks cheep and tacky. Al
at9 Posted December 9, 2011 Posted December 9, 2011 Administration? Is that like Organized Bankruptcy? GIYF It's like Chapter 11 in the US. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administration_%28law%29 I've ordered 2 items from BSB and had no problems. Quality isn't superb but the prices reflect that. I've seen Barratts stores and they do look a bit cheap and tacky, along with the overwhelming smell of synthetic leather. Again a reflection of the price of the goods.
roniheels Posted December 9, 2011 Posted December 9, 2011 So in other words, you pay for what you get and you get what you pay for?
Dr. Shoe Posted December 9, 2011 Posted December 9, 2011 Isn't that always the way? Graduate footwear designer able to advise and assist on modification and shoe making projects.
Puffer Posted December 14, 2011 Posted December 14, 2011 The Stylo Barratt empire appears to be continuing to trade more or less normally whilst in administration - which is of course the intention. It will either survive (with some restructuring or re-financing) or be sold (perhaps piecemeal) or go into insolvent liquidation. Most of the products sold variously by Priceless, Big Shoe Boutique, Discount Shoe Store etc are still available and enhanced discounts are on offer. Those interested might find it profitable to seek out the best deals and pounce whilst stocks allow. There must be some doubt whether stocks will be replaced, although my guess is that some shipments from China will still be on the water and become available here.
barney15c Posted December 30, 2011 Author Posted December 30, 2011 Just heard on the news that Barratts is going to lay off 1500 staff and an undisclosed number of shops closing as they have failed to find a buyer that would have kept the business going as a going concern. Of course i feel sorry for those that have lost their jobs but i am also gutted as this was the one company that sold very contemporary and stylish large sized shoes, and is going to be a very big gap to replace in the market. A great pity, fortunately i bought enough pairs from them (over 40 pairs) to keep me going for a while!!!! Maybe they might be able to keep going as an online business, but im not raising my hopes. In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king!!!
jwhite44 Posted December 30, 2011 Posted December 30, 2011 ...the one company that sold very contemporary and stylish large sized shoes... Maybe some confirmation that though men in heels might be increasing, it's not a significant enough marketshare to contribute significantly to a company's bottom line.
barney15c Posted December 30, 2011 Author Posted December 30, 2011 Maybe some confirmation that though men in heels might be increasing, it's not a significant enough marketshare to contribute significantly to a company's bottom line. Maybe not male buyers although there are quite a lot of teenage girls / young women who are taller than previous generations who have to wear larger shoe sizes ie size 9 and 10 uk are are not as rare as they used to be. Indeed one of my 15 year old nieces is 5ft 10in and takes a UK9 and has not stopped growing and could potentially go up another size or two. So there is that market as well One observation ...a lot of the really modern styles quickly run out of the very large sizes (UK10 and UK11). Where they let themselves down badly was with sizing issues and then using the excuse they were european sizing. There were quite a few models they sold that were upto 2 sizes smaller than stated and therefore alienated customers who needed the very large sizes. And there were a lot of negative comments on their tall and small website about this very issue that back this up. I have read other news reports after i posted this one, it seems that the shops in the main are reprieved 18 going out of 173) , its mainly concessions in stores are where the cuts are being made (1610 made redundant). In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king!!!
jwhite44 Posted December 31, 2011 Posted December 31, 2011 Maybe not male buyers although there are quite a lot of teenage girls / young women who are taller than previous generations who have to wear larger shoe sizes ie size 9 and 10 uk are are not as rare as they used to be... I agree with you that larger size feet in heels (women or men) is more common now that it was years/decades ago. However, while the USA Payless store hasn't gone out of business, when the global recession started a few years ago, the decrease in larger (12-13) size shoes was noticeable. The most logical conclusion was that those more extreme sizes (could also include small (4-5) sized shoes) were economically riskier to produce. Hence they were the first ones to get dropped in uncertain economic times.
Puffer Posted December 31, 2011 Posted December 31, 2011 Barney15c has summed up the position very well and I share his views. It would indeed be a great shame if the better products from Priceless do not continue to be available, whether from Priceless or elsewhere. The shoes and boots of 'Sherbert' brand do seem to be accurately sized and I am pleased with those I have in UK11. There is no obvious immediate threat to the range because (as barney says), the main cuts are in the in-store concessions - which would probably have been of limited value to us anyway (and I cannot recall ever seeing one). Moreover, few of the branches seemed to stock the larger sizes and it was usually necessary to order from head office, whether for direct delivery or for branch pick-up. Let us hope that this does not change significantly; there is nothing currently on the website to suggest otherwise but of course stocks might run out and not be replaced. As yet, the prices and sale discounts have barely changed. I have however seen some of the products on sale on eBay at inflated prices - which might explain why some items/sizes are sold out quickly.
barney15c Posted December 31, 2011 Author Posted December 31, 2011 As yet, the prices and sale discounts have barely changed. I have however seen some of the products on sale on eBay at inflated prices - which might explain why some items/sizes are sold out quickly. Indeed there is Puffer, i bought a pair of mini platform pumps in grey suede like material from an ebay buyer that were virtually sold out in all sizes, i was fortunate to get them at close to retal price. However some boots including a gorgeous pair of laced ankle boots with a platform sole went for over £60. I wasn't prepared to pay nearly twice the price for them however much i liked them. I am hoping the mail order model may save the large size range if not i dont know who might replace them in the market. Evans shoes on the whole are still a bit frumpy for my liking but getting better. the only alternative may be specialist large size on line retailers who charge (understandibly) much higher prices as they cant order the stock in large quantities to keep prices down. I will be following this story with interest. In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king!!!
Puffer Posted January 1, 2012 Posted January 1, 2012 ... I am hoping the mail order model may save the large size range if not i dont know who might replace them in the market. Evans shoes on the whole are still a bit frumpy for my liking but getting better. ... Evans footwear is not only often somewhat frumpy but. in my recent experience, less likely to fit a UK11. My so-called 11EEE boots (bought a year ago) are certainly not a true 11 and the current range mostly stops at 10; only ONE item shown online as available in 11. Given that Evans, along with other retailers, is experiencing a growing demand for larger sizes, it is strange that fewer are now available - presumably a recession measure (as with Payless in the US).
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