I N G L E D E W ' S
S P E C I A L F E A T U R E
All in the Family
Ingledew's treats its customers and
brand partners like one of its very own
I
n 1915, William Wright Ingledew
quietly opened a shoe shop at the
corner of West Georgia and Granville
streets and ran it based on the
simple tenets of quality footwear,
family values and exceptional
service. A century later, Ingledew's
has earned a reputation for selling only
the highest-grade footwear, including
internationally recognized brands like
Stuart Weitzman, Mephisto, Magnanni
and Drydock. Embracing its "family
takes care of family" philosophy, the
Ingledew's marketing strategies and
business decisions support not only
the store, but also the companies
represented on its shelves—and as a
result, customers have come to regard
Ingledew's as an accessible mecca in
which to †nd that most lucrative of
purchases: the perfect shoes for you.
"Shoes are one of the most important
components to any person's wardrobe,"
says Bill Ingledew,
CEO. "If your feet are
killing you, your entire day is a‹ected.
Not only that, you're doing serious
long-term damage to your body." These
concerns are why the company aims to
out†t each customer with footwear that
appeases individual tastes, yet remains
comfortable and durable.
The business model is simple. First,
the store only sells "relevant fashion": on-
trend footwear suited to busy clients who
work and run households. Second, all
product is top-quality with no exception.
Finally, every customer receives a tailored
experience. "Everyone who walks through
our doors is encouraged to get both feet
measured so the team can suggest suitable
styles," explains Ingledew. "We're also
honest: we'll advise clients against buying
a certain pair of shoes if we know they're
not a good †t."
Though these mandates are clearly
in'uenced by William Wright Ingledew's way
of doing business 100 years ago, the company
doesn't shy away from new technolo"y.
Ingledew's was the †rst retailer in Canada to
stock Rockport—which invented built-in sport
technolo"y for shoes—and is closely aligned
with
ECCO, pioneers in the development of
direct injection technolo"y. "We're very
much aware of the latest innovations in
footwear," says Ingledew. "But we only
choose brands that are relevant to our
customer base."
Brand selection is an intensive, thoughtful
process that Ingledew oversees personally,
travelling across Europe in search of new
wares to add to the family. "Sourcing retail
isn't like going into a grocery store and picking
something o‹ the shelf," explains Ingledew.
"Some shoemakers show exciting concepts
that look promising, and sales take o‹ in-
store. Other times it doesn't pan out, and we
have to make the di—cult decision to stop
carrying that product."
But many brands have remained in the
Ingledew's family for years, even decades.
Magnanni, for example, is similarly
committed to high-grade production methods
