'They made the same mistake as M&S' - tell us what you think about the demise of Clarks
In response to the news that Clarks is to close 50 stores as part of a rescue deal, Caroline Leaper argued that there’s nothing like visiting a proper shoe shop, but that there have been a notable lack of wow-product launches or store modernisations from Clarks in recent years.
Telegraph readers were quick to share their fond memories of Clarks, from having their feet X-rayed as children to shopping for their own children’s shoes. Readers also shared where they thought Clarks had gone wrong over the years.
Read on for Telegraph readers' thoughts on what Clarks should do to once again become the quality shoe brand of choice. Share your own view in the comments section at the bottom of the article.
'Their shoes became a waste of money'
@Peter Pickle:
“I always used to go to Clarks to get my kids shoes because I wanted them to be properly measured. I stopped because their shoes were becoming increasingly gimmicky.
“A £52 pair of shoes for an 8-year-old, (which they may well only wear for one term) doesn't need to have a light-up rocket toy hidden in the sole.
“It's a waste of my money and not what I'm looking for from a pair of shoes!”
'Clarks only has itself to blame'
@Paul Tulloch:
“The shoes are not even well made now – horrible plastic soles with heels moulded in, mostly now amorphous in the high street. It has dumbed down, shifted production abroad and the name is no longer a by-word for quality, although its prices are still an indicator of it.
“The company has only itself to blame. It is the architect of its own downfall.”
'They made the same mistake as M&S'
@Chris Wright:
“Clarks made the same mistake that M&S did when they ceased making stuff in the UK. They lost customers so went even cheaper to combat this and dug themselves into a hole.
“I now buy Pavers shoes. They are much better quality and they last!”
'The quality is poor'
@Deborah Slattery:
“I always had my children’s feet measured and the shoes and service were exceptional in the 70s and 80s.
“Move forward to the present day and most of the shoes are not British-made, the quality is poor and the service I would expect from a high street name, once associated with quality and good service, is no longer offered.
“With good quality shoes available at similar prices in other high street chains, it is not surprising that Clarks is going the same way as other once-great shopping staples.”
'I'm not surprised'
@Lisa Maynard:
“Clarks children's shoes have been rubbish for at least 20 years. When I was buying for my kids, they had toys in the heels (I refused to buy those) and almost every girls shoe was like a ballet shoe – no account taken of girls who actually needed proper shoes for walking to school.
"The odd pair of Clarks that I did buy fell to pieces pretty quickly.
“I’m not at all surprised that they are struggling now. They trade on their 'quality' image when that quality is long gone.”
'They need to stop trying to woo new customers'
@Anthony New:
“My only gripe about Clarks is that their shoe designs don't last long. When I find a design I like, I go in a year later for a replacement and it's nowhere to be seen.
“They need to stop trying to attract new customers with new fashion and pay more attention to servicing their existing customers by allowing repeat custom.”
'I started my working life in those shops'
@Andrew Wood:
“I started my working life in these shops in 1976, I even went to the head office in Street to be trained as a children's shoe fitter. I was a city centre store manager by age 25 and then moved on to British Home Stores and later the Burton Group.
“I now own and run two online retail businesses with no high street presence at all.
“The world has changed.”
'Their school shoes are baffling'
@Corvus corax:
“I have found that Clarks childrens’ offering is bizarre. There are lots of different types of shoes for four and five-year-olds then after that it is just black school shoes and trainers. Even worse, school shoes for older children with velcro fastenings!
“I never understood how they could break that captive market and not just keep offering a selection of decent quality casual shoes that don't look like trainers and don't have lights, bells whistles and dinosaurs in them.”
'Its products are dated'
@Trevor Lloyd:
“Clarks just needs to modernise it’s stock. It always looks so dated though the fit is faultless. Their stock in trade was always childrens’ shoes, but they want something a bit trendy.
“I can only shop online for shoes with certain makes that are consistent in their sizing, and importantly width, having been brought up with proper fitting shoes despite coming from a poor and large family.”
'An iconic memory of school'
@Caroline Judge:
“I remember being taken there as a child. Standing on the X-ray machine to have your feet measured or the hand held metal device.
“Then the depression when they hadn’t got your size in the beautiful shoes that you liked, but the ones that your mother had picked as being suitable for school were always available!”
'Their customer service is great'
@Julia Corrie:
“The lady at our local Clarks is in her 70s and has been fitting children’s shoes for donkey's years. She is so funny, kind and patient with my shy son, and takes great care to get the fit right.
“She is the reason my son always wears Clarks shoes”
'There are better alternatives'
@Janet Warrior:
“Clarks are suffering because Hotter do much the same lines but they manufacture mainly in the UK, which is attractive to the British shopper.
“I will always visit a shop to buy shoes, though, as they hardly ever fit properly if you haven’t tried them on first.”
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