The team at Peter Sheppard Footwear curate our culture. They are an endless source of wisdom and knowledge, and we credit them for our success and longevity. We are proud to have a group across our three stores and within the Support Office who have been with the company for 20 years or more. And so, on our 50-year anniversary, we have asked them to reflect on their time with us.
Phyllis Cunningham - Brisbane Sales Associate
"I love all of my regular customers, but if I had to single out the most memorable, it would be Isabel Johnson. We first met in the shop 20 years ago and she had terrible issues with her feet. We worked together to determine her needs and 20 years later she has found big improvements with her foot health. She trusts me to advise her on styles that will best suit her, and I will never let her down."
"I love a challenge, especially with difficult fittings. There’s nothing better than watching a customer arrive despondent about finding shoes and then watching them transform as we offer them a number of options to suit their needs."
Mary-Jane Hogg - Senior Buyer
"In the first year that I worked for Peter Sheppard, in our Sydney store, we had two milestones with the introduction of computers in to the stores and the first arrival of the brand Munro.
I can remember the first Boxing Day sale with so many people in-store and the queues of people waiting to have their sales processed! I have had the privilege of working with some wonderful people in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne during my 27 years with Peter Sheppard."
"I cannot single out one experience-there are too many!
The wonderful, loyal customers that I have met at Peter Sheppard make the role so rewarding (as well as the beautiful quality product that we sell).
The connections that I have made with customers over the years have provided some of the highlights of my job. Although I am now working in the Support Office and assisting with the buying, some still call me for advice with their shoe purchases.
It is also a delight if I am visiting the Brisbane store to have longtime customers come up to me to say hello and catch up while I'm in town."
Pamela Rossiter - Melbourne Sales Associate
"The classic loafer is ageless. It can be dressed up or down and worn for every occasion. Now-days with such a variety of leather treatments and colours available, it’s so easy to keep updating the look, whilst remaining with the original last."
"I have so many favourite brands for different reasons, but if I had to choose one it would be Ara. Their designs are as beautiful as are their leathers, but I also love all the fitting and comfort features they incorporate in their designs. I wear them myself."
Golfo Karavias– Melbourne Store Manager
"Designers now realise that you don’t have to compromise style for comfort, or vice versa. 20 years ago, it was one or the other, but now some of the most beautiful shoes we sell are also the most comfortable. The brands Hispanitas, Chie Mihara and Thierry Rabotin come to mind."
"Texas by Thierry Rabotin is the first style that jumps to my mind. The customers found it extremely comfortable for a heeled shoe and it came in various colours and materials with an elegant peep toe."
Fotini Tsaousidis - Sydney Store Manager
"I started part time in the late 90s as a university student. The store was located on the Gallery Level of what was called Centrepoint and it was one of the largest shoe stores in Sydney. It was always so busy and the team worked so well together, (we still do)."
"Amalfi Oste has been a favourite for many years. The last has not changed since I started 20 years ago. Customers love it because it is a quintessential flat with a trim that can be worn casually or out for the evening and comes in a variety of widths. It’s a firm favourite for the AA customers."
Leanne Petrevski – Sydney Sales Associate
"I love Arche. They use top grade nubucks and leathers that just melt into your feet making them super comfortable and the colours are so vibrant and quirky. Our customers love them."
"There was one particular customer that I will never forget. She had such a dreadful history of trying to find shoes that could accommodate her hammer toe and other foot issues and was convinced we would not be able to fit her. She left that day buying five pairs and has remained a loyal customer ever since."
Eva El Khouri– Sydney Sales Associate
"I love meeting new people and hearing their stories. To be successful in retail you have to love people and lucky for me, I do."
"There was a sandal called Lola made by Munro and it was just perfectly constructed. It had a small wedge and the upper had fitting features that allowed it to fit to any shaped foot."
Sue Seignarack – Sydney Sales Associates
"There is so much more choice. When I started we only had a few brands like Amalfi, Munro and the Peter Sheppard Collection that made shoes in widths. Now the choice is enormous so we are always confident that regardless of the shape, we will always have shoes that will fit."
"It’s the people that make my job so pleasurable. From the customers to my colleagues, I just love the daily interactions and the bonds we formed. They are like an extended family to me, and my manager is very respectful."
Daniel Terrazzino – Sydney 2IC
"Regency in the Peter Sheppard Collection. I can’t remember another shoe that sold consistently like this for so many years. The last was unbelievable and we carried it in many colours and in leathers and suedes."
"Designers are having fun with shoes and are pushing the boundaries when it comes to design and colour. And our customers respond to this. Footwear is no longer designed to match, they make a statement of their own."
International Women's Day acknowledges the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women everywhere. These are the stories of three women who are challenging the status quo, through driving change and equality.
Munro is the leading women's size and width footwear company in the U.S., and we are proud to have had an exclusive Australian partnership with Munro for 25 years. Just like Peter Sheppard Footwear, the business is family-owned, sharing values similar to our own with a focus on quality footwear for every woman.
Hands up if you have ever fallen victim to pain from shoes that don’t fit properly? Your feet may have formed blisters or bunions from wearing ill-fitting footwear, or worse - Long-term injury.
From Governor General to adoring grandmother, Dame Quentin Bryce shares with us her pearls of wisdom for Australian women.
With almost 100 years of expertise under their belt, Paul Green know a thing or two when it comes to crafting footwear. They're the sneaker connoisseur of Europe, experts in sustainable footwear and a brand we know, love and trust. Over the years, we have discovered our customers love Paul Green particularly for their sneaker range, comprising of styles made from many assorted colours, various leathers, and comfortable soles. These are our favourites this season.
On Wednesday 21 August, the team from Peter Sheppard's Head Office volunteered at Sacred Heart Mission and served lunch to more than 200 people. The Dining Hall shift forms part of Peter Sheppard's $150,000 pledge to Sacred Heart Mission over three years.