I have difficult feet and need to try my shoes on. I used to drive five minutes to buy shoes now I need to drive farther. And Nikes don't fit me. I am glad to see New Balance doesn't do that.
3
I will never buy a pair of Nikes, ever again.
10
So BOYCOTT these greedy (& lazy too,-so what if it takes a bit more effort to fulfill a small order?) companies!
They’re not even making their shoes in America, and now they are cutting out the independent small retailers who have loyally sold their products- have they forgotten they were once small too?
Don’t invest in them, and write letters telling them how you feel.
This is why we are losing our middle class in America. We are not protesting when these big goliaths cut out their original distribution bases, trying to consolidate to keep it all to themselves. This has happened in banking too and look where it’s gotten us. The middle class is the bedrock of our country, and in the scheme of things, the loss of small privately owned local businesses is more important than it seems.
8
OK, so the big guys don't want to sell to the little guys. Apparently they prefer the losses to bankrupt big chains over the proftis that come from dealing with lots small stores, many of whom have been in business for 100 year or more. These small retailers have seen it and survived it all. Depression, recession, wars, the decline of the small town downtown, a shift in population, shifts in shopping habits, etc. Sports Zone and Sports Authority - well, they did not. These chains were short lived and not missed.
The smart consumer realizes the value of a product goes beyond price paid, as does the smart retailer. The small retailer provides what the chain and online can not. They support and serve their customers and communities in ways that again, far exceed the price of the product.
Yes, retailers must adapt. Fortunately there are lots of excellent alternatives to Nike and Adidas. Consuers must simply decide what value they place on the importance of the right shoe, properly fitted, purchased locally. They should keep in mind that dollars spent locallyy circulate in the local economy.
6
I love independent shoe stores for their focus on precise fit!
5
I hate shopping online because 1) Amazon doesn’t pay its fair share of taxes so local needs are not met: school funding, road & bridge maintenance are just a few things that depend on local sales taxes. 2) I want to touch & try on what I buy, try returning things by mail. Good luck! 3) The carbon footprint of delivery trucks and all the packaging & boxes is more of a problem than the plastic bags that are now being taxed or banned.
A little thought & planning can make quick work of shopping errands to both save gas & time plus small stores offer more knowledgeable staff, they actually care about their customers that big box stores do not, and offer better service, frequently helping carry purchases out to my car. And of course there is the personal interaction that the internet does not provide. It’s about being in the community.
11
I am lucky in life to live near Colburn Shoe store. Colby and Brian are 2 of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. They give back to the people in the town in so many ways. THe have more than a store, they have a part of a community.
17
I miss the corner grocer - that went out before 1970. Good meat! As for service, I'll buy a Brannock foot sizer before I order Corcoran jump boots, definitely not available locally.
Shop locally. Let the big brands that you use know that you prefer to purchase locally. What we as consumers can do is extremely limited these days. The only power we really have is the power of the purse. Personally, I shop in my neighborhood from locally owned and operated stores. If I can't find what I want there I can likely live without it.
14
God bless Montano's shoe store in Saugerties, NY. I'm not sure exactly how long they have been in business, but multiple generations of the Montano family have run the store for longer than I have lived here (more than 50 years). I still buy shoes there myself, but am sure not to try that in late August, as the store is full of back-to-school customers. They take the time to check the fit of shoes, especially children. Both my children went there each fall, along with everyone else's. May the business, and others like them, last forever!
9
General Store, and Sears and Montgomery Ward Catalogs. Local Mom and Pop/Main Street stores and Woolworths. Shopping Malls with Big Anchor Stores. Walmart and Big Chain Box Stores. And then Amazon. So what’s next?
2
Add this cavalier act to Nike’s list of reprehensible behavior, including sexism in the workplace and exploitation of workers overseas. Is the company begging to lose customers?
17
Small, independent retailer here.
I only shop in local stores, and I pay in cash. If I can't find products in my local stores, I don't buy them.
American's need to have access to every product on the planet, instantly, from the comfort of their own overstuffed sofa is disheartening. We're holding on for now, but it's just a matter of time.
20
This has been happening for decades now. The only "mom & pop" shoe stores left are those that provide a unique upscale product line with great service, or survive in areas where box stores and internet have economic interest in.
1
He can have a going out of business party to thank his neighbors and community, for shopping on Amazon. We have a beloved bookstore that closed a few years back. they interviewed the outraged patrons, and they all said they felt bad about browsing the store but burying on Amazon to save a few dollars. Humans are mostly stupid and shortsighted.
20
It's the way of all businesses. The mom and pop stores are the places that the first get established. Then the will deal only with the amazon's , costco's, and walmarts.
Soon all the streets will be lined with banks, walgreens and starbucks.
My preference is to shop at independents and locals before going on the internet to purchase.
6
@Jim Of Aventura And lined with real estate offices, too. Everything's become so bland. When in Boston, which is fairly frequently these days, I shop at the Brookline Booksmith for books and arts and crafts and a variety of fun gifts. They also have an online presence, and they do ship. Please consider buying your books there (I do not an an interest in the store).
6
Living in NYC there had always been many small shoe stores that were a pleasure to shop in. Not so anymore. Stores I frequented have gone out of business or downsized to the point were the selection is paltry. Some of the downsizing is attributed to rediculous rent increases when leases are up. But this article provides another reason, which makes sense. It's hard to stay in business when denied the ability to carry brands customers want.
For me, it's a conundrum. Do I run all over town looking for shoes because most stores only carry limited brands? Or, do I shop online and risk having the wait for delivery and then perhaps an uncomfortable shoe needing to be sent back? Neither solution is attractive. I prefer to support local businesses but not always possible.
12
Very frustrating. You summed it up perfectly.
1
And Nike and other big corporations are our friends, right?
15
Where is the Chamber of Commerce???
4
Would a coop help these small stores? Perhaps they could band together to place orders with the suppliers then split the orders as determined ahead of time? I'm sure someone must have thought of this. Right?
19
For a number of years I have bought the same pair of Thoroughgood brand (made in America) shoes from a Mom & Pop store in Minneapolis called Nokomis Shoes. Last month they said that they couldn't get them from the Wisconsin shoe maker until December...a six month lead time. The next day I found the exact same pair on Amazon, and received them in about a week. Amazon said that every available size was in stock. I also paid a $20 premium over what Nokomis shoes wanted.
Somehow, we're going to have to stop the war on small businesses and entrepreneurs in America.
19
The large corporate retailers have been using all kinds of monopolistic practices to kill their small business competition.
9
Buying shoes online is a miserable experience. Order 10 pairs of shoes, try them on at home, drive to UPS to return 9 or 10 of them. Hope that credit card cycle get the purchase and credit on the same statement, otherwise pay $500+. This is particularly egregious for children's shoes - there are no stores around that sell children's shoes anymore.
26
@Stefan I recall a children's shoe store on Beacon Street in Brookline, MA. Don't know if it's still there. The shoe store that catered to seniors and bad feet, in the same neighborhood, is long gone.
The difference between a good pair of shoes and a cheap pair of shoes is night and day. A well-cut pair of "expensive" shoes is worth every penny as time goes on. I buy a new pair of shoes every decade, by taking care of those I have. How sad that the culture of show car is fading away.
Larry Pray
[email protected]
7
Ok, I won’t buy Nike anymore. I hate ordering shoes online. They never fit and I am stuck with sending them back. I also do patronize Walmart.
12
It should be illegal to refuse to supply goods.
12
Large corporations are no one's "friend" or "partner." Their only friend is the U.S. dollar.
I was in Belfast, ME 6 years ago. Actually staying in Camden, ME, which is a half hour's drive south. Did the same thing two years ago. There's nothing in Belfast. The streets are half empty. Junk food, and a few restaurants. Oh, yes, there's a library and a post office. The place reminds me of the upstate New York towns that started going downhill 50 years ago.
Now there are plenty of shoe stores in Annapolis and D.C. and the suburbs; but, I buy my shoes on Amazon: a greater selection and free returns. And they always have my size.
4
@george eliot Belfast is really going through renaissance period. Maybe you should visit it again before you send people away from it.
14
@george eliot
You start out saying "Large corporations are no one's "friend" or "partner." Their only friend is the U.S. dollar.", and you conclude by saying "Now there are plenty of shoe stores in Annapolis and D.C. and the suburbs; but, I buy my shoes on Amazon". Did you change your mind in the few seconds between those two sentences?
10
@george eliot
You couldn't be more misleading with your comments about Belfast.
In four intersecting blocks of the downtown, there are: a three-screen movie theater, at least 3 gift shops, a hardware store, the shoe store mentioned in this article, the Green Store (environmentally-friendly general store), thriving natural food market, artist supply store, kitchen store, bookstore, toy store, 2 art galleries, a James Beard-nominated restaurant, a sports bar, ice cream parlor, cheese & wine store, olive oil & wine store, a clay studio, 3 women's clothing stores, 1 man's clothing store--all in addition to the other restaurants you mention (none of which serves junk food), and the usual things you find in downtowns (banks, post office, realtors, library etc).
Around the corner from these four blocks are: 2 more bookstores, a bakery, a video store (yep, we still have one of those), a youth theater, an arty lampshade maker and a vintage lampshade dealer.
Another block away are a couple more pubs, a world-class boat maker, thriving shipyard, indoor farmer's market, busy public boat landing, and waterfront walkway.
What town did you visit?
11
Since size and fit vary even with a brand between types and models I cannot understand buying shoes online where you cannot try them on. No return policy is going to make up for the time and inconvenience if they don't fit thus to me any savings is not worth it. Especially when it comes to children's growing and changing feet.
Sadly many of these shop owners belong to organizations like the Chamber of Commerce whose Washington's lobbying is aimed at supporting big business at their and their customer's expense.
24
@Marie
Marie...Haven't you heard of Zappos? You buy two sizes to try on and they offer overnight free shipping and returns so you can simply return the size that you didn't want. Amazon is also offering a program that you can order two sizes and only pay for the one you want. Free shipping and returns. So it is very hard for these retailers, big box and independent to compete with the convenience of shopping from home! I hate to go into store to shop, so I am guilty!
3
@Be Bop: TWO sizes?? Are you kidding me?
I used Zappos ONCE when I was in a short-notice time-crunch for shoes to wear to a special event, and I didn't have time to go shopping in person. I found a shoe on their site that looked like it would work. But because shoes from different manufacturers are made on totally different lasts, it was nearly impossible to figure out what size I needed - so I ended up ordering the same shoe in SIX different size/width combinations. Fortunately, ONE pair fit, and the other 5 pairs got returned.
That is definitely NOT my idea of a great way to shop for shoes.
Most of the time, I go to a REAL shoe store - one where the staff knows the different brands and can help me find something that fits correctly.
In the really great stores, they remember (or make note of) what my fitting issues are, and they can make future recommendations accordingly ... and no website is ever going to match THAT level of service - no how, no way, and regardless of any "algorithms"!
6
@Be Bop I'm SUPER guilty. I order 12 or more pair of shoes on Zappos and spend a whole weekend trying them on. I'm excited when I end up keeping TWO of them. I do miss that shoe size measuring thing. That thing is cool. But having thousands of pairs of shoes to choose from is cooler.
As I said...SUPER guilty. But I will never buy another pair of Nikes, so I'm not a totally terrible person.
The thing about this story that makes no sense is how a company as big as Nike can be so inconvenienced by a tiny store like Colburn's. Wouldn't it be great if Nike could just say, "Let's help this small business survive." I'll never wear another Nike product after reading this.
64
@Alan
They are a company that exploits workers overseas and care only for profits. This has been their model forever.
27
And what a knife in the heart Nike sent by mail to the store: “We have recently determined that Colburn Shoe Store no longer aligns with our business strategy.” I worked in a Mom & Pop store for years, and I can imagine how shocking that
letter would be to read. This is part of why we love big corporations...
6
This story is not about distribution, it is about controlling the market and setting a higher price. Nike started out by selling through small shops, if it were not for them there probably would not be a Nike today.
Amazon, Walmart, Nike are all doing the same thing. They want to build a sales infrastructure so they can smash the competition. Online shopping and small retail can co-exist. Unless we want a few corporations to control the flow of all goods, we need to adjust the rules to protect small business entrepreneurs.
Why would anyone want to risk their savings owning a small store when a corporate giant can destroy you at any moment.
30
Don't cry! It's the nature of the beast called capitalism. Perhaps, in a more enlightened and just society, we wouldn't be lamenting what clearly is the ultimate fate of small businesses in America.
3
Never really was a fan of Nike... Less so now. Next time I visit Downeast Maine, I will be sure to stop by Colburn's and spend some money!
44
Sad how everything now has to be “go big or go home”...
19
I was one of the small mom & pop's. Two stores and over 100 yrs in business. I can only say the customers were great and did support us. Nike never would talk to us but there were many other great brands. Before about 1990 there were the American made shoes with better fit, comfort and style. The manufacture and importation of foreign shoes did hasten our demise. We in the end just seemed to evaporate.
33
@John I've been wearing a particular brand of cowboy boot for about 30 years. They used to be such great quality. Now they make them in Mexico and the product has really suffered. I really lament the demise of quality footwear.
11
@rufustfirefly
Don't blame Mexico for the drop in quality. Goods are made to the specifications of the company owning the product. They probably lowered their standards in addition to moving the manufacture to a place where costs are less. Question is, is the reason for this survival or greed?
11
@Ann
I'm not blaming Mexico. I'm certain that Mexican workers can make a decent boot if they're paid properly and given the chance. I do blame the boot maker (all of them, not just my brand) for sacrificing quality and their good name for market share. I'd pay more for a better boot if they'd just make one.
4
The brands who have chosen to make it harder for independent shoe stores to survive and, heaven forbid, prosper, are despicable. Can these indie owners form a wholesale buyer's co-op? And perhaps, then, they can contract with a 3rd party, such as UPS, to store and redistribute inventory from a central location. I bet that wouldn't satisfy Nike. But it might soften or stave off the next threat.
35
As a runner, I'll only buy running shoes from a store that will let me try them on and run down the block. I've also found that Nike and Adidas are inferior running shoes. I continue to shop at my local shoe shop and buy Suconys,Bbrooks and Mizunos.
48
I understand that small mom and pop shoe stores provide customer service and build up neighborhoods. For me, with an unusual shoe size, 6 1/2 WW, shopping on line is a godsend. I have walked into shoe stores time and time again, including one in the center of my neighborhood, only to be told that they don't carry that size, but can order it. Well, I can order it too and get it for less than the brick and mortar store. I understand the economics of carrying less-needed sizes, but now online, I have choices that I've never had before. I imagine that, just as my size is small and wide, people with long and narrow feet find themselves better served by the internet options.
11