StevenB Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 I received an email from Shoestring today, which I have copied below. The way I read it, we will no longer be able to order directly from Shoestring, but orders of their products will now be fulfilled by the wholesalers, primarily Birches. This is because they (Shoestring) have decided that their minimum quantities are no longer suitable for us. It will be interesting to see how this pans out... August 2014 Dear Customer Firstly I’d like to thank you for your custom and support. Secondly you may have already heard on the grapevine news of Shoe-String working with Charles Birch and wondered what it was all about. I’d therefore like to take this opportunity to personally let you know exactly what has changed and what this may mean for you as an existing Shoe-String customer. From 1st August 2014, Shoe-String Limited will distribute Woly Shoe-care and Shoe-String Products to the Shoe Repair Trade through the network of trade wholesalers. Charles Birch will have stocks of the full range of products and therefore will become the primary wholesaler. It's important to point out that this new arrangement only affects Shoe Repair Trade. WHY I HEAR YOU ASK: Carriers are charging more and more to get deliveries to your door and with it minimum order quantities keep rising. As a result you may be finding it increasingly difficult to reach these minimums. BENEFITS TO YOU OUR CUSTOMER: You can now order Woly/Shoe-String products with your grindery supplies from one source. Shoe-String will still make dedicated tele- sale and training calls to you as normal but transfer the order to the wholesaler for delivery. The Charles Birch sales team will visit you and we will time our tele-sales calls around these visits. You can now order your leather and grindery supplies through Shoe-String. We will monitor and keep our product range at the wholesaler so you get complete deliveries; all from one place. You can look forward to exceptional margins over any other brand with offers from Charles Birch that were not previously possible. Both Caroline and Chris Wilson are committed to this Partnership. This unique way of trading between two companies is a first for our trade. This collaboration is exciting news, Chris Wilson and I have worked closely on the Cutting Edge Committee and are now embarking on our first business adventure together. We are both dedicated ambassadors acting in the best interests of the trade. Cherry Blossom will no longer be available in the Charles Birch range and is being replaced by the Woly range of shoe-care products. Woly is a premium shoe care brand, renowned for its quality across the UK and Europe. I would like to take this opportunity to reassure you that Shoe-String will do everything in its power to ensure that you continue to receive the same level of service you have enjoyed in the past. Shoe-String will continue to sell and supply Woly and Shoe-String shoe-care products to high street stores other than the Shoe Repairer and be responsible for marketing the brands it stocks. For more information on this announcement or to place an order please phone 01858 467467 or email sandy@shoestringuk.com. We are happy to answer any questions you may have. I look forward to our continued working relationship and don’t forget you can still place your orders direct with Shoe-String and we will do the rest. Wishing you all the very best and hope to see you at the Cutting Edge Exhibition in Kettering on 14th and 15th September. Kind regards Caroline Caroline Collins Managing Director Shoe-String Limited Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsc Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 Fantastic news ...Where do we go now if we don't wan't to deal with Birches?..Any other wholesalers? k4mrc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_ Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 A bit strange how it said "a network of trade wholesalers" then only mentioned Charles Birch. Sounds as though the likes of Colledges and Others may be involved but no mention on the email. I'm sure it will all become clear....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St.Am92 Posted August 5, 2014 Report Share Posted August 5, 2014 Fantastic news ...Where do we go now if we don't wan't to deal with Birches?..Any other wholesalers? Poundland.... they sell cherry blossom for a ................£1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted August 5, 2014 Report Share Posted August 5, 2014 My Birches rep was rubbishing Cherry Blossom (they've stopped selling it) by showing me a folder with all poundlands (or similar, I wasn't paying attention) offer sheets of their products "cheap" I didn't like that, he didn't show me a sheet with Tesco's price on Kiwi. annoyed me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted August 5, 2014 Report Share Posted August 5, 2014 Birches are the masters at that, all smoke and mirrors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris @ IKS Posted August 5, 2014 Report Share Posted August 5, 2014 They are rubbishing Cherry Blossom because Cherry Blossom have started selling direct and Birches like many other wholesalers aren't happy about that. I expect others will follow suit by dropping them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hibsjo(SCO) Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 laces in packs of 6 quite expensive why cant we have the larger packs? carry on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted August 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 Well, apparently the bigger pack sizes are either too expensive for us, or take up too much space for us to be able to store... Far be it from us to be able to make our own business decisions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Gardner Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 Fantastic news ...Where do we go now if we don't wan't to deal with Birches?..Any other wholesalers? Surely shoestring haven't decided to only deal through birch as their must be loads of independents like me that refuse to deal with birch Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted August 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 Surely shoestring haven't decided to only deal through birch as their must be loads of independents like me that refuse to deal with birch Craig There's a definite opportunity for another brand right now then. Is it any coincidence that Grangers sent me the full Cherry Blossom information pack recently? Whilst not as good a shoelace range, having switched from Kiwi to Cherry Blossom polish a couple of years ago, it's a brand I'm certainly happy with, and I'm thinking it's perhaps the time to split up my polish, laces & insoles options, not to keep all my shoecare eggs in the same basket, as it were. It won't necessarily look as coordinated on the shelf, but then when did a shoecare display ever look perfect in the real world anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simes Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 My Birches rep was rubbishing Cherry Blossom (they've stopped selling it) by showing me a folder with all poundlands (or similar, I wasn't paying attention) offer sheets of their products "cheap" I didn't like that, he didn't show me a sheet with Tesco's price on Kiwi. annoyed me. Interestingly had a similar experience with my rep, then a couple of weeks later Cherry Blossom called to try and sell to me direct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike at Vauxhall Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 I've nothing about this, even though I've been a shoe string customer for years. I will continue to stock cherry blossom ( made in england, easy to open tin) over woly. Benefit might be that I can bump up a small shoe lace order with some chubbs. I must be off the beaten track ( central london) as reps never come to see me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny King Posted August 8, 2014 Report Share Posted August 8, 2014 I won't deal with Shoe String as they undercut us by selling online direct to customers. I am not being told by a wholesaler what I buy or sell in my shops. We have opened a trade account with Grangers will still buy bits from from birch until I can source from someone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsc Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 Since most of us had the email about the changes there has been no response on here from either Shoestring or Birches. No doubt it will all be bullsh*t when it comes anyway. I noticed Caroline from shoestring was hovering a couple of minutes ago attempting to reply but just she couldn't hit the submit button..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoe String Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 Hi Guys Sorry for late reply, just spotted post. To confirm, You are now able to purchase our products through your chosen wholesaler. However currently only Charles Birch have commited to the full range. We will still be calling and taking orders as normal, sorting queries and customer service. If your chosen wholesaler is not stocking the products you need and you do not use Charles Birch naturally we will deliver direct. This move came about after yet another post hike and customers complaining about reaching the minimum order quantities or pay carriage. Wanting to be able to give added service we are now able to take orders for all your supplies to be delivered by Charles Birch to enable a single delivery and in this capacity we are working together. We will be working closely in this transition to make sure of a 100% supply line etc. You will now benefit from added deals on the range, Shoe-String calls field sales visits. So trusting this is a win win for all our customers. We will be exhibiting at Cutting Edge so you will have open forum, to discuss further. Hope this helps Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsc Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 Just spotted post? ...So Funny, you are not on the ball then. You should have been on here like a shot to answer reactions. This topic was first muted by Stevenb on 4/8/14 the day most of us had the email, a week ago. Caroline, who else are Birches going to allow you to commit to to supply your whole range. Nobody is probably the answer. Like I said bullsh*t. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoe String Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 Hi Please rest assured, Charles Birch are not dictating and have no wish to have the monopoly, to have this they would have to discontinue all other brands which is not going to happen. T Colledge, Savvass, George Rye, Murphy's, Healeys, Leather & Grindery are also carrying our ranges and if you push the demand, will increase accordingly I am sure. Space and other brands, currently their issue. However Charles Birch are supporting the venture wholeheartedly which was imperative to have one of the wholesalers open to work with us for this move to happen. Basically you will be able to purchase the Woly brand in the same way you are able to buy Punch, Dasco, Cherry Blossom, Kiwi so we are now joining the other brands in this method of distribution. If the wholesalers haven't got the range you need and you do not deal with Charles Birch as I say we will supply direct so it's win win for all your needs. This is good news for the repairer going forward, it is up to the Shoe-String team to make sure the level of service, any issues are sorted and corrected in record quick time for this method of distribution to continue for all. Please place your orders as normal through Shoe-String or your wholesale representative. I have received many positive calls regarding the move and customers who had to stop ordering due to small requirements ordering once more. Looking forward to Cutting Edge. Kind regards and once again thank you for your support and continued support. Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k4mrc Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 I for one am very happy with this situation, and probably will buy more Shoestring than before as in the past when thinking of an order would always put it off as the rep calls on a regular basis making it not worth going elsewhere and having to pay two wholesalers, now I can go thru the Birch rep without buying that stuff they sell and hopefully getting discounts on the same products Hope this works for the rest of you, business is business! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 Caroline. I, for one, appreciate you coming on here to give a considered response. We have always been put off by minimum quantities, carriage etc but now that you have another distribution line this makes it easier to purchase from your company , whereas we found it difficult in the past. Indeed, we have already started to stock your range once again. I wish you all the best Rick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hibsjo(SCO) Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 carry on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 Summat I said, Jo? Rick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoe String Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 Thank you. Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobbler2u Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 What a load of crock shoe string. every company has minimum order. Your sales have dropped as you have taken your eye of the ball. You only care about profits and not us as retailers. Were have all your reps gone? I cant wait for my stock to go down. I also have moved over to cherry Blossom . I also had all the bull from birch rep. I told him straight kiwi sell to Tesco and have stop popular colours and that birch have their own shoe repair shops. No reply back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoe String Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Hi I am sorry you feel this way. I am surprised you think this move increases profits because the move to supply through the Wholesalers is giving away margin not increasing. Our reps are just the same number and they are still calling everyone as normal transferring orders through your chosen wholesaler. Obviously currently Charles Birch have the full range but other wholesalers are increasing and T Colledge most of the lace range. The comment regarding minimum order quantities you are right everyone has minimum order quantities but we only supply Shoe Care so supplying through the wholesalers means you can purchase our brands with Your grindery supplies. If you do not have an account with Charles Birch and do not use Wholesalers we will of course supply direct. We are not forcing customers to use a wholesaler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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