Press Release

Wednesday 30 June 2010

HOPE FOOTWEAR LTD – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE





Staff at a former Faith Shoe Shop in Chelmsford are fighting back after their store was closed on May 11th and all the staff were made redundant.


'Faith', one of the UK's best know and loved footwear chains for women went into administration in April resulting in the closure of over 70 high street stores, including the branch in the Meadows Shopping Centre, Chelmsford.


Former Faith Branch Support Manager, Justina Pay (26), and Faith Supervisor Roxanne Ransom (22) and their old team are reopening the very same store as a brand new independent company called 'Hope Footwear Ltd'. They open the store this Saturday (3 July) at 10am.


“We're doing this all ourselves” says Justina “we've contacted the old suppliers, ordered stock, fixtures, fittings, signage and paint. We wanted to reopen the store because we knew how popular and well loved it was, just because Faith went into administration didn't mean it all had to end! We were inspired by Claire Robertson and her success in turning her old Dorchester Woolworths store into Wellworths, a great example of someone who has had a massive success from a very sad redundancy. Customers were genuine in their sadness that our stores were closing and were concerned as to where they could buy quality shoes from, we knew we had to 'do a Wellworths' and try and bring it back! We're having a grand opening on Saturday at 10am, a ribbon will be cut, we'd love to see you there.”  


“Being made redundant from a company I've worked for over five years was devastating” says Roxanne. “The chance to fight back and reopen the same store with a brand new name, new stock and a fresh new look, but keeping the best of Faith (the staff and suppliers) has been amazing! 'Hope' will provide Chelmsford with a store selling high quality and affordable shoes, bags and accessories. We'll be exceeding the brilliant customer service our old customers were already used to, and the familiar friendly faces of the 'Hope Girls' look forward to seeing you soon.”


“We want our customers to enjoy shopping with us.” says Justina “As a small independent shop we are agile and therefore able to listen and react to customer demand much better. We've had a lot of fun setting Hope up and are pleased so many people have put their faith in us from suppliers, industry specialists, friends, family and of course the bank.”



Justina and Roxanne raised finance with the help of Justina's fiancée, Matthew Eaves (30), a local entrepreneur who already has experience in setting up a successful Chelmsford based business from scratch. Cleveratom was formed in 2006 by Matthew and colleagues after they too were made redundant. Over the past three and a half years the Cleveratom team has grown to be a respected learning, technology and creativity company which employs 10 people and has clients that include the BBC, NHS and Becta. Cleveratom exists to make learning more engaging through new and emerging technology. 


"I know nothing about shoes" says Matthew "but I do know that the Hope team know what they are doing, and are able to build on their existing experience and local knowledge. The girls have worked all hours to make this happen and I've been impressed by how they have negotiated deals with suppliers and contractors; they have ordered and had delivered items which should take a lot longer than normal! Everybody who has heard about the Hope story have wanted to help, including our local Witham MP Priti Patel, Essex Works, Business Link, NatWest, Viewpoint Business Services, Lend Lease, Fast Signs and GC Glazing and Locks. The only people we're waiting on a reply from are Chelmsford Borough Council (hint hint).  I have every confidence Roxanne, Justina and their team can do this, they are starting with one store but have put in systems and processes which will enable them to grow and open more branches. I can help them with business planning that will help the team market the business and avoid common mistakes, but I have not a clue about shoes or handbags!" 


Justina says: “From day one we wanted our name to mean more than success from redundancy, so we will be helping to give hope by supporting an orphanage in Romania. We've been working with Gabriela Achihai, President of 'Fundatia de Sprijin Comunitar (Community Support Foundation)' to identify an orphanage we are able to benefit. On the run up to Christmas we'll be encouraging our customers to return their shoe boxes with gifts for children, and we'll be hiring a van and delivering the gifts in time to give hope on Christmas Day. We hope you can help us!”


NOTES:


For more information call 0845 868 9940 or email media@hopefootwear.co.uk


A web version of this release is available here: http://www.hopefootwear.co.uk/hope_pressrelease.html