News

One morning this week, I woke up and decided to have a quick sale. I love that I can do that without meetings, briefing notes and endless discussion. One of the many wonderful things about being a small business owner is that you can move fast. In this case, a few hours later I had […]

I’ve just added to my workload and I couldn’t be happier!  As part of my role as voluntary Board Director for MicroLoan Foundation Australia (a title and responsibility that I’m still giddy about!), I have offered to look after this amazing charity’s social media.  I love engaging with my gorgeous customers on The Shoe Garden’s […]

I created a 24-hour competition on Facebook this week asking customers to describe their Shoe Garden shopping experience in just three words. It was a fascinating exercise. First, it made me feel wonderful, as the feedback was so positive and enthusiastic. But I also realised that my strategy of providing new gorgeous shoes every month […]

Seven years ago this Sunday, I opened the door to The Shoe Garden for the first time and held my breath… Was anyone going to come? Was I crazy for leaving a successful 23-year career in journalism, PR and fundraising? Would the fact that I had no experience in business, retail or shoes have an […]

I posted on Facebook this week how I needed a mezzanine level for all the new shoes and boots that were being delivered. I was only half joking! Everything I’ve ordered for April appears to have arrived this week, so space is at a premium. What made me laugh out loud was when the lovely Anne-Marie […]

I was asked the other week to view a new range of ballet flats and consider stocking them at The Shoe Garden.  They were gorgeous. Hand-made in Europe, you could see even from the photos that they were high quality. The colours were rich and the designs were fun and contemporary.  But I said “no […]

I still remember the jacket … it was double-breasted, fitted and trimmed with black cord. Pretty standard so far, but what made this jacket stand out was the material … it was made up of hundreds of small squares of colourful fabric. Think the hottest pink you can imagine, the boldest orange, the sassiest green […]

Today is International Women’s Day.  So I’d like to take a moment to share a little about the women I admire.  Not the usual luminaries from the worlds of business or politics or the arts or history … but everyday women in my life.  Like the transgender women who bravely walk into my shop in […]

All I can say is … lucky the man has gorgeous shoes!  “The man” is a new agent I met at the Shoe Expo this week.  I was super impressed by his range and excited that many styles went to a size 13.   Happy days.  Then I started to give him my spiel … […]

The response has been the same every time. I just sit back and watch it happen. A customer will try on the new Rilassare sneakers that arrived late last week. You can see their eyebrows go up in astonishment. They look down at their feet. Then they turn to me and marvel at the almost […]