defend myself, to sell Angelo’s to him again. Maybe I wasn’t enthusiastic enough in my pitch? I know I’m tired, that could have affected my enthusiasm...
‘My conclusion is... yes, I really think they are!’ Rupert smiles, folding his arms, looking at the shoes and then back up at me. ‘It’s a real coup to find such an exquisite craftsman who still makes his shoes the old-fashioned way. Definitely worth taking a chance on. As they say in the farming industry – fingers were made before forks!’
I’m too in shock to say anything at first. ‘S-so you’re happy for me to get David to design a collection exclusively for us?’ I say once I’ve found my voice, my heart thumping wildly, crossing my fingers as I wait for the line I’m hoping Rupert will say.
‘Yes, yes, yes,’ Rupert says waving his arms around enthusiastically. ‘I’m sure they’ll fly off the shelves and be an instant bestseller this season!’
‘Well, you see, Rupert,’ I begin carefully, ‘it’s not going to work quite like that...’
Rupert raises a gingery eyebrow. ‘The sale figures from the last period are the highest yet! Don’t stop the miracle-working now, Evie!’
‘I know volume of sales is important Rupert, but the problem is, David Angelo is a craftsman.’ I explain. ‘This isn’t someone who’s going to trot out stock like he’s in a factory. He won’t be able to make shoes on a conveyor belt – and we won’t be able to design and make an entire collection in time for the new season in September. It could take a few weeks, months even. It’s nearly August now and I think a realistic date for us to start stocking him is the beginning of December.’ I pause and take a breath before continuing. I have to make sure I play this right. ‘But my idea is that with your permission we’ll launch him just before Christmas. Give him an entire window and innovative shop-floor display that Hardy’s can be proud of. It also gives us time to get press in the monthly fashion magazines, build up a buzz about the launch.’
‘Okaaaay,’ Rupert says with a sigh. ‘If you say so, Evie. But from a business perspective I do worry that we’ll be launching him just before another sale season. What if we’re left with lots of his full price stock during the January sales? I mean, I’m presuming you want me to make a big order?’
‘Not exactly,’ I say, crossing my fingers behind my back. ‘Because there is a small problem when it comes to stock...’
Rupert frowns, sensing his profits leave the room as fast as an intern who has brought him the wrong coffee.
‘What problem is that, Evie?’
‘That there won’t be any.’
Rupert gapes at me and I look at him desperately. ‘Please, just hear me out. David is going to make ten or so designs in each shoe size; we’ll just stock the shoes for display and to try on. We’ll take orders and David will make the shoes bespoke for each customer – and we’ll obviously run a waiting list too, to manage the orders’
Rupert immediately shakes his head. ‘This is utterly out of the question, Evie, Hardy’s is not an exclusive shop!’
‘But Mr Angelo is so talented and unique and such a rare find, I honestly think we have to make an exception for him.’
Rupert’s ruddy pallor pales significantly. ‘So, how do we make money then Evie? Hardy’s isn’t a retirement home for benevolent stock, you know.’
‘I know,’ I say patiently. This is a line Rupert trots out regularly when I try to bring in vintage stock to display, not sell. ‘Instead, our customers will be able to order their own bespoke pair from the collection. David will make them exclusively for the customer, and to their specifications. Colour, detail, cut, will all be tapered to best enhance the customer’s experience. It’s department store couture!’
‘But that will take weeks! How can we sell this stuff in bulk and make a profit, without alienating our less wealthy customers?’ Rupert
‘My conclusion is... yes, I really think they are!’ Rupert smiles, folding his arms, looking at the shoes and then back up at me. ‘It’s a real coup to find such an exquisite craftsman who still makes his shoes the old-fashioned way. Definitely worth taking a chance on. As they say in the farming industry – fingers were made before forks!’
I’m too in shock to say anything at first. ‘S-so you’re happy for me to get David to design a collection exclusively for us?’ I say once I’ve found my voice, my heart thumping wildly, crossing my fingers as I wait for the line I’m hoping Rupert will say.
‘Yes, yes, yes,’ Rupert says waving his arms around enthusiastically. ‘I’m sure they’ll fly off the shelves and be an instant bestseller this season!’
‘Well, you see, Rupert,’ I begin carefully, ‘it’s not going to work quite like that...’
Rupert raises a gingery eyebrow. ‘The sale figures from the last period are the highest yet! Don’t stop the miracle-working now, Evie!’
‘I know volume of sales is important Rupert, but the problem is, David Angelo is a craftsman.’ I explain. ‘This isn’t someone who’s going to trot out stock like he’s in a factory. He won’t be able to make shoes on a conveyor belt – and we won’t be able to design and make an entire collection in time for the new season in September. It could take a few weeks, months even. It’s nearly August now and I think a realistic date for us to start stocking him is the beginning of December.’ I pause and take a breath before continuing. I have to make sure I play this right. ‘But my idea is that with your permission we’ll launch him just before Christmas. Give him an entire window and innovative shop-floor display that Hardy’s can be proud of. It also gives us time to get press in the monthly fashion magazines, build up a buzz about the launch.’
‘Okaaaay,’ Rupert says with a sigh. ‘If you say so, Evie. But from a business perspective I do worry that we’ll be launching him just before another sale season. What if we’re left with lots of his full price stock during the January sales? I mean, I’m presuming you want me to make a big order?’
‘Not exactly,’ I say, crossing my fingers behind my back. ‘Because there is a small problem when it comes to stock...’
Rupert frowns, sensing his profits leave the room as fast as an intern who has brought him the wrong coffee.
‘What problem is that, Evie?’
‘That there won’t be any.’
Rupert gapes at me and I look at him desperately. ‘Please, just hear me out. David is going to make ten or so designs in each shoe size; we’ll just stock the shoes for display and to try on. We’ll take orders and David will make the shoes bespoke for each customer – and we’ll obviously run a waiting list too, to manage the orders’
Rupert immediately shakes his head. ‘This is utterly out of the question, Evie, Hardy’s is not an exclusive shop!’
‘But Mr Angelo is so talented and unique and such a rare find, I honestly think we have to make an exception for him.’
Rupert’s ruddy pallor pales significantly. ‘So, how do we make money then Evie? Hardy’s isn’t a retirement home for benevolent stock, you know.’
‘I know,’ I say patiently. This is a line Rupert trots out regularly when I try to bring in vintage stock to display, not sell. ‘Instead, our customers will be able to order their own bespoke pair from the collection. David will make them exclusively for the customer, and to their specifications. Colour, detail, cut, will all be tapered to best enhance the customer’s experience. It’s department store couture!’
‘But that will take weeks! How can we sell this stuff in bulk and make a profit, without alienating our less wealthy customers?’ Rupert
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