Family run retail business, WALK Shoes has three good reasons to celebrate, having recently scooped three noteworthy awards, ranging from the top prize at the international ART Shoes window display competition, to a national Irish Domain Registry (IEDR) award, to the title of Cork’s ‘Most Environmentally Friendly Business’ from Junior Chamber Ireland.
The store, based on Paul Street in Cork City, won the coveted international ART award for their colourful window display in the shop front, defeating stiff competition from all over the globe. The winning window display was inspired by the decorative inside of ART Shoes, with the ART logo weaved into the creative window display. Holly Breen, Manager of WALK Shoes collected a €5,000 cheque at a prize giving ceremony in Düsseldorf, Germany recently. The prize money will be used for a shop refit in the near future.
As well as WALK Shoes’ international win, the family business was awarded a national online development grant in the Irish Domain Registry (IEDR) awards. WALK Shoes was shortlisted to 32 national finalists, which were then whittled down to 15 overall winners for the fund that saw them pick up a grant for €10,000, which they will use for an entire redevelopment of their website which is set to go live in November.
The popular store was also recently named ‘Most Environmentally Friendly Business’ by Junior Chamber Ireland’s Cork branch, then going on to be named runner up at national level. Having been nominated by customers, WALK Shoes won the favour of mystery shoppers, displaying the benefits to the environment and local economy through their daily practices which include the use of non-chromium leathers in the brands stocked, recycling practices, and the use of environmentally suppliers for the store.
Holly Breen, Manager of WALK Shoes is thrilled with the store’s recent success. She said “These three awards are a testament to the dedication and creativity of our team in WALK Shoes. Being recognised locally for our environmentally friendly practices is a great honour and something we are extremely proud of, while the lucrative boost from the national and international awards is of course very welcome and will be put to good use over the coming months.”
Holly continued “My family opened the store back in 2009, right in the height of the recession, but we weathered the storm and have come out the other side stronger than ever. We pride ourselves on our unique selection of ethical and high quality brands, many of which are exclusive to us here in Cork.”
WALK Shoes latest awards are now on display in the store’s shop front on Paul Street, Cork City.