A shoe business able to keep pace with changing times
Lily Dane • Published 2 Feb 2012 13:00
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Malcolm Sloan, the current proprietor of John J. Sloans and Sons Ltd., pictured in front of portraits of his grandfather, John J. Sloan, and his father, Cecil, and uncle, Norman.
One of the county's longest established shops, John J. Sloans and Sons Ltd., in Enniskillen is currently celebrating its 100th anniversary. The significant milestone is a pleasing achievement for the well-known town-centre establishment, particularly at a time when economic conditions continue to bite hard for retailers countrywide.
The current proprietor, Malcolm Sloan - who followed in the footsteps of his father, uncle and grandfather - is the third generation of the Sloan family to work at Sloans, which was established in 1912 by his late grandfather John J. Sloan, from Co. Monaghan.
During its long history in Fermanagh, the go-ahead business has survived 16 bomb attacks (between its shops in Enniskillen and Lisnaskea.)
John J. arrived in Enniskillen as a young man and established his first shop at 15 High Street, the historic premises, where Sloans continues to retail a century on. It wasn't long before he was joined in the business by his sons, the late Cecil (who married Heather Ramage from Ballyshannon) and the late Norman (who married Lovell Donaldson from Enniskillen).
The father and sons were all working in the shop at the time of its Golden Jubilee - which was featured in The Impartial Reporter in January 1962.
At that stage John J. Sloan still presided over the family business and was seldom absent from the premises. He married Mabel Garland, of Clonooney House, Clones in 1913, and they had one daughter, the late Olive (Mrs. David Kyle), as well as their sons, Norman and Cecil.
The January 4, 1962 edition noted: "Milestones in the business were the opening of the Lisnaskea branch in 1926, the formation of a limited company in 1941, and the take-over of Mavitty's shoe shop in 1948. Cecil joined the firm in 1936, and his younger brother, Norman, in 1940."
Mr. Sloan (Senior) told the newspaper's MAP column (at that time) that he attributed his success to "a thorough knowledge of the shoe trade, to sound value and courtesy."
Another 50 years on and Malcolm Sloan is maintaining the family tradition at 15 High Street, a building which previously served as John J.'s family home, where his three children were born 'between the bridges'.
The staff also lived in rooms over the shop for many years, prior to the family home being made at Erne Cliff, Chanterhill.
Malcolm's current office is a former staff bedroom, while the building still retains many of its old features. The shop still houses the original kitchen range in a ground floor shoe store.
At one stage, John J. Sloans, now a specialist men and women's shoe shop, was one of a number of Sloans shoe shops, which had also specialised in children's shoes and took in an Irvinestown shop. Their association with Clarks has spanned up to six decades.
Over the years, there have been many long serving staff; in fact, in its Golden Jubilee year, The Impartial Reporter noted that "like other old-established firms, Sloans can pride itself on a loyal staff. Robert McLean has been at 23 High Street for 35 years." The late Mr. McLean actually went on to give up to 60 years' service at the High Street shop, where the current managers are Caroline Magee and Richard Tubman.
Malcolm says that he greatly appreciates all his staff and the shop's policy has always been that they "work with him, not for him" and they should all be courteous and have good product knowledge.
He has now been in the shoe business for 40 years - having done his training with Clarks in Somerset, where his initial training was to make shoes and he went on to become a Fellow of the British Boot and Shoe Institution. He finished his studies at Bath University where he did a Postgraduate in Management. Other family members who also had an input at the shop were Malcolm's late sister Sandie, while Norman's daughters are Wendy Graham, who shares the family's interest in business and runs Graham Womenswear, Enniskillen. Her sister Caroline Lowden is now in Scotland.
For Malcolm, his long career in the shoe business continues to be a source of enjoyment and he always likes to see the new shoe ranges coming in and attending shoe fairs. He maintains that there is presently an incredible interest in shoes. "People love shoes more than ever," says Malcolm.
At the moment he says he could not be specific about styles as there is so much of everything - every heel height and every toe shape.
One of a number of long-established family owned shops in Enniskillen, he is very thankful for the loyalty of his customers and the trade, which he says not only comes from tourism throughout Ireland, but also from visitors across the UK.
He emphasised the importance of independent retailing and says it is still very dear to him. "It is the independent sector of this town which makes it so attractive to tourists," feels Malcolm, who adds that there is a very good mix of shops - a combination of multiple and family stores. Tourism is vital to the prosperity of Enniskillen, believes Malcolm, who says people love the relaxed shopping atmosphere. "It's essential that there is investment in the town to make it more attractive," stressed Malcolm, who says he looks forward "to many more years in a vibrant, prosperous town-centre."
This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 02 Feb 12
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