Chch store puts best foot forward

Press, 1 June 1989, Page 45

Chch store puts best foot forward

Sucklings Shoe Store, of Christchurch, has received an honourable mention and a cash prize from an American shoe manufacturing company after entering a competition. Sebago, Inc., based in Westbrook, Maine, which specialises in boating shoes, made the award and SUSSOO (about SNZBSO) to the Christchurch store as part of its “Windows Of The World” competition. The private American company had asked retailers in the 56 countries that sell its shoes to submit a colour photograph of a Sebago store window or in-store display as part of its fourth annual competition. Mrs Miriam Suckling, wife of store owner, Mr John Suckling, dresses windows for the shop, and in this case used a sailing theme, including two big pulleys reputed to be from a sailing ship. Mrs Suckling said that she had bought the pulleys from an antique shop, and had found them useful in designing shop displays. The Sebago display, run in November or early December, had been a simple one, she said.

The Christchurch store was one of 10 retailers selected for an honourable mention. Other stores were in Andorra, Barcelona, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), El Valladolid (Spain), Hamburg, Guaynabo (Puerto Rico), Calgary, Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), and Greenville (South Carolina). There were also five grand prize winners, who each received SUSISOO cash. All entries were judged by a panel independent of Sebago. Sebago was formed in 1946 and began making boating shoes in 1948. It now employs more than 950 people in four factories in Maine.