The Shoe Box Reviewed

Where is it

Basement of Curiouser and Curiouser

70 Tib Street

Manchester

M4 1LG

History

Given that The Shoe Box has only been open for a few weeks, I was very much surprised on entrance at what I discovered; with every shoe specifically shelved, standing out against the cerise backdrop, it was clear that a lot of passion as well as blood sweat and (hopefully not) tears had gone into the shop.

It definitely welcomed the feel of a boutique, something owner Louise had hoped. “I designed it all myself, with the help of a builder” she told me as we sat, surrounded by a sea of shoes, “I’ve loved shoes since I can remember, this has always been my dream and I just went for it.”

Carrie Bradshaw eat your heart out. The Shoe Box has already been established in Staffordshire for a year, but being based on an old market wasn’t exactly Louise’s dream. “I wanted to come somewhere a bit younger and livelier and I used to work in Piccadilly Gardens so it seemed right to relocate here.”

The Shoe Box
What does it sell?

The obvious, shoes, but there’s also a small range of tights on sale. There’s a whole host of brands on offer, Shellys, Ravel, Miss L-Fire, Beyond Skin, Mel by Melissa, Bronx and Hunters with more coming in the near future.

Who shops there?

Located in the Northern Quarter, The Shoe Box is aimed at shoppers looking to find something unique without a daunting designer price tag rather than a bog-standard high street replica.

The Shoe Box
Why shop there?

Louise hand-picks all her stock, keeping her eyes peeled for those hard to find labels and keeping her finger on the fashion pulse to find cheaper alternatives than those of designers. The Beyond Skin shoes are vegan, made with suede sourced from Jaguar and Mercedes cars and are handmade in Spain. (Prices from £15-£150)


The Future

”I’d just like to be successful,” Louise said when asked what her hopes are. She’s happy with one store and hopes to have a lot more brands on offer with a diverse range of shoes to meet every taste. “I hope to maintain the boutique vibe, with good customer service and offering something that’s different to the high street. “ There is also a Facebook page for The Shoe Box.

Verdict

Though the small store lives up to its name, The Shoe Box has big potential as home to brands that were once forgotten with the likes of Ravel and Shellys.

The Shoe Box