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Too Much Going On.....

RIDER

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Since I have received numerous emails regarding what is coming up, I thought it would be a good idea to kind of preview everything on my plate that might be of interest here.

1) Factory is sending 150-200 pair for direct offers....same sort of thing - a few of this, a few of that....mainly fashion production. Should be here and available in about 3 weeks. I will be updating the blog to preview the styles when I get all the details.

2) Franco's has asked me to help him offer some of the goods that he is interested in discounting....especially Borgioli, as the retails have risen, according to a conversation with him today, to around $550. Since I had always bought them direct, and retailed for a fair $395, this jump will be hard for him to swallow, and if he doesn't go there, they probably won't want to supply the shop. He has some Pertini, Gravati (a few) and Moreschi as well.....these will go on the ebay site.

3) I have a pretty good friend who is a tie manufacturer in Como. I have known him for over 5 years now, and we always talk and visit a bit when I am working in Milan and staying in Como. He has asked me numerous times to help him in this market, and I have always said I was too busy with my own thing to get into something different - even though I have worn his ties over the years and always thought he had a great deal. Anyway, this time I am going to see if his work has any legs here....I just received 15 ties as samples from his production and am looking for a group of guys to give me a good test/feedback on his ties. Basically he does 4 folds and 6 folds.....all self-tipped, saddle stitched, wool interlinings...way too many options for silks - some really great, most very good, some awful....pretty standard situation. Except, I think he has a pretty good price point.....$75 for the 4's and $90 for the 6's and he takes real small orders, so everything stays pretty unique. He makes everything in his shop/home....a couple of older gentlemen help.....I like him and I like his ties so I would like to see about the interest here (by here I mean USA). I paid him for the ties, so I am not going to offer free wear trials, but I am going to offer a few that are interested a 20% discount and ask for a one month wear trial and some good, honest feedback. If you don't like them at all, then I will refund the money, but I need some good info from the market before I go out on a limb. If they meet with good response, I'll jump in since it's something I have thought about for about 5 years now. SOOOO....if anyone is interested in helping me out here, please PM me and I will have pictures and more information available by the weekend at the latest.

4) Thru no fault of either Tom Park or myself, or the factory, we will NOT be supplying LeatherSoleHawaii with a Shell Cordovan program.....seems someone else was not so happy about competition. It happens, and is no big deal. I feel bad for Tom, as he was very upset, but it's not the first time big brother hammered a small retailer - and won't be the last. More importantly, the factory want's to return all the Shell Cordovan I had them buy (which was basically all the supply in Europe [and here also] that was not #8 or black) and I don't want this to happen. I received the samples today that were planned for Leathersole and they are fantastic, in my very biased opinion. We came up with a great hand stitched algonquin, did the Lucca and that plain 3 eye chukka, as well as a new wingtip. I will post pictures on the blog, but at this piont I have about a week to organize enough business to save this order of Shell Cordovan. I have already received the sample of the #6 I custom ordered from Horween, and I really want this program to work as I think there is a real need for more updated patterns in this material....I aim to fill it.

Who likes Shell Cordovan?!? And wants custom shoes made in the rare Natural, Whiskey, Mahagony and #4? I'll make anything I can in my archives! As most of you know, the supply of Horweens SC is very small and is in very high demand. Prices are going to be between $550 and $850, depending on the pattern, work, etc. and I will offer $100 off for all members of SF or AAAC for advance orders, either in stock patterns or special make-ups. Since the intent of this program was to work exclusively with Leathersole, I never offered to any other retailers, and now we can't wait until Fall to try to place....makes for a very good opportunity for my individual clients!

Please PM me (or use my regular email: riders5r at comcast dot net) if you are interested in doing something unique in this great leather!

Well, that's SOME of what I have going on.....there is also a hosiery program, working on my own real horn shoehorn line.....trying to get lasted shoe trees on the market....boxes of belts arrived today that are NOT the standard fare....but I'll stick with the 4 main points for now. Let me know if I can serve you!!

Thanks,
Ron
 

TomW

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I'm going to go bankrupt
musicboohoo[1].gif
But I'm up for the task.. PM sent.


Damn the torpedos!! Full speed ahead
devil.gif
 

DocHolliday

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The Borgioli increase is rather substantial, and I can't say that what I've seen of them would induce me to part with six Franklins. Seems like a questionable decision on their part, and I can see why Franco's would be reluctant to offer them at that price point. Franco's calf offerings top out at about $500, don't they?

Speaking of Franco's, I was in Richmond recently and saw these funky specs on the sale table, for about $300, IIRC. I saw them in a 9, and there were some other sizes too.

http://www.francos.com/items/item.asp?sku5=72333

The cordovan opportunity sounds like a very good one for our shell fans. And I can't wait to see what all you've got coming, Ron.
 

kbuzz

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Hey Ron....how far back is the wholecut thing we talked about?
 

Alias

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Sucks for Leathersoul. I wish I could place an order for these cordovan shoes simply out of spite for the "big brother." Unfortunately my wallet is too small
frown.gif
 

acidboy

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I look forward to your updates, Mr. Rider.
 

aportnoy

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Ron...email sent on the shell cordovan program! Save some whiskey and mahogany for me!
icon_gu_b_slayer[1].gif


Andrew
 

knittieguy

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Since Leathersoul is a big Alden promoter, and Alden specializes in shell cordovan, it doesn't seem a big stretch to presume that Alden is big brother in this case. If so, I think they are overreacting. I don't think the people who love and buy Aldens are generally the same ones who love and buy Marteganis. Just as I doubt J. Press sees Canali as its main competition.
 

dkzzzz

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Very interested in Cordovan programm. Will be ordering a few pairs during NYC show.
 

RIDER

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Hey Ron....how far back is the wholecut thing we talked about?
hmmmm.....I think #7. I like the idea of www.wholecuts.com.

I look forward to your updates, Mr. Rider.
Plenty coming......

Ron...email sent on the shell cordovan program! Save some whiskey and mahogany for me!
sounds great! email troubles at the moment - saw it but can't reply...will get a message out when I get to the office.

Since Leathersoul is a big Alden promoter, and Alden specializes in shell cordovan, it doesn't seem a big stretch to presume that Alden is big brother in this case. If so, I think they are overreacting. I don't think the people who love and buy Aldens are generally the same ones who love and buy Marteganis. Just as I doubt J. Press sees Canali as its main competition.
I cannot confirm those details.....
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CunningSmeagol

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Originally Posted by knittieguy
Since Leathersoul is a big Alden promoter, and Alden specializes in shell cordovan, it doesn't seem a big stretch to presume that Alden is big brother in this case. If so, I think they are overreacting. I don't think the people who love and buy Aldens are generally the same ones who love and buy Marteganis. Just as I doubt J. Press sees Canali as its main competition.

So, to be explicit, Alden threatened to stop supplying LeatherSoul if Tom started carrying Martegani shell? Is that why there's no Carmina either, there or anywhere??
 

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