Alfred Sargent - GONE!

[Tarmac]

I feel like Sargent is in an unfortunate position of being just a bit below Crockett and Jones in both quality and price, without much else to offer. People tend to either just pony up the extra 50 quid and get Crockett and Jones or go much cheaper like Barker or Loake.

Other British makes have some sort of market segment ownership, for example Trickers does the country blucher thing, EG does the top-line/top-dollar thing. Brands like Grenson and Loake make sure they have offerings at every price point to cover their bases.

There was that old thread which mentioned AS was going to try their hand at an absolutely top-drawer quality line. I would love to see the results from that.

 

[whnay.]

Originally Posted by Groover

I believe when Manton went to the AS factory they were talking a lot about pushing their own brand name, this was to coincide with the new offerings they'd developed with Tony G's help.

I can report that I've seen one of these "prototypes" and it is amazing, at least EG quality.

 

[academe]

Originally Posted by Tarmac

I feel like Sargent is in an unfortunate position of being just a bit below Crockett and Jones in both quality and price, without much else to offer. People tend to either just pony up the extra 50 quid and get Crockett and Jones or go much cheaper like Barker or Loake.

Other British makes have some sort of market segment ownership, for example Trickers does the country blucher thing, EG does the top-line/top-dollar thing. Brands like Grenson and Loake make sure they have offerings at every price point to cover their bases.

There was that old thread which mentioned AS was going to try their hand at an absolutely top-drawer quality line. I would love to see the results from that.

Thing is, having seen their premier, premier exclusive ranges, and Peal shoes, I've never really felt that they were really that noticeably worse than C&J. I just think that C&J has more name-brand cachet.

 

[TCN]

Originally Posted by Tarmac

I feel like Sargent is in an unfortunate position of being just a bit below Crockett and Jones in both quality and price, without much else to offer. People tend to either just pony up the extra 50 quid and get Crockett and Jones or go much cheaper like Barker or Loake.


I was wondering if the best position to be these days isn't somewhere between Allen Edmonds and C&J. Certainly good quality and style, but still very affordable.

 

[Tangfastic]

Originally Posted by Tarmac

I feel like Sargent is in an unfortunate position of being just a bit below Crockett and Jones in both quality and price, without much else to offer. People tend to either just pony up the extra 50 quid and get Crockett and Jones or go much cheaper like Barker or Loake.

Other British makes have some sort of market segment ownership, for example Trickers does the country blucher thing, EG does the top-line/top-dollar thing. Brands like Grenson and Loake make sure they have offerings at every price point to cover their bases.

There was that old thread which mentioned AS was going to try their hand at an absolutely top-drawer quality line. I would love to see the results from that.

I thought AS made a lot of shoes at the lower end of the scale and supplied a lot of branded products for other retailers. If this supply of lowest grade AS shoes is cut surely this will push prices up for entry level good shoes?

 

[medwards]

Originally Posted by ManofKent

I don't think that's the problem - their sales in the UK are a small proportion of their total sales.

Sixty percent of their product is exported.

 

[justsayno]

was it a cashflow problem? can't get loans or something?

 

[ThinkDerm]

Originally Posted by AnGeLiCbOrIs

This is all the fault of SFers who only buy C&J made Peal shoes.

i am guilty there

 

[Bic Pentameter]

Originally Posted by medwards

Sixty percent of their product is exported.

They have a very large presence, under their own label, in Japan.

 

[misterjase]

5 Dec 08, Director Paul Sargent said: "We're trying to go more up-market all the time, because we want to go for the business we feel is best for our long-term future.

"We are doing more handmade shoes and are going back to the techniques we used to use years ago.

"This means we have to review our staffing levels and we also feel that during the current economic situation this is a prudent thing to do."


I would have thought this was a restructuring not a closing.

Interesting re move to more handmade, upmarket, shoes.
What are the handmade shoes that are available? Is there a range above the Premier Exclusive line? Where are the handmade shoes available from?

 

[ccffm1]

Originally Posted by misterjase

5 Dec 08, Director Paul Sargent said: "We're trying to go more up-market all the time, because we want to go for the business we feel is best for our long-term future.

"We are doing more handmade shoes and are going back to the techniques we used to use years ago.

"This means we have to review our staffing levels and we also feel that during the current economic situation this is a prudent thing to do."


I would have thought this was a restructuring not a closing.

Interesting re move to more handmade, upmarket, shoes.

AS have been planning on going upmarket since G&G have moved their production there. I hope it´s not too late now.

Originally Posted by misterjase

Is there more on offer above the Premier line? Where are the handmade shoes available from?

There are the Premier and Premier Exclusive Ranges, the latter being slightly above the former in terms of pricing. AFAIK the handmades aren´t available yet.

 

[grimslade]

Originally Posted by misterjase

5 Dec 08, Director Paul Sargent said: "We're trying to go more up-market all the time, because we want to go for the business we feel is best for our long-term future.

"We are doing more handmade shoes and are going back to the techniques we used to use years ago.

"This means we have to review our staffing levels and we also feel that during the current economic situation this is a prudent thing to do."


I would have thought this was a restructuring not a closing.

Interesting re move to more handmade, upmarket, shoes.
What are the handmade shoes that are available? Is there a range above the Premier Exclusive line? Where are the handmade shoes available from?

If this is true, they should pay the people they laid off for the work they did. It's mest up.

 

[misterjase]

Yes, that is disgraceful and management should be ashamed.

 

[Leather man]

Apparently there was just no money to pay them. It certainly was however a very poor state of affairs.

The money has now been found, so I understand, and the workers have been paid.

 

[grimslade]

Originally Posted by Leather man

Apparently there was just no money to pay them. It certainly was however a very poor state of affairs.

The money has now been found, so I understand, and the workers have been paid.

That's a relief.