Gaziano & Girling Appreciation & Shoe Appreciation Thread (including reviews, purchases, pictures)

[heelguy]

Hey guys, just noticed that Mehra took down most of his Gaziano & Girling inventory, and removed the MTO page.

@gmehra, will you be carrying G&G moving forward? Thanks!

I also emailed Gaurav to find out since I noticed that too. Just received an Arran in Oak Hatch from him. Also noticed that GG has been changing some of their RTW offerings on their website. They had recently added a Glencoe boot with a very nice patina and now there is a Glencoe in a dark brown grain instead.

 

[sforum1]

It appears that G&G might want to take the route Vass is taking. Sell directly to the consumer with more frequent sales. This thing going through middlemen never made much sense, especially for a small shop like G&G. It only makes sense if you don't want to have to deal with consumers directly, customer service etc and you don't have the infrastructure for that. For example, submitting an order for an MTO is a pain, but if you have a website that is well designed and set up to allow customers to fully customize their MTO, including only having to send a partial payment etc, and you have 1 person fully dedicated to customer service, then you are good to go.

But G&G can offer a 20% discount, even a 40% discount at times and still make more profits than having to go though shopMehra, for example. And I think for the consumer, given that the price is right, can be a good thing too.

Now that being said, they can still ship large orders to retail shops who want to stock their shoes. They'll treat it as a big order, it will be a function of whether they can agree on the right discounts though and what the desirable profit margins will be on the retailer's end.

 

[dauster]

It appears that G&G might want to take the route Vass is taking. Sell directly to the consumer with more frequent sales. This thing going through middlemen never made much sense, especially for a small shop like G&G. It only makes sense if you don't want to have to deal with consumers directly, customer service etc and you don't have the infrastructure for that. For example, submitting an order for an MTO is a pain, but if you have a website that is well designed and set up to allow customers to fully customize their MTO, including only having to send a partial payment etc, and you have 1 person fully dedicated to customer service, then you are good to go.

But G&G can offer a 20% discount, even a 40% discount at times and still make more profits than having to go though shopMehra, for example. And I think for the consumer, given that the price is right, can be a good thing too.

Now that being said, they can still ship large orders to retail shops who want to stock their shoes. They'll treat it as a big order, it will be a function of whether they can agree on the right discounts though and what the desirable profit margins will be on the retailer's end.

that would assume that the luxury market makes sense and decisions are not made by random people true G&G always gives good feedback and a pleasant customer experience. Can't say the same for 3rd parties and that includes Neiman Marcus selling Corthay and other shoes - the sales people don't even knwow anything about the brand or sizing. Same people flipping burgers at the golden arches are the ones selling luxury goods these days - sad.

 

[ant922599]

It's also easier to control the 'brand experience' when it's all routed through the store and the individuals employed by the business.

I wouldn't be surprised if they expand the NY offering from it's current small/by appointment only, as I know the US and Asian market is very important to the brand growth. It's hard to grow the margin per pair of shoes (they are already toppy in terms of £££s), so they have to sell more units.

Either way the margin is probably higher direct to consumer (notwithstanding customer service hassles, promoting, etc).

Hopefully they continue to invest in the Kettering factory, but quality labour might be hard to come by to expand as it doesn't seem to have a large catchment area.

And it should always be noted that the cost of employment for a UK employee is high in terms of pay and rations, benefits, pensions; and taxes/National Insurance.

Maybe they will move some making overseas to service US/Asia?

Who knows - just pure speculation on my part!

 

[dauster]

It's also easier to control the 'brand experience' when it's all routed through the store and the individuals employed by the business.

I wouldn't be surprised if they expand the NY offering from it's current small/by appointment only, as I know the US and Asian market is very important to the brand growth. It's hard to grow the margin per pair of shoes (they are already toppy in terms of £££s), so they have to sell more units.

Either way the margin is probably higher direct to consumer (notwithstanding customer service hassles, promoting, etc).

Hopefully they continue to invest in the Kettering factory, but quality labour might be hard to come by to expand as it doesn't seem to have a large catchment area.

And it should always be noted that the cost of employment for a UK employee is high in terms of pay and rations, benefits, pensions; and taxes/National Insurance.

Maybe they will move some making overseas to service US/Asia?

Who knows - just pure speculation on my part!

you are very accurate in your description of the problems a niche luxury brand faces with employees, nevertheless all I care about is a "perfect" experience when you are selling me shoes for $1,500 plus. And I think more and more brands face these problems as consumers in this categories are very demanding and most brands can't seem to deliver.

 

[ant922599]

@dauster Absolutely - this is definitely forgotten at times. Just because they have regular clients who order frequently, they are still an aspirational purchase for most. If I was a luxury brand, I'd obviously look after my regulars, but be openly grateful and respectful to the person who has saved hard for x period to buy their dream shoe (or whatever) - even if it's just the one.

Interestingly- my very first in store experience with G&G in 2017-2018 was far from enjoyable!

 

[dauster]

@dauster Absolutely - this is definitely forgotten at times. Just because they have regular clients who order frequently, they are still an aspirational purchase for most. If I was a luxury brand, I'd obviously look after my regulars, but be openly grateful and respectful to the person who has saved hard for x period to buy their dream shoe (or whatever) - even if it's just the one.

Interestingly- my very first in store experience with G&G in 2017-2018 was far from enjoyable!

Exactly, there are a lot of people with money that would never spend that kind of money on shoes - they stick with AE and maybe buy CJ on sale and I am not talking about people that are slops but people that care about fashion but not enough to spend vacation money on clothes.

Re your experience, unfortunate to hear that - always keen to here stories if you don't want to make it public send me a PM.

 

[ant922599]

A few pics to lighten the thread! These are Gables that I actually bought at the sample sale in March 2020, but left with G&G for a patina and factory toe taps.

Picked up in person on Weds from Simon in Savile Row.

Gable, square deco, sapphire patina (including soles)

 

[ant922599]

Aaaaaand the shoe of choice for the trip - Deco Cliffe in black suede ?

 

[dauster]

Aaaaaand the shoe of choice for the trip - Deco Cliffe in black suede ?
View attachment 1460945 View attachment 1460946

this looks amazing, travel bag, marble tiles, shoes look great with the white contrast of the pants !

 

[ant922599]

this looks amazing, travel bag, marble tiles, shoes look great with the white contrast of the pants !

Thanks! Truth be told, the marble tiles are from the floor outside the ropey sushi bar at London Paddington train station ?

I do love the bag though - Frank Clegg Hampton tote in Chestnut

 

[dauster]

Thanks! Truth be told, the marble tiles are from the floor outside the ropey sushi bar at London Paddington train station ?

I do love the bag though - Frank Clegg Hampton tote in Chestnut

no way I know this sushi bar good old times when I was still in London. will check out the bag now.

 

[shoes83]

My second pair of GGs has arrived today. I've bought these oxfords in the Round last GG06 new from another member of the forum.

Really nice, fine leather. Definitely more snug than the Classic line, which was my first pair (semi brogue). Fit is fairly good. My instep is quite high, so you do see a V there, but not too bad. Hopefully it will get slightly better with wear. I think the heel could be slightly narrower, but that should get better as the shoes break in. There's a slight gap on the outer side of the topline, but nothing that is bothering me much. Anyway, the fit could be improved, but my budget does not allow me a MTM, go figure a bespoke pair...

I've taken a couple of pictures, and also compared these GG06 with the Classic line shoes (Bader S45 semi brogue).

From what I've read over time, and having now tried the GG06 last, I think the TG73 last I'll probably have to take in F width (wide). I won't pull the trigger in the short term anyway, but I think it's a good idea to try them on first at the store or trunk show. Just limits my ability to score a deal like this one...

By the way, I destroyed the original laces when putting these on for the first time. They seemed to be an elastic piece inside an outer "layer". I decided to put the replacements that came with my Classic line and they're a ton better (sturdier).

Anyway, I hope this helps others.

 

[gzheydey]

The side to side comparison between the two different lines is very helpful.

My second pair of GGs has arrived today. I've bought these oxfords in the Round last GG06 new from another member of the forum.

Really nice, fine leather. Definitely more snug than the Classic line, which was my first pair (semi brogue). Fit is fairly good. My instep is quite high, so you do see a V there, but not too bad. Hopefully it will get slightly better with wear. I think the heel could be slightly narrower, but that should get better as the shoes break in. There's a slight gap on the outer side of the topline, but nothing that is bothering me much. Anyway, the fit could be improved, but my budget does not allow me a MTM, go figure a bespoke pair...

I've taken a couple of pictures, and also compared these GG06 with the Classic line shoes (Bader S45 semi brogue).

From what I've read over time, and having now tried the GG06 last, I think the TG73 last I'll probably have to take in F width (wide). I won't pull the trigger in the short term anyway, but I think it's a good idea to try them on first at the store or trunk show. Just limits my ability to score a deal like this one...

By the way, I destroyed the original laces when putting these on for the first time. They seemed to be an elastic piece inside an outer "layer". I decided to put the replacements that came with my Classic line and they're a ton better (sturdier).

Anyway, I hope this helps others.

 

[shoes83]

The side to side comparison between the two different lines is very helpful.

If there's another angle or part of the shoes that you'd like me to photograph, please let me know.

My camera (or should I say cellphone camera) skills are quite limited, but hopefully that won't get in the way. ?