Re:Why the American shoe disappeared and is hard to bring ba...
by jeffbee on Saturday September 18, 2021 @10:19PM
(#28581157)
Doc Martens went through a rough patch of business about 20 years ago and then sold itself to private equity. Whatever remains of the company probably contains little of the 1990s company you remember.
Re:Why the American shoe disappeared and is hard to bring ba...
by hellbannedguy on Saturday September 18, 2021 @11:41PM
(#28581493)
My sister worked for Doc Marten 30 years ago.
No college, but a great resume, and a natural seller.
The guys running the business didn't realize the fashion potential of their shoes.
They told her whatever you sell; we will give you a healthy percentage.
All the salesmen were guys in their 50's.
By year three, she was making $600,000/yr.
When they realized their utilitarian product was now a fashion statement, they let her go. She went on to make more money though doing her own line of shoes in America.
Stuff can still be made here, but the profits won't be as high.
Since then, I found out about Solovair, which manufactured shoes under the DM name in the UK for decades. I bought a pair about 8 months ago. What an incredible difference in quality. This pair still look great, and unlike Docs, I didn't immediately need to put insoles in them. I definitely will not buy Doc Martens again.