Century
Club
What does it take to stay in
business for a full century?
It's not an easy question.
Reaching the 100-year mark surely takes vision, commitment and hard work.
Unquestionably it also takes skill, instincts and flexibility. Even more so, it demands
all those qualities not just once, but generation after generation. And in a time
when retail seems to be moving faster than ever, it seems incredible that the
business plans written just as the very first telephones were being installed could
continue to be relevant and thriving. For California-based Beck's Shoes and
Ohio-based Lucky Shoes, two powerhouse retail independents celebrating
their centennials this year, the formulas for success look different. But both family-
run businesses are looking ahead and focusing on giving their customers even
greater service. It just goes to prove: some things never change.
footwearinsight.com January / February 2019 ~ Footwear Insight • 59
Lucky Shoes photos by Jennifer Mancuso. Beck's Shoes photos by Lori Fehr.
By Jennifer Ernst Beaudry
