Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1486062
28 • Footwear Insight ~ November/December 2022 footwearinsight.com By Cara Griffin S uccess is generational at Beck's Shoes. Fou n d e d i n 1 9 1 9 , B e ck's Shoes is run today by cousins Adam Beck and Julia Beck-Gomez, the fifth generation to helm the business. Headquartered in Campbell, CA, Beck's Shoes is the top scoring store on the 2022 Gold Medal Service Award list. Beck's is building on an impressive history with a forward-looking approach — maintaining its outstanding service in its stores while also acquiring other family businesses with the goal of maintaining the legacies of families who are ready to sell their stores. Aer having acquired 11 business (14 stores) over the past two-plus years, Beck's now has 23 brick-and-mortar locations and more than 100 employees. (Plus, three Shoemobiles serving the occupational market.) There are Beck's locations in California, Nevada, Colorado, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Beck's plans to lean into its current growth strategy over the next few years. "We're going to continue to go down that direction," says Adam Beck. "We feel like there's going to be more opportunity for us to carry on the legacy of other family businesses. We could see possibly two or three family acquisitions per year for the next five years." Adam and Julia believe there is a 'feel good' aspect to this avenue of growth, telling Footwear Insight, "We feel incredibly proud to be in the position to carry on something that someone invested their life into. We've done the same. We can relate. Additionally at the end of the day, this only makes us and our industry stronger. We learn from all these businesses that we've take on. Regardless of what people perceive of us or our intentions, we are very passionate about this industry and what this specific channel represents." Beck's is also currently in the process of creating a "proof of concept" for Beck's Shoes Rack, driven by the fact that each time Beck's acquires a business there are thousands of pairs of shoes that need to be liquidated. e Beck's team sees potential for opening one Beck's Shoes Rack for each 10-12 store acquisitions going forward. e Rack stores would be 60% liquidation and 40% in-line product. e first is opening soon in Boulder Creek, CA. Another key focus for the year ahead is the Beck's Shoes website. It gets a small BUILT FOR SUCCESS Fifth and sixth generations of the Beck's Shoes family: Adam Beck, Olivia Beck, Kellan Gomez, Julia Beck-Gomez and Deklan Gomez. BECK'S SHOES IS OUR TOP SCORING STORE OF THE YEAR. GOLD MEDAL SERVICE AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE 2022 Photos: Harry Haryanto / harrywhophotography.com