Stylemum / 05 January 2025 / Categories: Product and Brands, Brands, High Street Brands

Timpsons Shoe repairer and key cutting service

I like the company ethos

“Great Service by great people” is the company strap line.

If I were ever to start my own brand I’d want it to be a brand like Timpsons founded by good people with strong principles which have endured throughout its 150 year history.

I already have a great opinion of the company which appears to be reinforced everytime I pop in. I am not especially loyal to a specific location, I just know if I need keys cutting, that’s where I go. I split my shoe repairs between Timpsons and my local cobbler, he gets all the tricky jobs as his equipment is more technical but if I think back to my last 5 visits to Timpsons I have always received the same friendly family business service, something that keeps me returning more than low prices.

The staff manning the kiosks dotted around the country work alone, so not the easiest job, no camaraderie and having to deal with the public which is not easy.

In a world of zero hours contracts and staff complaining all the time about big businesses they work for just not caring I do admire how the staff really make this business what it is. There really is nothing nicer than genuinely happy staff, grateful for the job and empowered to be part of something good. I don’t know how staff are rewarded (if they get a fabulous sales commission but whatever Timpsons are doing to keep their staff engaged and positive I think other businesses could definitely learn from them. Most shops I go into these days I am lucky to even get eye contact from the assistant.

Timpsons has been a family owned and operated business for 150 years. At the helm sir John Timpson born in Manchester in 1943 joined the family footwear businesses in 1970 to head up the buying department.

Until 2024 James Timpson was CEO before being appointed as the Minister for Prisons. He is seen as a compassionate leader with revolutionary ideas, he came up with the pod idea for Timpsons installing one in his local Tesco in Warrington, now they can be found at over 500 sites.

For me Timpsons are a shinning example, built from the ground up business founded on unwavering principles and truth that has resonated with customers and kept them returning through the good times and the bad.

Wish there were more British high street brands like Timpsons