Interview with Alicia Murray, vice president
How did you get involved in this business?
The business has been in our family since 1875 and has been passed down from generation to generation. My father is fourth generation and I am fifth. I guess you can say it runs in our blood.
What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
What distinguishes us is our customer service. We personally help each customer and guarantee the fit of every shoe we sell. Since the beginning, our store has been a place where customers can come in, sit down and relax while we bring out endless shoes to meet their needs. Even as times have changed and people are buying more online, we still continue to offer a service that is unique and few shoe stores believe in. Customers often feel young again as they are reminded when they would go into shoe stores as kids and have their feet measured and walk out in their new pair of shoes. We believe in old-fashioned values while offering the new-fashion styles of shoes.
What do you like best about your line of work?
The best feeling is when we have a customer tell us how a pair of shoes has changed their lives. Knowing that we can help people one step at a time is rewarding and makes all the hard work worth it.
What is your business’ biggest challenge?
Our biggest challenge is competing with large online businesses. We are a small, locally owned business, and sometimes people forget how important small businesses are to the community. When you buy online, you are taking a piece from the community. Not to mention you are sacrificing a good fitting shoe for convenience.
Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
At the end of each season, we donate shoes to multiple shelters for battered women and the Samaritan House in Denver. We are also a drop-off site for Soles4Souls, an organization that collects new and used shoes in order to help alleviate the devastation of poverty.
Business:Murray’s Shoes
Address:8116 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton
Hours:10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Founded:1875
Contact:303-972-8436; murraysshoes.com; @murraysshoes
Employees:4
To suggest a business for us to profile, e-mail soelrich@denverpost.com.
