Wagner Quality Shoes, a sixth-generation Pittsburgh-based shoe store that dates back to 1854, meets the expectation of craftsmanship their name implies in an unconventional way.
Founder Peter Wagner, son of a cobbling family from Burscheid, Germany, came to the United States in 1849. His shoes exemplified the legacy of superior craftsmanship transmitted to him over countless generations; a factor which undoubtedly set Wagner Quality Shoes apart from the competition.
After the second generation, however, the Wagners stopped manufacturing their own products and transitioned to a strictly retail operation. Yet, despite no longer making the shoes, they have retained a loyal customer base over the subsequent four generations of ownership. Their business has survived economic tribulations not limited to world wars, the great depression and several recessions.
In maintaining a reputation for quality and craftsmanship without actually producing a product, rather, curating it, they epitomise the concept of retail craftsmanship.
With the manufacturing process out of their hands, they transitioned their focus to how they conduct their retail operation. Other stores may have a more comprehensive selection, but nobody provides a better experience.
Their attention to detail is exhaustive: to help customers with foot pain, they have a digital scanning device to locate specific pressure points. A certified on-staff pedorthist is available to ensure customers feel great walking out of the store.
The practice of retail craftsmanship is helping them thrive in a digital age when many consumers have started buying their shoes online.
- Family name: Wagner family
- Sector: Clothing
- Founded: 1849
- Founder: Peter Wagner
- Country: USA
- Company headquarters: Pittsburgh, USA
- Managers: Mark Wagner
- Revenue:
- Rankings:
- Family ownership:
- Employees:
- Website: www.wagnershoes.com
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