Built To Last: Grundy’s Shoes
Supplied
In partnership with Grundy’s Shoes
With deep roots in South Australia, Grundy’s Shoes steps confidently into the future through smart governance and family leadership.
Grundy’s Shoes is a family-owned footwear business that’s been leading the way for over 150 years. Specialising in sourcing and selling comfortable footwear from all your favourite brands with stores in Glenelg, Victor Harbor and Adelaide, as well as a thriving online department, Grundy’s Shoes has been proudly serving the South Australian community since 1868.
Company Director and General Manager, Tom Whittenbury, a sixth-generation family employee, believes there are two key factors behind the business's success – the family’s “business model”, which includes owning their own properties freehold, and understanding the market.
“We understand what we’re good at and we focus on doing it exceptionally well,” says Tom, who is passionate about continuing to see Grundy’s Shoes grow. “This approach ensures we earn loyal, repeat customers. After all, you can’t put a price on good old-fashioned service.”
A trusted name in the South Australian retail space, Grundy’s Shoes has also had to adapt to the changing face of retail. Traditional brick-and-mortar stores can’t survive without entering the online space, with Tom acknowledging the role online shopping plays in the modern world of retail, especially during lockdown, with Grundy’s Shoes having recently relaunched their website.
“Like any successful business, it’s essential to adapt and move with the times,” he says. “You have to be ready to pivot when needed to stay competitive in the market. This became especially important during the COVID pandemic, when in-store shutdowns meant we had to rely heavily on our online business. Our online team makes use of various platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, and we’re about to launch a brand-new website to strengthen our presence in the digital marketplace.”
To strengthen the business’s governance and plan for the future, Tom and his cousin Damien, the current CEO with 30 years of experience, participated in the Small Business Fundamentals Program.
“The course proved to be an excellent opportunity to network with other family businesses and to gain valuable insights into strategic direction, succession planning, family charters, and the governance of family-run companies,” explains Tom.
Attending several workshops and talks, Tom and Damien have used the knowledge they gained to implement the “company’s first-ever Strategic Plan, initiated succession planning, completed a shareholder agreement and are currently developing a family constitution.”
Things look bright for Grundy’s Shoes, with the business having recently completed a $2.5 million renovation of its Glenelg store and proudly employing its seventh-generation family members to help lead the business into the future.
Grundy’s Shoes are located at Adelaide, Glenelg and Victor Harbor. Find out more at grundysshoes.com.au.
