Last Christmas postage dates

So who’s ready for the big day? We’ve had Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Manic/Mega Monday and the Christmas markets. It’s been a busy period in England and to top it all off we’ve now seen a delivery company as good as self-implode, refusing to collect any additional parcels in the biggest Bah-Humbug this side of Scrooge!

Fortunately, we don’t use them. Mastershoe-Myshu use DHL and Royal Mail and you’ve gotta feel for everyone who’s now sweating on the delivery of their Christmas gifts. Anyhow as we now enter the 9 day countdown to Christmas, the last mad dash shopping online begins! This year we decided to cut off our guaranteed Christmas delivery from this Friday (19th December 2014). Of course we’ll still be sending out all your boxes of happiness until the big day but we want to be as realistic as possible. Royal Mail and DHL have both been incredible this year and they’ve been working like little Christmas Elf’s trying to manage your expectations so a big shout out to them both, it is really appreciated and to their credit we’ve barely had a single problem. We really do make a big effort to manage our customers expectation as well and it’s important that we’ve met them. This wouldn’t have been possible without our courier services and it’s a pretty big deal when someone places their faith in you with presents for their nearest and dearest.

I also thought I’d remind you all of our fantastic December competition, We have a free pair of Muck boots up for grabs this month. All you need to do is purchase a pair of Muck boots for the chance to win a second pair for free. So if you still trying to work out a little gift for someone special why not have a look at their range of wellies and who know maybe you’ll have bagged yourselves a free pair for the New Year! Just remember the competition ends on the 31st December 2014 and there are two massive benefits to neoprene welly's. Neoprene as a material is not just waterproof but it’s also incredibly flexible and a great form of insulation which makes them perfect for the late night dog walks or the cold winter mornings, mucking out down the stables.

The also come with really great sole units more common on outdoor hiking footwear. This provides great grip in addition to really good support and as a result if you’re on your feet all day, you’ll notice the difference.

This has also been my first year at mastershoe-myshu and it really has been a great year! I only started in February but in this time I had the pleasure of helping so many people, whether it was measuring insoles to help ensure they got the right size or helping ensure they got the best style for their needs. Either way it’s been a blast, so thank you and while we only have a small team, this family run business has done so much to surpass every level of expectation. It’s also been one of the nicest environments I’ve ever had the pleasure of working, so for that I thank you mastershoe! Finally this will also be my last post for this year so have a great Christmas and enjoy your New Year but if there is anything else we can help you with please don’t hesitate to contact us. Glen

Christmas Stocking Fillers

Hey everybody so it’s that time once again! The shops have undergone their Christmas transformations. Americans are preparing their thanksgiving Turkeys and the Aussies, well the Australians are probably chilling on the beach with a barbie. How nice that would be right now.. That would be very nice! Instead I’m sat at work in my slippers next to the radiator penning you lovely folks a nice little update before the madness that is Black Friday.

So first of all, what is Black Friday? Well it all started in the States and this phenomenon is the equivalent of the boxing day sales in the UK. Since then having done a little research on the BBC I found this gem of an article and there's actually an awful lot of history behind it so please do have a read as it's well worth a look.

If you haven’t seen our site before then we have offers year round with reductions as big as 75%. Admittedly, this is only on a single product but 30-50% savings aren’t particularly unusual. So it’s always worth keeping an eye out for our specials. This year we’re also offering a further 10% off all products on top of any current savings with the voucher code “blkfriday” (valid until 28th November 2014).

Over half of our kids shoes currently on sale already have at least 40% off including a selection of Air Max’s, Timberlands and other everyday footwear. What’s more is these offers are not uncommon throughout the whole of our range.

We also know a lot of people worry about returns for Christmas presents. This is one of the things that makes online shopping so attractive. Especially With mastershoe-myshu as we offer a full 365 day returns service for online orders as long as they are in their original unworn condition and they are returned with their original box and swing tags.

We have everything footwear related from fleece lined and sheepskin boots to snow boots and slippers to ensure your feet stay dry and cosy what every you do. We also have a fantastic range of wellies including Muck boots, Bogs, Hunters and Joules along with the stylish Dr Martens Drench Welly, this little gem is vegan friendly, made solely with natural rubber and their epic Air Cushioned sole that made them famous.

So without further delay allow me to present to you our Xmas sales guide. Perfect for stocking fillers, main presents and everything else in between. We have shoes and prices for all budgets and a further 10% off until Friday 28th November 2014. Remember to get them while the offer lasts and keep your eye peeled for an exciting competition starting on the 1st December 2014!

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Footwear Brands Musician Magician - Continued

Lets get started, and bowl right in
Today's first brand has to be Oxygen
There boots and shoes are definitely a bargain
made to be functional and fashionable by the clever Oxygen craftsman

A comfortable fit can be found in Skechers
Back to school are best looking at Kickers
lots of walking? have you tried Brasher or Wrangler?
Or something more special, how about El-Nature-Lista

The North Face are popular, and really work well
Alongside Hummel and Merrell and did I mention Sorel
Classic and oldskool fashion are how Buffalo operate
Compare them to Softinos and you'll see how they date.

Boxfresh, Reef and winter Sheep Feet,
Toms, Tigerbear and Dude are all really neat
It does make you wonder how the classics even compete
It always seems they are very far from defeat

Speaking of classics, have you tried The North Face hedgehog?
It's a real classic that's probably on par with Rocket Dog
Then we have Harley Davidson, and Hi-Tec, and Good old Geox
Gola, New Era and the much loved Lacoste

I can see the end in sight, only 10 brands to go.
Now I musn't mess this end up, I need to make it pro
Blundstone, Hush Puppies, Marco Tozzi and Ikon
Panama Jack, Helly Hansen, Vibram and Vagabond

That leaves us with 2 more brands, both completely different
One is renowned for tennis and the other one could be called a treatment.
K-Swiss has style, quality and a big reputation
Place is all about stability, support and lots of foot action

This completes my list of 72 footwear brands and advice.
I've noticed a mistake, can you see which brand I mentioned twice?
If you notice the stockist, please do let us know
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed the show.

Footwear Brands Musician Magician - Continued

Welcome back to another exciting episode
Where brands come to life in rhyme, rhythm and ode
Today I will be carrying on with my list of suppliers
That provide our footwear for all of our buyers.

Lets begin with wellingtons, or wellies if you prefer
Theres Kanyon, Muck Boots and Bogs and of course Hunter
If its just boots your after, we have plenty of those
Or for even better protection have you seen our steel-toes?

For something in the middle you'll want Grinders or Palladium,
Both brands are sturdy with materials that are premium
whilst your Fly London and Rockport complete the equilibrium
Ha, that's the first time i've used that word, i think i've hurt my cranium

I must continue my farcicle song as I cant have many more brands left to prong
Moving onto boating shoes, you know the ones with the rope so they're harder to lose.
For our most specific range, you'll want to look at Chatham.
or alternatively something less bland, the top-selling brand called Timberland.

We're half-way down our list of 72, with an achievable 42 left to get through
I will finish today's post with skate fashion and hi-tops
Chunky, durable trainers that are made to be non-stop
Theres Vans, Etnies, Globe and Odessa
DVS, and DC your can't get much better.

Thank you for reading my second edition
Of 'Footwear Brands Musician Magician'
Please stay tuned to read the conclusion
Lets quickly sneak one more brand in, how about Base London

Footwear Brands Musician Magician

Footwear Brands Musician Magician

If your after some class, then why not try adidas.
Or maybe something fast, thats also made to last.
Merge running with Pumas, or better yet Onitsuka Tigers.
Something more trendy? then try some Superga or Nike or even some Cushe.

Winter is coming and the sun is hiding,
Have you seen our selection of Dr Martens with sheepskin lining?
Adesso and Art or maybe some Blowfish, or have you considered something more stylish
Campers high quality, but then so is Caterpillar, or what about Converse, there colour selection is killer.

Crocs and DC are big on TV, but you shouldn't judge a brand by its media CV
Shoes, boots, sandals and wellies, lifestyle fashion, walking and don't forget about jellies
Sizes are different between UK, US and European, across all destinations including the Caribbean.
If your still not sure what size you are, I wouldn't blame you because shoes sizes are quite bizarre

What brands are left, have I still got far to go?
I need to be careful that I don't rush it and lose my flow.
Let us continue with brands that showcase your toes,
Some brands are practical whilst some are for show.

Birkenstock and Birkis are near enough the same
Aside from the quirky designs the difference is in the name
People feel Earth Spirit and Keen are so comfy its magical,
But you'll really want FitFlop if your looking for practical.

This is your lot for this weeks post
I've only just began and I don't want to boast,
Please stay tuned for my next edition
of 'Footwear Brands Musician Magician'

Back to School

So following on from last weeks blog “Time to get the boots out” referring to the wet and cold August we’ve just experienced. I thought it’d be a nice time to take a look at school shoes as we start September. It’s a tricky situation buying school shoes, everyone has an opinion, the kids just want to fit in with the latest trends and parents just want something that’ll last, is not too expensive and that gives them as little a headache as possible. Simply put, it can be an absolute nightmare! The guidelines from school to school can be as varied as the hot dinners and because of this we do advise clarifying the types of shoes allowed at your particular school prior to purchasing. For example some allow trainers, other black trainers and then sometimes they are even more specific, so it can be difficult. What we can guarantee, is that we have something for everyone. We stock a large range of shoes suitable for school from the traditional Dr Martens, Kickers and Hush Puppies through to the more fashion conscious trainers in an all-black style or those with a bit of a heel if the school allow them, such as the Vagabond or Rocket Dogs.

So far this back to school season, the biggest sellers in our all black footwear include the Kickers Kick, this style comes in two designs the Kick Hi boot and the Kick Lo shoe. With a rugged look they are also smart and stylish and the 4 eyelet front lacing system ensures an easy fit. Dr Martens 1460Z in Black smooth has also been a big seller for the boys, a classic from the British born brand, they were even in fashion when I was back at school, back in the mid 90’s. DM’s are synonymous with hard-wearing and comfortable footwear which incorporates their AirWair sole unit. For the girls the Dr Martens Polley are also hugely popular and a classic style. These Mary Jane style shoes are simple, classy and so in fashion at the moment! Meanwhile a slightly different approach for the girls is the Skechers Go Walk 2. This is more of a trainer but it is one of the most comfortable pairs of footwear available and they come in an all black design with a breathable upper and the flexible sole unit.

From a fashion shoes perspective moving away from the traditional school shoes, we also had a lot of interest in the Unisex Vans Authentic Black. This simple fashion trainer is made for both women and men, a simple understated design it is minimal but not to be underestimated. This is one of the classic designs that helped make the brand what they are today with a canvas upper and the legendary vulcanized sole unit. Converse has a similar range for their shoes keeping the principles behind their classic styles but with an all-black colouring to help ensure their suitability for the majority of schools. They do this for their canvas Star Player EV Oxford and the original Chuck Taylor All Stars in both regular trainers and hi-tops in addition to a leather version of the Chuck Taylor All Stars in the Lean Oxford blurring the lines between a trainer and a shoe.

Let us know what you’re wearing when you go back this week or alternatively if you’re as old as I am let us know what you had when you were younger, and what you wanted but were never allowed, like Pams Vagabonds from last week’s blog. Either way we’d love to hear from you!

Glen

Time to get the boots out....

Hi All,

It’s been a little while, we’ve been busy peeps in the Mastershoe-Myshu office with loads of new styles arriving for Autumn/Winter and boy is Autumn arriving with a bang it was so chilly last night! Only a few weeks ago we were bathing in gorgeous sunshine and taking full advantage of the office’s air conditioning, taking photos and loading fleecy lined boots onto the website we thought we were mad, and yet now I’m looking at weather and the boots coming through thinking hmm…they're rather yummy.

Ok so I do have a bit of a shoe addiction, particularly boots, I think it goes hand in hand with working for a footwear retailer and for this blog I thought I would share some of my favourites that have arrived so far.  My problem is the new arrivals are only the tip of the iceberg, we still have Dr Martens, my personal favourites for comfort – FitFlop, Merrell, North Face and Skechers winter ranges to start arriving, and still sooo many more styles from the brands that have started to deliver already.

Fly London Lask

My first favourite has to come from Fly London, the Lask boots.  For me the camel colour has got to be the best, these boots give the classic biker style a real feminine twist and the chunky heel is great….I am rubbish in heels, the chunkier the better!! I love that the laces make them adjustable but they also have a zip on the
side so once the lace is set you haven’t got to faff around everytime you put them on and take them off.  They would look fab with a pair of skinnys…chic grunge.

My perfect school shoes when I was 15!

Next up, from a brand that’s following is growing fast, and it’s easy to see why when you check out they’re styles…Vagabond.  New in this week is the Dioon Moc Slip Shoe, ok so not a boot but I love these shoes and for one simple reason.  When I was at school, after the Buffalo craze had finished everyone was wearing shoes like these…and I wasn’t allowed a pair, the heel was to high, they cost to much, I’d grow out of them to quick etc etc. So now just because I can, I really want a pair.





And lastly for now it has to be the Timberland 14 Inch Premium Waterproof, I love the wheat colour but I would trash it in no time so for me it would have to be the brown.  My problem is for boots like these – flat, waterproof and comfortable I wear them everywhere, to work, showing the dogs, training with the dogs and walking the dogs.  A few agility sessions at the equestrian center and a couple of muddy walks and wheat would be brown anyway.

I’ll admit whilst I am a shoe addict unfortunately as much as I would like to I can’t afford to buy all my favourites and there is one particular boot I’m waiting to arrive.  I was lucky enough to see it when our buying team were choosing the range last year and instantly fell in love, so bring on the FitFlop winter boot delivery!

Till next time
Pam
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