Pavers Shoes
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York, England
 | |
| Company type | Family business |
|---|---|
| Industry | High Street retail |
| Founded | 1971 York, England |
| Founder | Catherine Paver |
| Headquarters | York, England |
Number of locations | 100+ shops (2013) |
Area served |
|
| Products | Footwear |
| Revenue | £65,000,000 (2008 estimated)[1] |
Number of employees | 1000+ (2013) |
| Website | |
Pavers Ltd, also known as Pavers Shoes, is a family-owned footwear business operating in the UK and Ireland. Pavers currently has more than 100 stores, all managed from the head office in York.
The company has grown rapidly in recent years and online. In 2011, Pavers launched its 24-hour TV footwear shopping channel on Sky.
Pavers was established by Catherine Paver in 1971, with a £300 bank loan (equivalent to £5,000 in 2023),[2] initially by organising shoe parties with clearance stock from shoe catalogues. The first shop was opened in Scarborough, along with stores in York and Hull. The shop in Newcastle soon followed.[3]
The first shop was opened in 1996 at the Royal Quays outlet centre in North Shields. The company currently has outlet stores from Loch Lomond in Scotland, to Trerulefoot in southeast Cornwall.[4]
Pavers continues to be a family-run business, run by Cathy's son Stuart Paver as the managing director. Ian and Graham Paver, Cathy's two other sons, have now both retired.
Stuart, along with Middlesbrough-based Steve Cochrane, owner of the Psyche Department Store, set up a sister company in 2000 to sell footwear online. This company recently amalgamated with Pavers, which brought the online shoe ordering ability with it.[5]
Lifetime achievement award
Founder Cathy Paver was given a lifetime achievement award by her peers at the 2007 Drapers Footwear awards,[1] 36 years after starting the company.
Charity work
Pavers supports several UK-based and international charities.[6] In 2006, through a limited edition shoe design, they raised £45,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care.[6]
For the past 10 years, the company has been involved with sponsoring and supporting children in third-world countries. Currently, Pavers is sponsoring three children through Compassion International.[6]