Why is quality footwear important to you?

Growing up with a family footwear business, I have vivid memories of thousands of shoes covering Dad’s car and our family home. Unlike most products in the fashion industry, footwear has a critical role to play in general health which varies by application. The fundamentals of supportive footwear made from quality materials was instilled in me at a young age. I’m a big believer in correct fitting, protection and support which has been carried through to Sky Soles’ designs.

What is your favourite destination?

London. A metropolis cultural melting pot with significant history in aviation. I have a love of food and theatre and London has plenty to offer in this department.

Top 3 travel tips:

Avoid checking in bags, saves so much time! Always carry enough local currency to get you out of a bind. Blow up pillows are an amazing invention, worth always carrying.

What is your background in footwear?

From the age of 14, I worked in footwear retail on a part-time basis after school. After graduating high school I worked full-time for the next 12 months. From my retail background I moved into footwear manufacturing in the design/development department. After gaining an understanding of the processes involved with manufacturing I joined my father Ron in the family business selling footwear around Australia and New Zealand. To this day I continue similar roles albeit with a greater business responsibility.

WWhy is quality footwear important to you?

Quality footwear is important to me, because you get the perfect fit, feel and wear. Often cheaper alternatives lead to sacrifices in materials and componentry which effect the fit, feel and wear.

Top 3 travel tips:

Do not leave your travel documents in the seat pocket in front of you when transiting aircraft on international flights. When getting out of the car, always check you have the travel documents on you whilst travelling overseas. Always travel with someone else to check you haven’t left documents behind.

Why is quality footwear important to you?

I believe it is very important to invest in your health and wellbeing. When you consider that to be mobile and active you need to walk and without healthy feet to do such a simple thing as walk to the shop to get your bread, milk and the paper becomes a challenge. Thus, by purchasing the appropriate footwear this will allow you to do such simple tasks as the above mentioned. Whether it be your children’s school shoes, the runners for your exercise or the work appropriate footwear by purchasing the appropriate quality footwear your feet and the health and wellbeing of your body will benefit.

What is your favourite destination?

I have different destinations for different reasons…When I holiday with my family we love Palm Cove which is 20 minutes north of Cairns airport. The atmosphere is casual resort living. As the area is predominantly holiday makers the locals make you feel very welcome and understand the importance of our patronage at the establishments. Whether it's the morning coffee purchase, that ice cream in the afternoon or the family pizza in the evening the staff make you feel important and welcomed. Plus, the weather is warm.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I invest my spare time in trying to keep fit whether it’s with a running group, going to my gym or just kicking a footy with my son or playing basketball with my daughter.

What does quality footwear mean to you?

Your feet carry your whole body for your whole life, quality footwear is one of the most important things you can invest in for your health. I am a strong believer of prevention is better than cure, so starting our kids in quality footwear sets them up for life. With all the materials and technologies available to footwear manufacturers these days, there’s no reason that footwear that looks good, can’t feel good too.

What do you love about your role at Sky Soles?

After 13 years working in footwear retail, I am loving the transition to the wholesale / design side of the industry. Coming from the foundation of a long-standing family business”, the Clarke family place a high value on the importance of good old fashioned business ethics and values and every one of us here at Sky Soles are treated like family. We spend so much time in our workplaces, it’s so important to be able to have a happy and healthy environment to come to every day.

What are your Top 3 Bucket List travel destinations?

As a Toddler Mum, right now my ultimate holiday destination would have to be a 24 hour staycation, by myself, in my home city of Melbourne! I’m sure all the Mums of Two-Year-Olds will understand! Seriously though, Africa, Iceland & Antarctica would have to be top of my Bucket List.

What is your background in footwear?

I have been involved in the footwear industry for 10 years now. I currently work across all aspects of footwear wholesaling, from customer service to shipping to product development. I travel overseas regularly throughout the year to assist in seasonal range building, which I absolutely love. Working with Sky Soles is the first time I've dealt with the combination of wholesale and retail - should be an exciting mix!

Why is quality footwear important to you?

Quality leather footwear is important to me because I neither want, nor have time for, sore achy feet. I lead a busy active lifestyle, I need my footwear to offer both comfort and style – how lucky am I to work where I do!

Top 3 travel tips:

No matter your age or gender we all need to have the following in the top pocket of our carry on: 1) Tissues 2) Chap-stick 3) Pens (Mints & Hand-sanitiser are high on the list too!).

Why is quality footwear important to you?

Quality footwear is really important to me, not only for its comfort and functionality but also from a sustainability perspective. Footwear is a necessity for everyone, and investing in higher quality options ensures lasting comfort while also contributing positively to the environment. The choice of quality footwear results in a longer lifecycle, reducing the need for frequent replacements. This conscious decision aligns with sustainable practices, making it a more environmentally friendly choice, which I believe is an important value.

What is your favourite destination?

It's hard to choose one, but I loved the South of France; the beaches are truly spectacular. Nice stood out with its beautiful architecture, amazing food, and overall atmosphere. It proved to be a highlight of my Europe trip!

What do you like to do in your spare time?

In my spare time, I love listening to music and going to gigs much as possible. Recently, I have found myself travelling to different festivals all over the place, which I find to be one of my favourite things to do. A highlight was a festival I went to in Madrid, it was really cool to experience a festival in Spain and meet heaps of new people!

What is your background in footwear?

There’s no disputing that footwear runs in my blood. My grandfather became an apprentice shoe repairer at age 14. Five years later he opened his own repair store which over the years expanded and adapted to the shifting consumer trend from repairs to sales. Rauert’s Shoex still runs today, now managed by my father. The store is located in Warrnambool, Victoria, at the end of Australia’s Great Ocean Road. Be sure to drop by the store if you’re ever in the area.

Why is quality branding and design important to business, and how is this reflected through Sky Soles?

Good design is essential for quality products. That’s a broad statement, but you can see it’s true from the construction of a shoe through to the packaging in which the product arrives at the customer’s door. All design work undertaken at Sky Soles is done to the highest standard to deliver industry leading footwear products and customer experiences.

What’s the most memorable thing you’ve seen out an aircraft window?

I’ve always loved looking out the window at the aircraft’s wings when landing, watching the control surfaces move about at the pilot’s command. The ability of flight surely is an engineering marvel.

How has social media affected retailing?

The world of retail has opened up on a global level through social media. Consumers now have the choice of purchasing Footwear, shoes, makeup, home goods from anywhere in the world through a click of a button on their phones in the comfort of their home. Making a purchase has never been this easy. The pressure is on retailers to get it right the first time, as the consumers now have the power to share their experience on social media. At Sky Soles we endeavour to get it right the first time, every time.

What is your favourite destination?

Africa is pretty hard to top.

Share with us an interesting fact about your role/team/work area

I met Karl Stefanovic through a hashtag!! I was running the social media for a local pub and the TODAY show was broadcasting in Bendigo. I did a few posts leading up to the TODAY shows visit to Bendigo, got creative with some hashtags and the producer of TODAY picked up on it and decided to bring the whole cast along to the pub!

Why is quality footwear important to you?

Quality footwear to me means shoes that are well-made, durable, comfortable, and designed to support and protect the feet. It encompasses superior materials, craftsmanship, and attention to detail, resulting in a product that not only looks good but also performs well and lasts a long time.

What is your favourite destination?

Within Australia, having a very active and outgoing 11-year-old boy, our favourite destination would have to be Phillip Island and Wilsons Prom. With the beautiful mixture of natural beauty, fascinating beaches, challenging walking trails and awesome food it’s a complete package for the whole family. Internationally, nothing beats “THE BIG APPLE” (New York). A complete contrast to our favourite local spots, it’s a city I love for its character, diversity of people and the superb mixture of glamour and gentrifying edges of the boroughs. From world class art museums to Times Square and Broadway, it has it all.

Top 3 travel tips

1. Always double check time zones and time differences when travelling overseas for multiple hotel/flight bookings. 2. When travelling with super active kids, make sure you pack their favourite snacks and a few books. 3. Be careful when using public Wi-Fi services whilst overseas.