Herring Shoes

What Herring Shoes does

Herring Shoes is a privately held, UK-based direct-to-consumer online retailer of premium handmade footwear and accessories, founded in 1966 and headquartered in the Kingsbridge area (Kent-adjacent phone code). The company operates a Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront at herringshoes.co.uk with worldwide shipping, and runs a separate WordPress-based journal for content marketing covering shoe care, styling, and brand storytelling. Its product portfolio is anchored by the proprietary Herring brand (loafers, oxfords, brogues, Chelsea boots, chukka boots, deck shoes, driving moccasins, slippers, and formal wear) and extended through The Makers' Hall — a curated selection of 14 heritage British, European, American, and Australian makers including Wildsmith, Loake, Barker, Cheaney, Tricker's, Paraboot, R M Williams, Red Wing, Solovair, Church's, Carlos Santos, Premiata, Sebago, and Aigle. The site also carries Saphir shoe-care products, shoe trees and brushes, leather goods, bags and luggage, and a Peregrine by Herring clothing line, with a sale section currently listing 477 discounted styles.

The business operates on a one-time-purchase revenue model: customers buy physical products at listed unit prices (ranging from approximately £105 entry-level to £583 for premium Paraboot and Red Wing lines), with periodic sale events offering 20–40% discounts and the option to use Klarna buy-now-pay-later. The primary customer segment is men seeking well-made, repairable British and European footwear for formal, business, casual, and country use; secondary segments include women's footwear buyers and accessories/shoe-care customers. Herring monetises its audience through discount-scheme partnerships (Blue Light Card, Youth Discount 16–26, Senior Discount, Purpl Disabled Discount), an email newsletter ('The Letter'), a journal/blog, and a Sole Mates ambassador programme, rather than through paid advertising or wholesale channels. The headcount is reported at 1–10 employees, indicating a lean, owner-operated retail business with no disclosed institutional investment or outside ownership.

Name

Herring Shoes

Legal name

Herring Shoes

Website

https://herringshoes.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Herring Shoes is a UK-based, privately held online retailer founded in 1966 that curates premium handmade men's footwear from its own brand and 14 heritage makers, selling worldwide direct-to-consumer through a Shopify storefront.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Footwear Retail

NAICS

Shoe Retailers (45821), Shoe Retailers (4582), Shoe Retailers (458210)

SIC

Retail-Shoe Stores (5661)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury & Designer Footwear Retail (CRAAADAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Shoe & Leather Care (Polishes, Protectants, Cleaners) (CRADAKAL)

Keywords

• Premium footwear retail
• Men's handmade shoes
• Shoe care products
• Leather accessories
• Heritage shoemakers

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingsbridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: Herring Shoes generates revenue through direct sales of premium footwear and accessories via their e-commerce platform. Products include shoes, boots, loafers, oxfords, brogues, slippers, luggage, clothing, and shoe care products. The business operates on a one-time purchase model where customers buy physical products at listed prices, with periodic sales offering discounts on inventory.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Herring Shoes is a UK-based online retailer selling premium handmade men's and women's footwear, shoe care products, leather goods, and clothing via a Shopify e-commerce storefront with worldwide shipping. The portfolio combines their own proprietary Herring brand with 14 curated partner brands in The Makers' Hall, including heritage makers such as Loake, Barker, Cheaney, Tricker's, Paraboot, Red Wing, R M Williams, Solovair, and Carlos Santos. Products span oxfords, brogues, loafers, boots, deck shoes, driving moccasins, slippers, plus accessories and Saphir shoe care, marketed as items designed to be kept, repaired, and passed on.

Product overview

Herring Shoes is an online footwear and accessories retailer operating a Shopify-based e-commerce platform. The core offering consists of their proprietary Herring brand footwear alongside a curated selection of 14 partner brands (The Makers' Hall) including Wildsmith, Loake, Barker, Cheaney, Tricker's, Paraboot, R M Williams, Red Wing, Solovair, Church's, Carlos Santos, Premiata, Sebago, and Aigle. The portfolio spans men's and women's shoes, boots, loafers, brogues, oxfords, deck shoes, driving moccasins, and slippers, complemented by leather goods (belts, bags), clothing (jackets, jumpers), and premium shoe care products (Saphir). The company emphasizes quality, craftsmanship, and products designed to be kept and repaired, with worldwide shipping.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Herring Brand Footwear Proprietary brand of handmade British and European-style shoes and boots offered by Herring Shoes, including loafers, oxfords, brogues, Chelsea boots, chukka boots, deck shoes, driving moccasins, slippers, and formal wear, marketed as designed to be kept, repaired, and passed on.
• Wildsmith Footwear Premium British footwear brand carried in The Makers' Hall, featuring classic designs including loafers, brogues, Chelsea boots, and lace boots in polished leather and suede.
• Loake Footwear British shoemaker from Kettering (est. 1880) featured in The Makers' Hall, offering Goodyear welted shoes, oxfords, loafers, monk strap shoes, brogues, and boots.
• Barker Footwear British shoemaker from Earls Barton (est. 1880) offered in the collection, featuring brogue boots, lace boots, and formal shoes.
• Cheaney Footwear British shoemaker from Desborough (est. 1886) carried in The Makers' Hall, featuring traditional English shoes.
• Tricker's Footwear British shoemaker from Northampton (est. 1829) in the collection, known for heavy brogue boots and country-style footwear.
• Paraboot Footwear French shoemaker from Saint-Jean-de-Moirans (est. 1927) in the collection, offering Norwegian Welted rubber-soled shoes and boots.
• R M Williams Footwear Australian shoemaker from Adelaide (est. 1932) in the collection, featuring iconic Chelsea boots and casual leather boots.
• Red Wing Footwear American shoemaker from Red Wing, Minnesota (est. 1905) in the collection, offering heritage-style boots including Iron Ranger and moc-toe boots.
• Solovair Footwear British shoemaker from Wollaston (est. 1881) in the collection, offering Derby boots and chukka boots.
• Saphir Shoe Care Products Premium French shoe care products including Creme 1925 cream polish, Renovatrice renovating cream, Mirror Gloss wax polish, and Pate de Luxe high-gloss polish, designed to maintain and extend the life of premium footwear.
• Shoe Care Accessories Shoe care accessories including cedar and pine wood shoe trees, shoe brushes, valet boxes, polishing cloths and mitts, and shoe care kits, intended to complement and maintain premium footwear.
• Leather Goods and Accessories Leather accessories including belts, small leather goods, hats, scarves, socks, and travel bags/luggage, designed to complement premium footwear offerings.
• Clothing Men's clothing including jackets, jumpers, knitwear, and socks, primarily from the Peregrine by Herring brand, sold as complementary apparel to premium footwear.
• Bags and Luggage Leather and waxed canvas bags including briefcases, holdalls, wheeled cases, tote bags, and washbags, offered as premium travel and carry accessories.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Blue Light CardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscount scheme partnership offering reduced prices to Blue Light Card holders (NHS staff, emergency services, armed forces). This partnership expands market reach to specific professional customer segments.
• Youth Discount (16-26 Discount)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscount scheme partnership providing reduced prices to young customers aged 16-26. Attracts younger demographic to premium footwear brand.
• Senior DiscountminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscount scheme partnership offering reduced prices to senior customers. Expands market reach to older demographic seeking quality, durable footwear.
• Purpl Disabled DiscountminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscount scheme partnership providing reduced prices to disabled customers. Demonstrates commitment to accessibility and inclusive customer base.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cheaney Shoes: British heritage shoemaker (est. 1886) selling premium traditional English shoes directly online. Both a Herring partner brand and a competing DTC retailer with similar product categories.
• Barker Shoes: British heritage shoemaker (est. 1880) from Earls Barton offering formal shoes and boots. A Herring partner brand that also sells direct online, creating competitive overlap.
• Crockett & Jones: British heritage shoemaker (est. 1879) selling premium Goodyear-welted men's footwear direct-to-consumer online. Comparable to Herring as a premium men's footwear specialist with overlapping customer base and similar craftsmanship narrative.
• Allen Edmonds: American heritage premium men's footwear brand (est. 1922) selling Goodyear-welted dress and casual shoes direct online. Comparable to Herring in product positioning, craftsmanship narrative, and DTC model.
• R M Williams: Australian heritage footwear brand (est. 1932) iconic for Chelsea boots. Both a Herring partner brand and a competing premium men's boot retailer with global direct e-commerce.
• Loake Shoemakers: British heritage shoemaker (est. 1880) based in Kettering, offering Goodyear-welted shoes direct online. Listed both as a Herring partner brand and as a competing online retailer with similar product mix and price points.
• Church's Shoes: Iconic British luxury footwear brand (est. 1873) now owned by Prada, selling premium men's dress shoes direct online. Comparable to Herring's premium positioning and shared appeal to formal/business footwear buyers.
• Tricker's: British heritage shoemaker (est. 1829) from Northampton specializing in country boots and brogues. A Herring partner brand that also operates its own direct e-commerce, creating direct overlap in product range and customer.
• Edward Green: Ultra-premium British shoemaker (est. 1890) handcrafting Goodyear-welted shoes. Competes with Herring at the top of the premium men's footwear category through direct e-commerce.

Broad incumbents

• Mr Porter: Global luxury men's online retailer carrying premium footwear brands including many of Herring's makers. Competes for the same high-end male customer but operates at much larger scale across broader apparel categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/herring-shoes-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Herring Shoes