Becker Shoes finds its stride with history-making international award

The parent company of a store on Orillia’s main street is bringing in international accolades.

Earlier this year, the fourth-generation family-run shoe business Becker Shoes – whose headquarters are based in Collingwood – was named the National Shoe Retailers’ Association’s Retailer of the Year. It’s the first time a Canadian retailer has ever won the award.

“This award is special and means a lot to us in terms of community,” said Brad Becker, part-owner of Becker Shoes, in an interview. “Our customers are great at supporting us. My mom and dad have worked so hard to make this everything it is.”

“It was definitely a surprise for us,” he said.

In 1933, Clarence Becker opened the first Becker Shoes store in Hanover. Previous to this, he had run the business out of his car, travelling to customers’ homes for custom shoe fittings.

Clarence’s son, Earl, continued the tradition, expanding the business with a second store in Collingwood.

“The main reason they moved here is so my grandfather could ski,” said Brad with a laugh. “My grandfather was part of starting the Hanover Ski Club and was very into skiing.”

Earl’s son, Doug, eventually took the reins of the business, expanding from two to now 16 stores across Ontario in other locations such as Barrie, Orillia and Midland, with the company headquarters also located in Collingwood on Sandford Fleming Dr.

“When I was young, they put me to work a little bit in the warehouse. I was a teenager and wasn’t too interested in the business then,” recalls Brad. “The day we put in computers was the day my grandfather quit.”

Since moving into the family business about seven years ago after finishing post-secondary schooling in criminal justice, Brad found his stride in working to improve the company’s website and online presence.

“It’s very different from what I’m doing now,” he said. “For both, there’s sociology involved everyday.”

These days, Brad is doing a lot of buying and general management for the company. He still works alongside his mom, Donna, who deals with the financial side, and his dad, Doug.

“It’s special working in a small business where I can see changes everyday and don’t have a big corporate ladder to climb,” he said. “I’m trying to carry the torch and don’t change too much of our DNA, because at the end of the day, we’re a sit-and-fit family store.”

Over the years, Brad notes that his family has worked for years to stay relevant despite big-box store competition and changes in the shoe industry itself.

Overall, Brad attributes the success of Becker Shoes to the company’s employees, some of whom have worked for the company for 20 or 30 years, through multiple Beckers at the helm of the business.

“At the heart of everything, we’ve had great employees for so many years,” said Brad. “My dad risked everything to make this company what it is. That’s special.”