A perfect fit: Nelson’s Shoe celebrates 60th anniversary
For Hub City Times
MARSHFIELD — Nelson’s Shoe store will celebrate 60 years in operation this August.
Owner Carol Nelson has been in business since 1956. After graduating from high school, Carol and Denny Nelson started by purchasing the small shoe repair shop that Denny’s father owned. As the business grew, they moved the shop to eight different locations to accommodate various merchandise and services. Including track racing cars; hobby accessories; snowmobile, hunting, biking, and camping gear; Boy Scout supplies; and army surplus, Nelson’s Shoe store has sold a wide variety of goods.
Red Wing Shoes have been a staple since the beginning — not only the Red Wing quality but also the custom fit that Carol provides. She has developed a knack for identifying foot problems and modifying shoes to fix them. The store has also been a hollow-ground precision skate sharpening location for over 50 years.
What is the secret to Nelson’s Shoe’s success? Customer satisfaction and loyalty. Every time a customer buys a pair of shoes, he or she is added to a card file full of records that date back to the early ‘60s. These files keep records not only to serve as a history of shoe styles the customer has purchased but also the modifications that were made to the shoe in order to enhance performance.
The business is family-run. Carol’s sons, daughter, and grandsons all help to keep the shop going. When Denny died in 2007, Carol did not hesitate to keep the doors of the family business open, and she has no intention of closing the store any time soon.
“I’ll keep the business going as long as it’s still enjoyable,” Carol said.
Leave a reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.