Back to School Shoes with Clarks

This month, as well as checking out some of the new season items coming in, I'm looking ahead to Back to School in just a few weeks. As part of this, Clarks asked me to try out the iPad measuring service now available at all Clarks stores and at some independent Clarks stockists.

The best bit is that you can book an appointment online - no more queuing in the store or having to be first in line at 9am on a Monday morning. You simply go to the website on this link and chose a time that suits you.

So we headed for our allotted time and were greeted by Anne in the Belfast Forestside Store who was wonderful with the girls. She showed them the iPad where they got to chose the female character and select their age before standing on the measuring device to find out their size.


As our kids live in an iPad world, this immediately had them engaged and interested. I've one girl who would buy shoes every day of the week (can you tell who she takes after?!) and one who really can't be bothered and as a toddler, used to get upset whenever I brought her to a shoe shop (baby mix-up at the hospital?!). So this technology is great for reluctant shoe buyers.


Next up, it was width measurement -  one of the girls is a H+!

Armed with the sizes and once the girls had chosen which shoes they liked (patent is a big favourite at the moment), Anne went to select a few pairs and this was the bit that I was relieved to see. Even though the size is determined electronically, the shoes are still fitted by trained and experienced staff and Anne picked styles that were best suited for the girls' feet, taking into account things like one of them having a high instep and the other having a slight turn in one foot.

It turned out that they needed very different shoes to suit their different feet - which luckily they didn't mind. They're not big into dressing the same and they're going into different P2 classes too.  It turned out that the style one of the girls wanted wasn't in store in her size but Anne was able to order it online for free home delivery or in-store pick up. They arrived about 5 days later - great to not have to go back to the shop to pick them up.

K got a pair of Daisy Spark Juniors - perfect for her high instep and wide foot and G got the Breena Love - both have great reviews online in terms of reliability. Anne reminded me to get the gutties* in too! Though unfortunately, they don't come in a H fitting so I could only buy them for one child. I'll have to find a wider fitting pair from another shop - all suggestions welcome.

Now I went in at the beginning of August - normally I would wait until the end of the month in case of any growth spurts but Anne told me not to worry as there is some growth built into the sizing process in the early part of August, and if you feel a day or two before school restarts that the shoes suddenly feel too small, you can return them for a bigger size.

And the girls' verdict of the iPad fitting service? 'Way more fun' & 'can we go try it again mum and buy more shoes?' Mmmmm...clearly a good marketing ploy Mr Clarks!

But from a Mum perspective - iPads aside, I'm just thrilled at the opportunity to book the fittings in future. Anything that makes back to school easier. Next up - uniforms...

Ax
*gutties = Irish word for plimsoles (also known as tackies in some parts!)
Note - I was supplied with vouchers to put towards my school shoe purchase in order for me to test this new system. All the content and photos are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support this blog.