Vaughan Shoes scoop national retail award

Ciara Galvin

VAUGHAN Shoes won the ‘Best New Website’ category at the annual Retail Excellence Awards on Saturday last.
The family-run business beat off stiff competition from Arboretem and the Denis O’Brien owned company Appliance Delivered.
Speaking to The Mayo News, Mayo senior footballer and Vaughan Shoes Manager Donal Vaughan described the win as ‘a very proud moment’.
Winning Best New Website across all categories was a major coup for the business which has three stores across Mayo, Ballinrobe, Castlebar and Claremorris.
Donal said he got the news of the website being shortlisted the day after the All-Ireland final.
“I found out we were in the top three the day after the All-Ireland, it was a lovely boost, I was well down at that stage,” explained Vaughan.
Vaughan travelled to Dublin three weeks ago with Jack Murray, also of Vaughan Shoes, to present to a panel of judges about their website.
“We sell all over the county and country, people take screenshots of what they want, we’ve three shop windows and that’s the opportunity people have after 6pm, whereas online, people can shop after they put the kids to bed.”
Describing the family work ethic, Donal said everyone helps out, and that the person packing boxes can be the same person answering the phone and dealing with customer support.
Eleven staff and family travelled down to Killarney on Saturday for the event which was hosted by Hector Ó’hEochagΡin.
“I think even he [Hector} was delighted when we won, I’ve sold him a pair of shoes before.”
“To be recognised nationally as a small family business against multi nationals is great … the big thing is the website is bringing the brand to the wider market. We’ve had sales to parts of Europe and Australia,” said Vaughan.