The Golden Years
Community
November 16, 2023
50 Years of Maryon’s
James Street (JS), Darren (D) – Staff Memeber of Maryon's, Samantha Ogilvie (S0) – Owner of Maryon's
The past 50 years has introduced many things that we couldn’t quite imagine our life without, from the first mobile phone to Google and something little closer to home in Maryon’s.
To celebrate 50 golden years of Maryon’s, we got chatting to long-standing staff member Darren (D) who is basically part of the furniture given his 22-years tenure and Owner Samantha Ogilvie (SO).
JS: What is it about Maryon’s that has made it the perennial luxury shoe store not just locally but nationally as well.
D: Maryon’s stands out with its multi-brand collection, offering a unique curation ranging from lifestyle to glam and heirloom pieces.
JS: What do you love most about your job?
D: It’s such a beautiful place to work, we’re set in a gallery environment and dealing with amazing products that are handcrafted for hours by artisans. I love being able to push the boundaries and stay connected with people.
JS: Maryon's was already established when you bought the business. Tell us about how you came to purchase it?
SO: After 45 years Maryon was looking for someone to take over the business. She had been approached by another party but didn’t feel they were the right fit so approached me. Having always been a fan of the store and a long-time shopper and running my own retail store for 10 years, I felt I understood the importance of maintaining the amazing legacy by holding onto the incredible staff who had been fundamental in the success of the store and maintaining long-term relationships with suppliers as well as establish new ones. I feel very proud to be the custodian of this community iconic business.
JS: What has changed (or remained the same) at Maryon's under your ownership?
SO: Maryon’s was always a shining star in the luxury shoe world, but we really wanted to make sure everyone knew it shined from both the inside and out. In terms of the physical space, we gave Maryon’s a brighter, warmer feel within the interior, originally designed by James St’s favourite architects Richard’s & Spence, ensuring the products were showcased in a gallery environment.
Key brands like Clergerie, Tod’s, Rodo and Chloe have been long-standing partners of Maryon’s and it was important for us to maintain the these integral relationships as we expanded our luxury brand portfolio. We introduced accessories into the mix (hello Tod’s handbags and Loewe sunglasses) and welcomed fabulous new brands such as Gabriela Hearst, Rene Caovilla, and Laurence Dacade, among others.
Throughout the last five years, we have also relaunched our online store and refocused our media efforts to make Maryon’s more accessible to our valued interstate and overseas clients.
JS: Can you give us some insight into your buying trips? Maryon’s has their staple brands, but do you also look for what the next trend will be or try to find unique pieces?
SO: During our buying trips, we make stops in Milan and Paris, and more recently, we’ve added a visit to London as well. We have the privilege of visiting some of the most beautiful showrooms, which often showcase emerging brands. We take the time to draw inspiration from the streets of Milan and Paris, and we also make sure to pay a visit to our favourite boutiques. We are so lucky now, in the visually rich world we live in today, social media is another great way to discover unique pieces, designers, and upcoming trends.
JS: What birthday celebrations have you had already and is there anything we should put in our calendar?
SO: We kicked off the celebrations earlier in the year with a beautiful evening hosted in collaboration with our friends from Italian label, Rodo. During the night, we unveiled an exclusive birthday shoe, crafted specifically for this occasion.
We’re continuing the excitement as we give back and express gratitude to our clients with a particularly special giveaway, set to launch soon via Instagram, @maryonsshoes. The grand finale celebration of our 50 golden years will be marked with a special guest flying in from Paris early next year. Stay tuned for updates.
