Who is Merchant 1948
Who is Merchant 1948
With a history coursing three generations, Merchant 1948 has become a household name. A trusted source of premium leather footwear, for any and all occasions. Born out of a respect for both quality leather and for the art that is shoemaking.
As Merchant 1948 has continued to expand, the vision has remained the same: bringing well-made, modern footwear to New Zealanders. Our footwear is built for the way you live. A clever mix of form, function, and fashion, with heritage firmly at its heart; footwear tailored carefully by us, to work relentlessly for you.
We are proud of the fact that for us, it all starts from the sole.
Craftsmanship.
We work closely with suppliers, factories and craftsmen around the globe to create our carefully curated, considered range. They help us bring our visions to life, as we pursue the latest in style, materials and fit.
Experience.
We think the word “store” sells ourselves a little short. When you come into Merchant 1948, you’re not simply shopping; you’ll experience the warm and caring nature of our teams, with unparalleled footwear knowledge and fitting expertise. You’re not just a customer either – we want to hear your story, and share ours too. We’ll do everything we can to give you a truly transformative footwear experience.
Heritage.
You could say footwear is in our blood. Merchant 1948 founder Shane Anselmi comes from a long, proud line of footwear merchants. From 1948 his grandfather Guiglielmo, an Italian immigrant, had shoe stores in New Zealand’s King Country. His son Tony then bought the business and his passion and work ethic saw these stores flourish and expand. This drive was something he passed down to Shane, who then created Overland, a brand trusted and beloved by many.
A few years ago we decided to move with the times, choosing the name Merchant 1948 and a new look to reflect the footwear heritage we’re so proud of. We’re in the process of rebranding our stores and updating their look and feel –it’s exciting! Merchant 1948 heralds a new era for us, with innovation and progress our key focus. Want to know more?
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