Franchise Shops - Skechers and Uggs

 Hi there

Photo: stock Skechers advert

In 2014 Skechers shoes got a shop in New Zealand.  It was in Auckland.  I went up to Auckland on holiday and discovered the store.  It was positively crowded with customers grabbing shoes.  I hadn't even known Skechers existed - 

I fought my way through the crowd.  I gushed to a shop assistant, "Oh, I love these shoes.  They are ... coloured!"

They were a light blue court shoe.

And so wonderful to walk the hard floor in them.  "Ahhh, the comfort...."

But could I really be seen in blue shoes?  Out in the real world?  Yes!!!  

Goodness, how daring of me to step out in blue shoes, instead of plain old ordinary black, navy, or brown.  Very few people wore colour on their feet in those days.

I have been wearing Skechers since I chanced upon that first store in Auckland.  I still buy coloured pairs.

Today, there are Skechers stores everywhere.  I first noticed this franchise takeover a couple of years ago when I was wandering through Sydney.  It was a surprise to see a Skechers store on practically every city block.

The Skechers franchise epidemic has also hit New Zealand. 

But ... isn't there a saying about familiarity bringing contempt?

I hate to say the magic words, 'Too many..'  But are there too many Skechers shops in 2025?  Have I been so bombarded by so many stores that they're not meaning anything any longer to me?

And .... there's a second shoe franchise snapping hard behind Skechers' heels:  UGGS?   UGGS shops are beginning to spread through New Zealand.

Both firms, please be careful.  You could be flying (walking?) too close to the sun...