Great Products, Exceptional Customer Service, Superior Shoes

IRONWOOD, MI - by Keri Singleton - Tuesday, February 16, 2010 - Rachel Hubbard had never worked in retail before opening Superior Shoes with her brother. Her background was in veterinary medicine, as a veterinary technician. One look around the store, and it’s clear that Rachel is someone who loves what she is doing today.

Superior Shoes, 108 East Aurora Street, Ironwood, Michigan, was born when Rachel’s brother asked her if she was interested in opening a shoe store. Her brother, Rich Raade, had started his own brand name of shoes, “Muraade,” in Europe. This year marks five years that Superior Shoes has been open. Rachel and Rich have three stores now, with a fourth opening next week. There will be two in Dallas, Texas, (after next week), one in Ironwood, and one in Bloomington, Indiana. Rachel will be going to Texas to help with the grand opening of the new store.

I asked Rachel how the shoe interest began. Her brother, Rich, began working at JC Penney at age sixteen, in Washington state, where the family is from. He quickly moved up through shoes, and relocated to Texas. His job took him to Europe, where he started his own brand, “Muraade.” Rachel and her husband, Dr. Hubbard, moved here from Washington state because Dr. Hubbard wanted to practice medicine and live in a small town. They absolutely love it here, and Rachel says she couldn’t ask for a better place to live. Community support has been outstanding, and Rachel loves working with her brother.

In addition to the shoe store, the Ironwood location is the ordering headquarters for all three, (soon to be four), stores. Ten people are employed full-time to work retail in the store, as well as work the phone banks located in the back. All orders for all stores are placed through the Ironwood store.

The phone bank is open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Employees are cross-trained in retail as well as phone work, to alleviate boredom and make sure everyone knows what’s going on. Having Ironwood as headquarters is something Rachel greatly enjoys. The friendly, knowledgeable staff, as well as the great showroom make for a wonderful shoe-buying experience.

Some of the brands offered at Superior Shoes are: Muraade, Skechers, Earth Shoes, Sorel, and Clark’s. The brands popular in Texas and Indiana, and not in the Ironwood store can be found at SuperiorSoles.com. They also sell on Amazon.com, under Footwear Headquarters.

Superior Shoes is located at 108 East Aurora Street, Ironwood, Michigan. They are open Monday-Friday: 8:30 AM -7:00 PM, Saturday from 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM, and convenient Sunday hours are 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Their phone number is 906-932-3142, fax: 906-932-4916.

Rachel and the friendly staff at Superior Shoes are eager and happy to meet your footwear needs, stop in today.