I must admit that I have never actually heard of
Hotter Shoes before, although when I mentioned the brand to my Mother in Law, she was familiar with the name, and it does seems that the brand has actually been around for quite a while - since 1959 in fact. Originally predominantly in the business of slipper production, in the 90's Hotter Shoes found their niche in the market, and developed the "Comfort Concept" - of stylish shoes, with comfort built in. The "Comfort Concept" is thanks to breathable leathers and linings, flexible soles, and air bubbles inside the shoes which actually cushion the feet. These days, Hotter Shoes are in high demand with women (and men) of all ages, and they are achieving fashionable status, having been featured in the likes of Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Hotter Shoes are based in Lancashire, and almost all of their shoes are made there (apart from the canvas and heel styles which are made by small trade partners overseas). With many shoes these days tending to come from abroad, I love the idea of supporting a British Business, making British products, and also providing a British call centre, with staff working around the clock taking calls from customers in the UK, USA and beyond.
Over the last few years, Hotter have branched out from mail order and online, and now occupy a presence on the High Street., with an expansion of over 60 stores throughout the UK.
Recently, a new Hotter Shoes store opened up as a welcome addition in my local town of St Albans, and I was invited to come and have a look around and sample some shoes. I have to say I was a bit apprehensive at the invite, purely because as someone with feet which are a little larger and wider than the average lady, I have notoriously always had trouble buying shoes.
As a teenager, whilst my friends all strutted about with the latest trendy styles on their feet, trying to find fashionable shoes in my size (eight) and in a wider fit was an absolute nightmare. Even up until recently, my choices for buying shoes has always been limited to about three different shops. Even though now thankfully, women's shoes go up to a size nine and sometimes even a ten! I am very rarely able to find the style I want in my size. My shoe shopping experience typically consists of me asking them to show me everything they have in my size in the shop, which is typically about three pairs, and then me making a limited choice between them.
Even so, although I sometimes dread buying shoes, I have always been a bit of a shoe magpie, and I do appreciate slipping my feet into a good pair of shoes or boots. So, not knowing much about the brand, when I was invited to go and have a look at the new Hotter Shoes store, I was fully prepared for the fact that I would not be coming home with a pair of shoes, and actually even expected it.
A shoe shop which appeals to people of all ages, as soon as I entered the Hotter Shoes store in St Albans, I felt completely comfortable and at ease. I absolutely loved the soft furnishings and homely feel of the store. With comfortable chairs, and interesting displays, the shoes and accessories were really complemented by the decor.
As bloggers, we were met by the staff and they soon started showing us around the store and pointing out popular selling styles and new styles just in. I was struck by the friendliness and enthusiasm of the staff, and for a new store, I was also struck by their product knowledge and their commitment to the Hotter Shoes brand. They were all very helpful, and very knowledgeable, and they were also incredibly patient, bringing us endless pairs of shoes in various different sizes and widths to try on. There was lots of time to look around and find the perfect pair of shoes for everyone. We were also offered some yummy food to fill up on whilst we perused the store.
Having had a good look around the shop, I found lots of lovely shoes which I immediately fell in love with, and which looked really stylish, but also practical and comfortable at the same time. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Hotter Shoes actually go up to a size nine, and also go up to a triple "E" width. They also had lots of larger sizes and extra width shoes in stock. I was able to try on lots of different styles and choices, in order to find the size and width which fitted me.
I tried on the "Chantel" style with a small heel in Blue and Red. I absolutely loved the red colour, but felt that I didn't really have anything else in my wardrobe that they would go with, and so opted to get the Blue Chantel style, which I absolutely loved, and which I have worn almost every day since I bought them.
I also tried on the "Donna" style, and went for the Aqua colour rather than the cream colour pictured, as I just absolutely loved them. As someone who doesn't wear heels, I was so impressed with how comfortable the shoes were and how easy they were to walk around in.
I have to say that when I am a complete Hotter convert, and this will be my first port of call the next time I want a new pair of shoes. There is such a wide range of styles and colours, to suit all people, and the service I received was so friendly. I felt completely at ease, and valued, rather than feeling on edge in a shop where I know they may not have anything I can try on or purchase.
I would definitely recommend a visit to Hotter, especially if you do wear a larger size or have wider feet, or if you have trouble wearing heels or are typically used to squeezing your feet into uncomfortable shoes. As soon as you slip on a pair of Hotter Shoes, I can guarantee you will be a Hotter Shoes convert too as the range is so unbelievably comfortable - it's almost like wearing a pair of slippers!!
You can look at the
Hotter Shoes store locator to find your nearest store, or browse the range online.
Those nice people at Hotter are offering
10% off shoes on their website to readers of my blog. The code is PKCTEN and the terms and conditions are:
10% off plus FREE delivery is for first orders only. You are entitled to 10% off the total order value of any full priced items in the Hotter range (excluding shoe care products) plus FREE delivery. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotional offer or on Sale or Factory Clearance items and gift vouchers.
They are also offering a competition to readers of my blog to win a
Juliet Handbag worth £25. You can enter via the Rafflecopter competition below:
Disclosure: I received an invite to the store, goody bag and pair of shoes to review. All opinions are my own.
Do you ever watch a TV series and desperately wish that it had turned out differently than it does? Hubby's recent subscription of Netflix has meant that I started watching "Orange is the New Black" - a Netflix Exclusive. The premise of the series is really interesting - A middle class New Yorker called Piper "self surrenders" herself to prison for a fifteen month sentence to do with drug charges she got herself involved in when she was younger. 
