Schuhhaus Weiß: 100 years of success in the Upper Palatinate!

Schuhhaus Weiß: 100 years of success in the Upper Palatinate!

In Windischeschenbach, a small town in the Upper Palatinate, a very special anniversary is currently being celebrated: Schuhhaus Weiß looks back on 100 years of company history. The business was founded in 1925 by master shoemaker Emmeram Weiß and his wife Lina. Since then, the company has gone through many changes and has always adapted to market conditions. [Ramasuri] reports that the shoe store has signed an exclusive sales agreement with the Salamander company in its long history, which corresponds to an early franchise system. The shoe store has also been active in online retail since 2010 and opened its own shop in 2021.

A look into the past shows that the traditional store was closed in 2017. The location is now used as a central warehouse, logistics and administrative center. While the Schuhhaus in Windischeschenbach no longer functions as a sales point, there are still several branches, including in Neustadt an der Waldnaab, Weiden and Pressath. These branches ensure the company's regional presence and offer a wide range of shoes.

The development of shoe fashion

Shoe fashion has changed significantly in the last 10 to 15 years. Sporty brands dominate the market, while classic women's pumps are only worn for special occasions. The married couple Dieter and Christine Weiß, who are now in the third generation, are proud to always have a good hand for current trends and get inspiration from metropolises like Munich. The shoe store currently employs 35 people and enjoys a loyal customer base that extends far beyond the Bavarian border to Karlsbad, Marienbad and Prague.

To mark the anniversary, Schuhhaus Weiß is offering special discounts and a competition until November 15th. It will be exciting to see how the company develops in the coming years, especially given the challenges in the shoe trade.

Current challenges in the shoe trade

The shoe trade in Germany has recovered after the losses during the corona pandemic, but sales in 2024, at more than 6.5 billion euros, are not yet at the pre-pandemic level. The industry is changing, as [Statista] reports: The number of companies and employees in the shoe trade has fallen in recent years. The main competitor for stationary retailers are online retailers, who are increasingly gaining market share.

In 2024, e-commerce sales for shoes in Germany were already over 4 billion euros, and around 26.4 million Germans now buy their shoes online. It remains exciting to see how traditional specialist retailers will react to these developments. However, despite the challenges, Schuhhaus Weiß has a loyal customer base and is optimistic about the future.

For many collectors, Salamander's advertising figures, such as Lurchi and his friends, are also a piece of shoe history. These figures appeared in the windows of Salamander shoe stores for several decades and have value on the collector market. The first sales series, available from the 1980s to 1995, offers fascinating insights into the marketing strategies of the time and shows the importance of connecting with customers.

Schuhhaus Weiß is not only a traditional provider, but also an example of how one can adapt and develop in order to meet current market conditions. A proud anniversary that offers good reason to celebrate!