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Who We Are
Our Story
LJ&R Footwear Limited is one of the UK’s leading footwear wholesalers with over 40 years of industry experience. As a family run business, we specialise in supplying high quality footwear to retailers across the country, combining exceptional customer service with competitive trade pricing.
Family values and long standing industry knowledge remain at the heart of what we do, helping us build trusted relationships with customers and suppliers.
1970s
Where it all began
Our story began in 1973, when 13-year-old Richard Hargreaves started working weekends and school holidays in the footwear trade.
By 1978, aged just 17, Richard had bought a blue Bedford CF van, filled it with stock and started selling footwear on outdoor markets across the North West.
His future wife Lindsay also worked in the market trade, while Richard’s mum Mary became a familiar face behind the scenes – helping on the markets, running errands and keeping everyone fed!
The foundations of a true family business were already in place.
1980s
Building the business
Throughout the 1980s, Richard expanded from outdoor markets into a growing network of indoor markets, developing a strong instinct for the footwear his customers wanted.
What had started with one van was becoming a much bigger operation.
1990s
L J & R Footwear Ltd
In 1992, the business was incorporated as L J & R Footwear Ltd and Shoetree House was purchased – still our Head Office today.
The company moved into wholesale footwear, supplying British-made slippers alongside collections sourced from Spain and Italy.
We exhibited at our first Blackpool Shoe Fair in 1993, created our first catalogue in 1997, purchased additional warehousing in 1998, and by 1999 were exhibiting at MODA Footwear at Birmingham NEC.
The next generation was already getting involved too, with a young Emma helping out on exhibition stands.
2000s
The next generation
In 2006, after completing her A Levels, Emma officially joined the family business.
As we like to say, Richard was never in charge again!
The business continued to grow, combining decades of footwear experience with a new generation of ideas.
2010s
Growing our home and team
Our first website launched in 2010, the same year Daniel joined the company.
A purpose-built footwear showroom followed in 2013, alongside Shoetree House.
In 2017, Richard and Lindsay’s youngest daughter, Melissa, joined the business, and further land was purchased nearby for Thor House – continuing Richard’s tradition of always finding space for another warehouse!
2020s
Still a family business
When COVID-19 arrived in 2020, the family came together to keep L J & R running – picking, packing and processing orders while much of the team was furloughed.
Today, more than 50 years after Richard first entered the footwear trade, L J & R has grown from market stalls and a blue Bedford van into a business with warehouses, showrooms, exhibitions, websites and customers across the UK and beyond.
But one thing hasn’t changed: L J & R Footwear Ltd remains a family business at heart.
Built on family, hard work, great footwear and a willingness to adapt – while never forgetting where we came from.
And knowing Richard, there’s probably still room for one more warehouse!
Our Brands
We work with established and well-known footwear brands, allowing us to offer a diverse and competitive product range for retailers across the UK.
