KALENA’S Shoes featured as a legacy business in the latest BC Living Magazine!

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” admin_preview_bg=”] We were really excited to be contacted by BC Living Magazine on a story they were doing on “7 of Vancouver’s Oldest Independent Boutiques”.   The article promoted the notion of big chain stores dominating the local market and the challenges faced by smaller retail companies as they struggle to keep the doors open.

While we can’t say we haven’t been affected by the big box stores and the competition it provides, Kalena’s edge on the market has been our advantage. Because we travel to Italy every year and deal with designers and manufacture directly we will always have unique styles from the best in the business.   These include A&M, Augusto, Donna Piu‘, Doucal’s and Fontana’s to name a few!

Kalena’s owes it survival to the loyal customer base that stretches back into generations of families who have supported the business over the years.  Kalena’s incredible selection of classic and traditional shoes is as much a tradition as they store it self.

Read on below for a summary on the article and a huge thanks to Kristina Matistic for getting us involved.

 

Need a break from the big chains? Here are some small, fashion-forward shops that have been stylizing Vancouver for decades

With more and more big-name retailers taking over Vancouver’s high streets—not to mention the sky-high leasing costs—smaller boutiques can find it difficult to stay afloat.

Not so for these venerable establishments. Long-standing but far from stodgy, they’ve managed to not only survive, but thrive, for decades. With a focus on high-quality, fashion-forward designer goods, they’re a testament to the fact that staying on-trend never goes out of style.

Be sure to pop by one or all of these seven boutiques on your next downtown shopping spree…

Kalena’s is celebrating its 50th anniversary on Commercial Drive this year. Opened in 1967 by Carmine and his wife Isa, the store is named after its owner’s hometown in Italy. The store carries a large selection of men’s and women’s Italian-made shoes and accessories.

As part of celebrating the legacy of the business, Kalena’s launch our brand new online store. The next generation of Kalena’s is thrilled to continue bringing a little bit of Italy to Canada since 1967.  Shop online today!

Click here to read the original article. 
[/av_textblock]