The MC Team

My Minnie Cooper Story

Hi, my name is Michele and I live in the UK. I am a Kiwi but I have married over here so live a LONG WAY from MC. My sister introduced me to MC four years ago when I bought my first pair (of Queenies), I have lived in them for work and I get SO MANY compliments about them. Last year I went back to NZ and could not wait to set foot back in the Wellington shop, my sister and I took a special (snow-delayed!) flight up from Chch for me to fulfill my three-year wait to step back into the store. I walked out an hour later (leaving behind probably a very relieved saleslady) with three cherished MC boxes...two full of gorgeous shoes and one full of gorgeous boots. I could not believe my luck that it was WINTER SALE TIME as well, I thought I was in heaven! I am thrilled that you have opened a store in Chch, July next year I will be there despite the hideous exchange rate GBP-NZD. Minnie Cooper you are my absolute favourite shoe maker ever and I am already planning what I am going to treat myself to in July 2013. It is fantastic to know that I am walking around in my own little bit of NZ all the way over here in the UK. Thank you thank you thank you for bringing the beautiful kiwi blue sky and fresh clean air to my dreary British days!

Michele

Hi Sandy,

I wore a pair of your shoes to my prothedontist last year and his locum nurse from Sydney was raving about them (she'd never mentioned my fancy italian cowboy boots etc that I'd worn on previous appointments)! When I told her they were Minnie Cooper she instantly said "Oh they are in a league of their own aren't they".

Averil

Hi,

Halo of Golden Stars to you all.

Just want to say that I bought the Belle shoes the other day.... oh wow, why did I ever wait so long before buying my first pair of Minnie Cooper shoes???!!?? They are FABULOUS. I've already worn them lots, and they go nicely with dresses and jeans. I've got problem feet but your shoes are by far the best shoes that I've bought in a very very long time. And I can slip my orthotics into them on bad days. Wonderful. Thanks so much!

Kind regards

Anita

Hi Sandy,

I thought I must write to tell you what a wonderful bag you have designed. I purchased the grab bag from you a few months ago. It took me a little while to get used to it. After a few weeks, I thought “oh no” not another bag that was too big for me. However, as it was a red bag I couldn’t help but use it. I am so attracted to all things (blue) red. Now I absolutely love it. It’s just the right size. I am very appreciative of the iphone pocket, as I have one and love the fact that it’s outside the bag and easy to get to. I love it more each day.

I love the long strap for when I am on a crowded train and I can wear the bag across my body. I love the short strap for when I fill the bag with things like my shoes, a bottle of wine, books, and my lunch. I do try not to over pack the bag too often. I am amazed by its ever expanding capacity.

Have a wonderful day

Anthea

Dear Sandy,

THAAAAAANK YOOOOOO!
I love it!!!

D.R.

Dear Sandy,

I just thought I'd give you some positive feedback, which I think is well and truly warranted.

In May I purchased a pair of Seville Brogue shoes, in silver. I was going to buy grey, but my husband (who is usually conservative and awful to go shopping with, suggested I get the silver pair!) Whenever I put on these shoes, I feel like a princess!

I'm 54 years old... and yet these shoes give me such an amazing buzz every time I wear them, and I feel years younger!! AND I get soooo many compliments about them!

So as you can imagine, I can't wait to come shopping for a pair of summer shoes soon. I love good shoes, but have decided I'd rather spend a lot on one fantastic pair, than a medium amount on several mediocre pairs.

Oh and I forgot to tell you, they are without a doubt THE most comfortable pair of shoes I've ever had the pleasure of weating. And, of course, I love the fact that they're made here in NZ!

Cheers,

Jill O'Brien.

Hi there,

Recently I was back in Wgtn and went to purchase some more MC's ... and got a pair of the Peron in Ocean. We moved to Australia last year and the one thing that I really miss, second to my son who remains in Wgtn, are your shoes ... anyway I wore the shoes to work and I had about 10 favourable comments wanting to know where in Canberra I had purchased them ... obviously I had to let all the Australian's know that they were NZ made ... this lady pushing a barrow of homemade jams for the market on the university campus where I work, saw me walking past and said "those are the most luscious shoes I have EVER seen". However, the tale of all my MCs does not finish there. I took them all to get the heels protected and so forth for the winter (four pairs between my visit at Easter and last November) and the cobbler was awestruck and said "I have heard of these shoes, they are the best made shoes I have seen, beautiful..

So THANK YOU for the service, the shoes, the joy at having something unique, fun and really NZ to keep me grounded!

Kind regards

Denise

I walked to work this morning in some black round toe lace-ups that I bought from your Ponsonby shop at least 15 - 16 years ago. They look great with my vintage flowery skirt, black stockings and black blazer. My teenage daughter borrows them for a similar slightly French look.
They are beautiful and shiny and the soles have lasted the distance with a bit of new rubber every now and again. How's that for a classic well-made shoe. Take a curtsey! Lynne

I was just 18 years old when I first set foot into this amazing boutique shoe shop up Plimmer Steps in the heart of Wellington's CBD. I had struggled for years with trying to find shoes for a wide foot that firstly where fashionable and secondly comfortable. I am now 36 years old and I haven’t looked back. My wardrobe is stocked with nothing but Minnie Cooper shoes - and the quality of a NZ made shoe!

My Minnie Cooper Story,

I remember my first pair of Minnie Cooper's. They were a pair of ankle boots and what i remember most about them was the way they felt so good on my feet, as if they almost helped me walk with more energy. Like a child, I asked to wear them out of the store. It was something about the weight of them and the way they were beautifully shaped to my foot. I just loved them. I don't remember what my husband said but I know he would have envied my wonderful boots. He hated wearing any shoes and as soon as he was home he'd be out of them. Tragically, three years ago, he died of cancer. He chose a beautiful love poem by Pablo Neruda for the service, it was about others going on and enjoying life for the person who had died. For my birthday or for Christmas I sometimes go to Minnie Cooper's and buy a present for myself saying they're from him. Wearing beautiful Minnie Cooper shoes is my way of enjoying life and I know he'd still like to be a part of that for me.

Penny

Hello,

I am one of your ardent MC fans who can't pop in to wish you Happy 21st Birthday but best wishes from Hawkes Bay. I shop at both shops and I or my partner bought over 10 pairs of shoes and a cotton cardigan for me. The shoes are so well made and support my complaining feet so well I now prefer to wear only Minnie Cooper
Congratulations
Keep going
Kind regards


Jenny

Dear lovely Minnie Cooper folks,

I am writing to thank you for your beautiful shoes, for making them in my big-footed size and, as i learned not long ago, for making them so tough.

I'm convinced my MC ballet flats helped save my foot from serious damage when it was run over by a car back in August. My foot was turned to its side and as you can see, the heel was scraped on the pavement but other than that, there's not a lot of damage to the shoe. I'm hoping it's fixable because once the initial shock was past and I’d started to recover, I did worry my beloved Minnie Coopers might not have been as lucky as my foot!

While it’s no fun seeing your foot under the wheel of a car, with a sturdy Minnie Cooper heel helping to shield me, I'm sure things have turned out a whole lot better than they could've! Now that my foot's back to its old self, I’ll be by to pick up a lovely pair of those spring shoes to celebrate.

Many thanks indeed and with all my best.

Amy

Hi Sandy,

Just wanted to give you some feedback about my recent visit to your Auckland store. I came away with three pairs of fantastic shoes!!

What was most impressive for me was that you were able to re-sole and re-line a pair of my most favourite sandals that I had worn down to the bone over a period of maybe 3 or 4 years. This seems to be a style that you no longer make so I feel very very lucky to have what are almost a brand new pair.

The person who looked after me in the store and has been there each time I visit from Australia (except Fridays) is so cool and nice and honest...... Her style inspires me.

Many many thanks

Please please keep on making shoes!!

Belinda

Hi Sandy,

Do you remember the most well-loved well-worn green wedge-heeled t bar Minnie’s ever? You kindly resuscitated them for me last year. I was so thrilled that my favourite shoes came back from your factory as good as new -- new heels, new linings-- and did a whole lot more walking for me. Of course I was wearing them to Christshurch on 22 Feb and of course they kept me grounded as much as they could. After the earthquake I had to get my school kid, piggy backing my four year old through silt, sewage, rising water, unstable bridges, rutted roads, fallen power lines. The Minnie’s persisted but finally looking terribly worse for wear, soggy and silt-laden I had to abandon them and continue in bare feet. Unable to carry them and the four year old I left them by the Ferrymead bridge. Desperate circumstances indeed. Several searches over the next few days, in between securing broken windows and clean drinking water, failed to recover them. I think they have gone to shoe heaven. Which is where I was yesterday: like much of chch we have temporarily left town and in Wellington I was so happy to go into Minnie Cooper and find some shoes that spoke to me straight away. Different style but exactly the same terrific green, they are the perfect replacement. The shop assistant thought you might enjoy this story!

Keep making beautiful shoes

regards

Vita