The cowboy boot has long been an emblem of life on the Canadian Prairies, but now the western staple has begun to blend with urban wardrobes.
“It’s really no longer just a big-box retail sort of format with a factory tacked onto the back of it,” said Alberta Boot’s CEO, Eytan Broder. He referred to the new space as a “brand experience centre.” The new store’s opening follows the launch of an e-commerce platform for the brand, and the openings of two other stores last year, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic – one at the Fairmont Banff Springs and the other at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Earlier this year, Alberta Boot signed a multi-year contract that makes it the official boot of the Calgary Stampede, following 20 years of less formal involvement in the event.
It has also been difficult for the company to find staff with the specialized skillset needed to make its boots. To address that, Alberta Boot has been partnering with community colleges, trade schools and various agencies to attract young people to learn the craft.
Womens boots are 4A, AA, and B? Never saw a company that only sold narrow widths like this.