Company type | Private Limited company |
---|---|
Industry | Consumer goods |
Founded | 1792 |
Headquarters | Norwich, England |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | James Smith (Founder) Hugo Adams (CEO) |
Products | Shoes |
Website | startriteshoes.com |
Start-rite is a brand of children's shoes. The shoemaker, purportedly Britain's oldest and one of the first manufacturers in Norfolk,[1] was established in 1792 in Norwich, England, by James Smith.[2][3] His grandson, James Southall, gave the firm its current name; it rose in prominence during the 20th century thanks in part to an iconic poster, reading Children's shoes have far to go,[2] which was displayed on the London Underground for 20 years from 1947.[4] Controversy exists around the origins of the image in this poster. It has been attributed to artists Andy Wood,[5] William Grimmond, Joe Wilkinson of Stanley Studios, Susan Pearce, Nancy Gardner[6] and to the company's own advertising agent.[2]