The Brogue Trader is expanding. In less than a year, the shop in Cardiff’s beautiful Morgan Arcade has grown an enviable reputation for great customer service thanks to the dedication of father and son team Chris and Keiron Macnamara who live in Pontyclun.
BIG SHOES TO With Chris expanding The Brogue Trader’s operations in Bath and Chester, the responsibility for dayto-day running of the Cardiff shop rests firmly on the shoulders of 20 year old Keiron. They might be big shoes to fill but Keiron relishes the challenge. We popped in for a coffee and a catch-up. Why shoes? I didn’t choose shoes, the shoes chose me! What do you love about The Brogue Trader? The days my father isn’t in! Seriously, I like the variety of customers we have in - all types of people;
from local celebrities to just some great characters. Our clients are fantastic, and seem to really enjoy shopping with us and that makes it even better to work here. What skills do you think you bring to the business? I’m half the age of my father so I bring a different dynamic to the business. I have a different perspective on things and that seems to work really well for both of us. I’m very operational and love just being in the shop dealing with clients and helping them with their footwear requirements. 56
What do you enjoy most about your work? It’s not work because I love what I’m doing. I know it’s a bit of a cliché but it’s true! Working here is very different from working in regular high street retail - The Brogue Trader is very, very social and clients just drop by for a chat and a catch-up, it really makes the days fly by.