122 years of Slack’s family business in Mansfield

William Slack founded his business on 26th August 1902, coinciding with his 19th birthday. At the time, he was employed as a hand stamper at the Mansfield Shoe Company and was known as a diligent worker. Often, he found himself waiting for slower processes upstream, which allowed him to operate three machines simultaneously. Seeking recognition for his extra efforts, William requested a pay rise. However, when this request was denied, he decided to resign.

With no job prospects, William’s mother gave him 21 shillings for his birthday, leaving him with 12 shillings after paying for his board. With this modest amount, he travelled to Nottingham, purchased tools and leather, and set up his own business making and repairing boots and shoes. His first job was crafting a pair of slippers for his mother. By 1904, William’s business was listed in Kelly’s Directory, describing him as a boot maker on Layton Avenue, Mansfield. Within two years, he moved to rented premises on Queen Street, Mansfield, where he paid 5 shillings per week in rent. In 1914, he relocated his business to 38 Rosemary Street, Mansfield, which remains our location to this day.

William’s two sons, Kenneth and Colin, joined the family business and continued the tradition of shoemaking. In the mid-1950s, a customer requested a pair of hiking boots, marking the beginning of a new line of products. For the next thirty years, shoemaking and outdoor equipment sales ran side by side. Kenneth and Colin dedicated their entire working lives to the business. By the mid-1970s, Kenneth had retired, and Colin became the sole proprietor of W Slack and Sons. Under his leadership, the business built a strong reputation for selling high-quality outdoor equipment. Colin spent his days managing the shop and his evenings in the workshop crafting shoes, earning a national reputation.

In 1986, Colin suffered a brain haemorrhage while working in the workshop and never fully recovered. His son, John, who had just turned eighteen and only worked weekends, was faced with the decision to either take over the business or close it down. John chose to continue, but without the skills or training in leatherwork, he could not maintain the shoemaking side of the business and focused instead on expanding the outdoor equipment retail operations.

Our centenary in 2002 was a proud moment, marked by a congratulatory letter from the Queen acknowledging our achievement. The business continues to grow and evolve, constantly exploring new markets—a key to our ongoing success.

Three generations of the Slack family have successfully guided the business, we hope that W Slack and Sons will continue trading as a family business for another hundred years, upholding our motto, “Service and Satisfaction.”

We would like to thank all our customers, both old and new, for their support over the years and for their continued patronage today. Enjoy your walks!