The History of Calutones LTD Trading As Peter Newman

It all started in April 1978 when Peter Newman saw an advert in the Trade Paper, Shoe & Leather News.

At that time he was the National Sales Manager for Olivers Shoes and had reached the top of his career with Directorship of the Company just a short step ahead.

He had purchased his dream house in Great Glen (Leicester). The children settled at school and for the first time during married life, life was comfortable; but the challenge had gone and he was fed up. Having to play the politics that one always gets in a large company and so it was that he half hopefully answered an advertisement for Clarks branches.

A year passed by before he heard anything further but during October 1979, whilst spending an Autumn break decorating, a phone call from Clarks told him they had found the perfect site in Margate. (Peter having specified that the site must be on the South Coast).

Many visits were made to Margate and many hours of painful discussions took place between the family before a decision was arrived at. At last in February 1980 work commenced on the refit of the shop.

After many problems, 14 March arrived, the day of the grand opening. The first few months were full of ups and downs and in July the first Sale was held. During the first important Back to School trading period in August/September a ‘Win a Bike Competition’ was held.

In January 1982 Peter was informed that the “A Jones” Shop in Ramsgate was in trouble and if he did not take it, others would, and so in August 1982 Ramsgate opened. This was followed by Sittingbourne in December 1983.

1985 saw the biggest gamble with the opening of Canterbury on the 17th May. It also meant that if success was to be achieved then the company would need a shop to clear the ends of lines etc. and so in June 1985 came the start of the clearance side of the business with the opening of “Shoe Saver’, Cliftonville.

Birchington came in 1987, a shop that would specialise in shoes for the wider and older foot.

During January of 1988 the opportunity arose for us to take over the “Peter David” Shops in Herne Bay and Faversham. In December 1988 we relocated our bargain business in Northdown Road, Cliftonville by opening “Shoe Bargains” at 154 Northdown Road.

In the autumn of 1989 our first concession opened in Tenterden. This was a small Shoe Department selling Men’s and Ladies footwear in “Winters” Ladies and Men’s Fashion Store. This was later closed to be replaced by our own shop.

It was during 1989 that Pearl Newman, our then Co—Director was diagnosed as having Ovarian Cancer, but it was decided that the business must go on, and on 14 March 1990 we celebrated our 10th Birthday at the Marina Resort Hotel in Ramsgate.

Our biggest gamble was the creation of our Factory Shop at Eddington Business Park, Herne Bay. This came about from ideas that were seen in the U.S.A. and opened in February 1992.

Sadly, Pearl died in November 1992, but had lived long enough to see Eddington Park trading successfully. We continue to use TV. to publicise this Store.

Following Pearl’s death, in the February of 1993 “The Pearl Newman Memorial Fund in aid of Cancer Relief” was launched, as our experiences had made us aware of the great need for a fund of this nature. The fund is now called the “Pearl Newman Cancer Relief Fund” and further information can be found at www.pearlnewman.org. During the first year £28,000 was raised and a Dinner was held in Lympne Castle, Kent, to celebrate this on the 14th March 1994 (our 14th Birthday) – read more.

The Tonbridge branch opened in 1995.

Between 1998 and 2001 branches were opened in Braintree, Hastings, Ashford, Portsmouth and Aldershot.

More recently our Jack & Jill children’s only branch was opened in Canterbury, and 2004 has seen Peter Newman re-establish in Tenterden and take over the David Amos business in Eastbourne.