Pavers Shoes
A family-owned footwear retailer operating stores, outlet locations, digital commerce and television shopping services in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Pavers Shoes, formally Pavers Ltd, is a family-owned footwear retailer headquartered in York, England. The business serves customers primarily in the United Kingdom and Ireland through a network of stores, outlet centres, online ordering and television shopping. Its retail proposition is centred on accessible, comfort-oriented footwear, with the company selling shoes and related products across a range of everyday, casual and seasonal categories. The company was established in 1971 by Catherine Paver. According to the company’s historical account, she began with a £300 bank loan and initially organised shoe parties using clearance stock sourced from footwear catalogues. This low-overhead model provided a route into retail without requiring a conventional chain of shops from the outset. Pavers subsequently developed physical retail locations, including early shops in Scarborough, York, Hull and Newcastle. The business remained closely associated with the Paver family as it expanded. Pavers’ growth model has combined owned or managed retail locations with value-led outlet retail. Its outlet estate has included locations extending from Loch Lomond in Scotland to Trerulefoot in south-east Cornwall. A shop at the Royal Quays outlet centre in North Shields is identified in the reference material as having opened in 1996, marking an important stage in the development of the outlet format. The company has also broadened its reach through digital retail. In 2000, Stuart Paver and Steve Cochrane, the owner of Psyche Department Store, established a sister business focused on online footwear sales. That business later amalgamated with Pavers, bringing online ordering capabilities into the wider company. In 2011, Pavers launched a 24-hour footwear shopping channel on Sky. The move extended the brand beyond conventional stores and web commerce, allowing it to present products through a dedicated television-shopping format. The company has continued to describe online activity as an important part of its recent growth, alongside the physical estate. Pavers has also pursued international and supply-side initiatives. In 2008 it announced Pavers England Footprints Limited in Chennai, India. Pavers England Limited was described as a joint venture involving Pavers Ltd and the Foresight Group, with plans for a footwear design studio in Chennai and an expected sales turnover of $10 million at launch. These figures relate to the announced venture and are not treated here as current group financial results. The company has expanded through acquisitions in the United Kingdom. In February 2018, it acquired Jones Bootmaker from administrators through a pre-pack transaction. In July of the same year, it purchased Herring Shoes, a specialist online footwear retailer. These transactions added established footwear businesses and strengthened Pavers’ presence across both traditional and online retail channels. Pavers remains family-run. Stuart Paver, one of Catherine Paver’s sons, has served as managing director, while his brothers Ian and Graham Paver have retired from the business. The founder received a lifetime achievement award at the 2007 Drapers Footwear Awards. Pavers has also undertaken charitable initiatives, including a 2006 limited-edition shoe project that raised £45,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care, as well as longer-running support for children through Compassion International. The business is currently described in the reference material as having more than 100 stores managed from its York head office.
History
Pavers Shoes, also known as Pavers Ltd, began in 1971 when Catherine Paver started a footwear business with a £300 bank loan. Her initial approach was based on organising shoe parties and selling clearance stock obtained from shoe catalogues. This allowed the business to develop a customer base before it became a conventional chain retailer. Early shops were established in Scarborough, York and Hull, followed by a location in Newcastle. The business later developed a strong outlet-retail presence. A Pavers shop opened at the Royal Quays outlet centre in North Shields in 1996, and the company subsequently operated outlet locations in different parts of the United Kingdom, including sites ranging from Loch Lomond in Scotland to Trerulefoot in south-east Cornwall. This format supported the company’s value-led positioning and gave it a way to sell footwear across a broad geographic area. Pavers remained a family-run company as it expanded. Catherine Paver’s son Stuart became managing director, while her sons Ian and Graham also held leadership roles before retiring. The family structure has been a defining feature of the business. Catherine Paver’s contribution was recognised in 2007 when she received a lifetime achievement award from her peers at the Drapers Footwear Awards. The company began building a digital presence around the turn of the millennium. In 2000, Stuart Paver and Steve Cochrane, who owned Psyche Department Store in Middlesbrough, created a sister company to sell footwear online. That business later merged with Pavers, integrating online ordering into the main retailer. Pavers expanded this multichannel approach in 2011 by launching a 24-hour footwear shopping channel on Sky. The company also announced an India-based initiative in 2008. Pavers England Footprints Limited was established in Chennai, while Pavers England Limited was described as a joint venture between Pavers Ltd and the Foresight Group. The project included plans for a footwear design studio with an announced investment of $3 million and projected sales turnover of $10 million. These were launch expectations for the venture rather than verified current financial data. Acquisitions became another part of Pavers’ development. In February 2018, the company acquired Jones Bootmaker from administrators in a pre-pack deal. In July 2018, it acquired Herring Shoes, a specialist online footwear retailer. Together, these transactions expanded Pavers’ access to established footwear brands, retail operations and online capability. Pavers has also maintained a charitable dimension. In 2006, a limited-edition shoe raised £45,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care. The company has additionally supported children in developing countries, including sponsorship through Compassion International. The business is described as operating more than 100 stores, with management conducted from its York head office, while also serving customers through online and television channels in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
- 2018
Jones Bootmaker acquisition
[1]Pavers acquired Jones Bootmaker from administrators through a pre-pack transaction.
- 2018
Herring Shoes acquisition
[1]Pavers purchased specialist online footwear retailer Herring Shoes.
- 2011
Pavers launches a 24-hour Sky shopping channel
[1]The company introduced a dedicated television shopping channel for footwear, extending its multichannel sales model.
- 2008
India design and footwear initiative announced
[1]Pavers announced Pavers England Footprints Limited in Chennai and plans for a footwear design studio through the Pavers England joint venture.
- 2007
Catherine Paver receives a lifetime achievement award
[1]The founder was recognised by her industry peers at the Drapers Footwear Awards.
- 2000
Online footwear sister company is established
[1]Stuart Paver and Steve Cochrane established a sister company focused on online footwear sales; it later amalgamated with Pavers.
- 1996
First identified outlet-centre shop opens
[1]Pavers opened a shop at the Royal Quays outlet centre in North Shields, an important step in the development of its outlet-store network.
- 1971
Catherine Paver establishes the business
[1]Catherine Paver founded the footwear business with a £300 bank loan, initially selling clearance catalogue stock through shoe parties.
Products and positioning
Accessible, value-oriented footwear with an emphasis on comfort, broad everyday choice and multichannel retail convenience.
Footwear
Pavers footwear
The core Pavers assortment consists of everyday footwear sold through stores, outlets, online commerce and television shopping. The retailer’s value-oriented offer is associated with practical, comfort-focused styles for men and women, including seasonal and casual products. The available reference material does not identify a definitive named product line or a complete current category list.
Outlet retail · 1996
Outlet footwear ranges
Pavers operates an outlet-store format designed around accessible pricing and clearance-oriented retail. The network has included outlet locations in multiple regions of the United Kingdom, allowing the company to distribute footwear beyond its standard high-street and shopping-centre presence.
Digital commerce · 2000
Online footwear shopping
Online ordering became part of Pavers’ business through a sister company established in 2000 and later merged into Pavers. The digital channel complements the company’s stores and outlets and has been described as an important contributor to its more recent growth.
Television commerce · 2011
Pavers Sky shopping channel
Launched in 2011, the 24-hour Sky footwear channel extended Pavers’ product presentation and ordering model into television shopping. It formed part of the company’s broader multichannel strategy.
Marketing campaigns
- 2006Marie Curie limited-edition shoe initiative
United Kingdom
Pavers used a limited-edition shoe design to support Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Outcome. The initiative raised £45,000 for the charity.
- Compassion International child sponsorship
United Kingdom · International
Pavers has supported children in developing countries through sponsorship and related charitable activity, including work with Compassion International.
Outcome. The reference material states that Pavers was sponsoring three children through Compassion International.
Brand decisions
2018
Acquisition of Jones BootmakerM&ABackground
Jones Bootmaker was undergoing administration, creating an opportunity for a buyer to acquire parts of the business.
Action taken
Pavers acquired Jones Bootmaker through a pre-pack deal in February 2018.
Aftermath
The transaction added Jones Bootmaker to Pavers’ footwear retail portfolio. The available reference does not specify the purchase price or the full operational scope of the acquisition.
2018
Acquisition of Herring ShoesM&ABackground
Pavers was strengthening its presence in online footwear retail after developing its own digital sales capability.
Action taken
Pavers purchased specialist online footwear retailer Herring Shoes in July 2018.
Aftermath
The acquisition broadened Pavers’ digital retail holdings; the available source does not provide transaction terms or later performance data.
2011
Launch of a 24-hour Sky footwear channelProduct launchBackground
Pavers was expanding beyond physical stores and online ordering into additional retail media and fulfilment channels.
Action taken
The company launched a 24-hour footwear shopping channel on Sky.
Aftermath
The launch strengthened the company’s multichannel retail presence, although the available source does not provide performance figures.
2008
Launch of the Chennai footwear ventureStrategyBackground
Pavers sought to broaden its international and product-development activities through an India-based venture.
Action taken
It announced Pavers England Footprints Limited in Chennai and plans for a footwear design studio connected with Pavers England Limited and the Foresight Group.
Aftermath
The available reference material records the announced project and its launch expectations but does not establish its subsequent operating scale or current status.
Announced design-studio investment. $3 million (2008 announcement)
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/pavers-shoes · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled