Business Details
20 Years
experience
Your Trusted Source for Children's Shoes & Dancewear
The Shoe Zoo was established in 2006 in Torquay by Peter and Claire French, driven by the challenge of finding high-quality children's footwear with expert fitting. Our mission has always been to provide a wide selection of trusted brands in a child-friendly environment, prioritising comfort and care. In 2014, we expanded to larger premises in St Marychurch, introducing a dedicated dancewear department and a coffee shop to enhance the shopping experience.We offer a special 'First Steps' package for children's first shoes, including a photo keepsake and complimentary refreshments. Our team is known for its friendly, patient approach, particularly supporting families with children who have special needs. We pride ourselves on 7-day customer support, both in-store and online, and maintain a commitment to quality, transparency, and community engagement through our Bamboo Sandwich & Coffee Bar.
Services
Girls School Shoes
Boys School Shoes
Dancewear
Shoe Fitting
Online Retail
Details
- Year established: 2006
Highlights and features
- We offer expert shoe fitting with caring, patient staff since 2006.
- Our dancewear department provides pointe shoe fittings with trained professionals.
- We provide a 'First Steps' package for children's first shoes.
- Our 7-day customer support ensures accessibility for all families.
- We combine retail with a child-friendly environment including a coffee shop.
What people say
Great service
Awesome quality
Friendly staff
Patient approach
Special needs support
Services
Girls School Shoes
We offer a curated selection of girls' school shoes from trusted brands like Start Rite and Lelli Kelly. Our range combines style, durability, and comfort to meet uniform requirements. Expert fitters ensure proper sizing for growing feet.
Dancewear Department
Our dedicated dancewear floor stocks products for all dance styles, including pointe shoes and leotards. Trained professionals provide fittings by appointment. Brands include specialised dancewear for beginners to professionals.
Shoe Fitting Service
We provide expert shoe fitting using professional measuring tools. Our staff receives regular training on foot development. The 'First Steps' package includes photo keepsakes for children's initial footwear purchases.
Online Retail
Our website offers free UK delivery on orders over 45. Customers can browse extensive product ranges with detailed size guides. Returns are accepted within 30 days of purchase for online orders.
Bamboo Sandwich & Coffee Bar
Located within our St Marychurch store, this caf provides refreshments for parents during shopping trips. It complements our child-friendly environment and offers complimentary treats with the 'First Steps' package.
People
Peter French
Co-Founder
Co-founded The Shoe Zoo in 2006 after identifying a gap in quality children's footwear retail. Focuses on maintaining high service standards and brand selection.
Claire French
Co-Founder
Co-founded The Shoe Zoo with Peter French. Oversees store operations and customer experience, ensuring the business maintains its child-friendly ethos and community focus.
Questions
What is The Shoe Zoo's return policy?
Items can be returned within 30 days of purchase, both in-store and online. We offer free returns for UK customers.
Do you offer dancewear fittings?
Yes, we provide pointe shoe fittings by appointment with trained dance professionals in our dedicated dancewear department.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept major credit/debit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay for online purchases. In-store payments include cash and card.
Are your school shoes uniform-compliant?
Yes, our school shoes meet UK uniform requirements. We stock brands like Start Rite and Lelli Kelly that follow official specifications.
Do you have facilities for children with special needs?
Our staff receives training to assist children with special needs. We offer extended fitting sessions and adaptive shoe solutions when available.
Reviews (4)
Carley Aldworth
Sep 25, 2021
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As always the staff are beyond helpful, friendly and patient in the dance section and for shoes! Thank you for the your help today helping my daughter choose her new leotard.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rachael Glasson
Jul 07, 2021
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Fantastic customer service every time we go to shoe zoo. Amazing knowledge, support and guidance when getting our dance essentials. They recently went above and beyond to help me get a pair of dance shoes that we needed. My only complaint - too many tempting things to buy in the shop 😁. Thanks Claire and team 👏🏻❤️
Kirsty Ellard
Apr 13, 2021
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Lovely experience for my daughter getting her first pointe shoes. Staff obviously very experienced and knew what they were doing, very friendly. Great all round, highly recommend.
Becky Barnes
Aug 26, 2020
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Made an appointment online which meant when we turned up we were seen straight away. No stress and staff were lovely. Highly recommend.
