Brother and sister duo
John and Amy Sussman
grew up in Globe Shoe
Company, the store they
now co-own.
SMALL
TALK
SOUTHERN
BUSINESS
120 Years
of Style
JOHN SUSSMAN EXPLAINS
THE SUCCESS OF SAVANNAH’S
OLDEST SHOE STORE.
BY SKYLAR LANIER / PHOTO: BLAKE CROSBY
ROUGHTON STREET HAS
seen a vast amount of
change over the past 120
years, but Globe Shoe
Company has always
kept its front window
displays stocked to the
brim with reliable and
stylish shoes.
How has Globe achieved this feat? According
to its owner, John Sussman, who inherited the
family business that his grandfather started in the
1930s, the longevity of the business comes down
to a few key elements: constant innovation and
enduring principles of business.
As a buyer for his store, Sussman is always in
pursuit of new brands and style trends, while also
maintaining classic and practical styles. Updating
stock keeps Globe on the front end of fashion, and
keeps customers coming back.
Underlying the ever-changing array of
shoes, however, is Globe’s drive to maintain
real relationships with both its vendors and its
customers through loyalty, communication and
personalized service.
Globe prides itself on the uniquely
customizable experience it provides its
customers.
“We carry brands from around the world that
you can’t get other places,” says Sussman. “We
also provide rare sizes and widths to ensure that
we can deliver a great shoe for every customer
that walks in.”
The store’s access to the inaccessible has been
an asset to both of its Savannah locations. Globe’s
Broughton store sees new customers every day,
B
visiting from all corners of the country,
and locals know they can go to Globe’s
newer store in Savannah’s Twelve Oaks
Shopping Center to find a stylish and
comfortable pair of shoes with the help of
staff members who are eager to please.
Globe’s dedication to customer service
and the care invested in its highly curated
selection of shoes reflect Sussman’s
enthusiasm for his job.
“I love getting to be both the buyer and the
seller,” he says. “The best part is relating what I
have picked out back to what our customers need
and seeing them get excited about what we have to
offer.”• 912.232.8161
Globe Shoes features footwear
and accessories by Stuart Weitz-
man, Donald Pliner, Cole Haan,
Sam Edelman, VanElli, Thierry
Rabotin, Genle Souls, Jeffrey
Campbell, Think!, and Mephisto.
Globe Shoes / (Downtown location)17 E Broughton St & 5500 Abercorn St
22
SOUTH MAGAZINE
August | September 2018