“Business has a responsibility to give back to the community from which it draws its support.”
When you hear this quote you can’t help but think of the Belshaws.
Jim and his wife Karen purchased Roy’s Shoes in the spring of 2007. With no prior experience in the shoe business, Jimbo (as his friends call him) began to learn the retail and shoe repair trade. Before long another Belshaw joined Roy’s Shoes. Jim Jr. came on board and has proven to be a fast learner and skilled cobbler apprentice.
This family run business has been built on integrity, dedication and pride in everything they do. They do everything from repairs, retail sales, custom fitting and specialized footwear. Jim’s motto is treat people the same way you want to be treated.
The shop is located on Ellis Street in Kelowna and when you walk in, everyone looks up to say hello. They always offer you a coffee and make you feel like you just stopped by to see a friend. In such a busy society, it is nice to have that sense of comfort and ease when you walk into a business.
Anyone who owns and operates their own business knows how rewarding and demanding it can be. But Jim still makes time to give back to the community in so many ways. He is a humble man and everything he does is for all the right reasons.
Jim is a proud Rotarian and has been for six years. Jim uses the opportunity to serve utilizing
the Rotarian four-way test, which is posted in his store and on his business cards. Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be
BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Jim uses his business and contacts to help many charities. He is a proud sponsor of the Motorcycle Ride for Dad Prostrate Ride, the Glen Mervyn Ride to Survive Breast Cancer, Kelowna Easter
Seals 24-Hour Relay, Peaks for Polio, theProstrate Climb in Argentina and Boxers on the Hill.
Did you know that Jim donates a $1 of every shoe repair to his local and international community’s? Last year, his donations topped $7,000 and with matching grants from Rotary International,
a donation of $4,000 to an orphanage in San Salvador became $18,000.
So if you had your shoes repaired at Roy’s you can take great pride in knowing you helped many worthwhile causes.
T h i s y e a r, J im h a s b a c k e d Soles4Souls in Canada, which is a campaign to raise “25,000 shoes in 25days.”Soles4Souls partners with caring individuals and companies like Roy’s Shoes to hold popular footwear drives that reach needy people in North America and around the world. Local agencies that will benefit are: Okanagan Social Agencies, The Food Bank Store, Kelowna Gospel Mission,Now Canada and the Kelowna’s Women’s Shelter will all be offered footwear for their clients. The remaining shoes will be shipped to the Soles4Souls distribution Centre in Nevada where they will be sorted and shipped to places in need worldwide. Currently, Soles4Souls has committed over one million pairs to Haiti.
Jim, like most, has been affected by many changes in business due to the economy, but it has never affected his compassion for others and desire to help those around him. As a longtime volunteer in this community, I have seen first-hand the difference people like Jim make in our community. Jim
has built this business with the commitment of giving back to the community. As stated before, he
believes that it is vitally important to treat customers as you’d like to be treated yourself.
Jim’s vision is to be the leader in Kelowna and the Okanagan for shoe repair, retail footwear sales, custom shoe fittings and specialized footwear.
Roy’s Shoes works every day to exceed customer expectations with dedication to shoe repair and quality footwear. Jim also makes a point of helping whenever he can and that is what makes him a successful entrepreneur in our community.
You get what you give and the Belshaws always put their best “foot” forward.
Jim Belshaw Roy's Shoes, Boots and Repairs
http://www.roysshoes.com/
1627 Ellis Street Kelowna, BC
V1Y 2A8
250-763-5696
