Desert Boots discontinued
December 19th, 2007
I’ve been looking high and low for Clark’s Desert Boots.
Pacific Brands bought Clarks Shoes Australasia from the UK parent company seven years ago. At the time it was reported as having around $50 million annual sales, and the Pacific MD said it would help expand their presence in the premium segments of the children’s and adult footwear markets - really, the only premium shoe was the Clark’s Desert Boot.
I emailed Pacific to find out where they were sold and was told that, “Clarks Adults Shoes are no longer manufactured by Pacific Brands Footwear.” He later confirmed that, “the style of shoe you are after has been discontinued.”
Pacific is fighting cheap Chinese imports and, at the same time, discontinuing one of its best, most classic lines. That discontinuing of high quality/low performance lines is a big part of what spurred the growth of online filesharing, in music, and the associated long tail. I’m heading online. Only thing is, it’s harder to get the right size.
December 19th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Isn’t it interesting that Pacific has put such a marketing and product diversification push into Dunlop Volleys (including that spurious attempt at grassroots marketing called “My Volleys” or something - they messaged me on Flickr once they saw I had a collection of photos of black Volleys), but Clarks has fallen by the wayside? This is because there’s no cool factor to Clarks.
I think Hush Puppies was a case study in The Tipping Point - a dorky shoe that the company relaunched because coolsies started wearing them. Stay true, Matt - desert boots will come good. But sadly, you probably won’t want to wear them once an army of hipster infants seizes on them.
Incidentally, Pacific’s “front-foot strategy” as outlined in that linked article is completely ridiculous! They aren’t fighting cheap imports at all; they’re PRODUCING them. It’s like, “We don’t want retailers to buy Chinese goods - we want them to buy OUR Chinese goods!”
February 7th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Keep an eye on what Rossi Boots are doing, Australian made is also a bonus.
April 11th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Try M Sprint in Collingwood, Vic. They used to have them. I’ll be looking for some this week. And maybe some ‘Rollers’, they were the best!!
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:16 am
I saw Clark’s desert boots in a shoe store in Rome just last week. Pity I don’t have the name of the establishment. Perhaps you can track them down online.
I started to buy a pair myself, but the Mrs. talked me out of it. Grrrrrrrr. I think they are great!
July 4th, 2008 at 5:32 am
I like how this post’s taken on a life of its own. Links pouring in from all directions. Anyway, just got back from the states, where Clark’s Desert Boots are readily available - I bought the Desert Treks.
July 11th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
The Shoe Gallery (shoe shop)in Kangaroo Flat (Bendigo) has a hand full of pairs of Clark’s DBs in sizes 46 and up, in bone or black. Regrettably I wear size 39.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Rossi make a ripple sole DB in black for about $120. Not Clark’s, but a high qulaity boot and a classic.
August 12th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you down the road!