Wide Fitting Shoes Direct is the on-line Trading name of John’s Shoes in Derby which was founded in 1966 by Mr John Wilson.

     Previously John had spent 15 years as a Commercial artist but longed for a more active life out doors.

     He decided to try his hand at standing market so went to Derby when the Tuesday market first opened on the Morledge in May 1966 (He lived in Leicester at the time) he joined the casual queue and got a stall first time, had a good day and he was hooked!

    Eventually he applied for and was allocated all four days with permanent positions mostly facing the River Gardens at the rear of the Morledge. It was very cold!

    He started to build up a reputation for comfort shoes as well as fashion and children’s shoes.

    In 1975 the new Eagle Market opened, first day was Nov 11-Rememberance day. It was cold and foggy, not a very good day to start. He had two stalls and eventually built it up to have a block of four, again building a reputation for comfort shoes.

    Then in 1982 a double stall in the Market Hall became available. He applied by tender and was allocated the stalls. For several years John and his wife ran both the Eagle Market and the Market Hall stalls with the help of their employees.

     Gradually comfort shoes became his ‘forte’ as he too was getting older and having problems with his feet.

     In year 2000 he decided it was time for retirement and was delighted that his nephew (Malcolm Pratt) wanted to carry the business on which he continues to do to this day, still building it and adding new styles for the comfort fit market.