Tricker's
{{Short description|British shoesmaker}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox company
|name = R.E. Tricker Ltd
|logo =
|type =
|owner =
|foundation = 1829
|founder = Joseph Tricker
|location = Northampton, United Kingdom
|industry = Retail
|products = Shoes
|homepage = {{URL|www.trickers.com}}
}}
File:Trickers Stow boots in acorn leather.jpg
R.E. Tricker Ltd, which trades as Tricker's, is a British footwear company established in 1829 by Joseph Tricker in Northampton.{{cite web |title=Company Overview of R.E. Tricker Ltd |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=225190970 |publisher=Bloomberg |accessdate=1 June 2019}}
Tricker's produces men's and women's shoes and boots, as well as leather accessories such as belts and wallets. It is best known for its heavy country boots and shoes,{{cite news |last1=Gustashaw |first1=Megan |title=7 Iconic English Shoemakers You Should Know |url=https://www.gq.com/story/7-iconic-english-shoemakers-you-should-know |accessdate=1 June 2019 |work=GQ |date=16 July 2016}} and was one of several Northampton-based companies identified as having survived the downturn in British shoemaking between the 1970s and 2000s and "carved out a niche for themselves at the top end of the international shoe market" by The Telegraph in 2012.{{cite news |last1=Nicholls |first1=David |title=For the well-heeled: British shoemakers find their feet |url=http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG9160291/For-the-well-heeled-British-shoemakers-find-their-feet.html |accessdate=1 June 2019 |work=The Telegraph |date=24 March 2012}} The company was granted a royal warrant in 1989.{{cite news |title=Shoe firm Tricker's opens Tokyo store |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-48051476 |accessdate=1 June 2019 |work=BBC News}}{{cite web |title=R.E. Tricker Ltd |url=https://www.royalwarrant.org/company/re-tricker-ltd |website=Member's Directory |publisher=The Royal Warrant Holders Association |accessdate=1 June 2019}}
Tricker's factory in Northampton is a Grade II listed building.{{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Kathryn A |last2=Bond |first2=Allen |title=Built to Last? The Buildings of the Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Industry |date=2004 |publisher=Swindon |location=United Kingdom |isbn=9781848023031 |page=62}} Much of the film Kinky Boots was filmed in the factory.{{cite web |title=Getting to the roots of Kinky Boots |url=https://www.northampton.gov.uk/news/article/2815/getting-to-the-roots-of-kinky-boots |publisher=Northampton Borough Council |accessdate=23 May 2020 |date=4 September 2018}}
As of 2019, Tricker's operated several shops in the UK as well as a single store in Tokyo. A BBC story reported that 80 per cent of the company's sales were overseas, and it was considering opening other shops in South Korea and the United States.
Tricker's closed its factory and shops in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the first time the firm had stopped producing shoes since it was established.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: Royal shoemaker stops for first time in 191 years |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-52382448 |accessdate=21 May 2020 |work=BBC News |date=22 April 2020}} The closure of the factory was necessary on health grounds, as it was not practical for staff to practice social distancing in it.{{cite news |last1=Duggan |first1=Jack |title='The shoe industry will be back on its feet soon': Tricker's boss hopeful after shutting Northampton factory for first time ever in history |url=https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/business/shoe-industry-will-be-back-its-feet-soon-trickers-boss-hopeful-after-shutting-northampton-factory-first-time-ever-history-2546739 |work=Northampton Chronicle & Echo |accessdate=21 May 2020 |date=23 April 2020}} Tricker's received a funding facility from its bank in May that year to enable it to be able to rapidly resume operations.{{cite news |last1=Ulke |first1=Alastair |title=Northampton's Tricker's factory receives 'support' from HSBC to tide firm over until lockdown lifts |url=https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/business/northamptons-trickers-factory-receives-support-hsbc-tide-firm-over-until-lockdown-lifts-2843671 |accessdate=21 May 2020 |work=Northampton Chronicle & Echo |date=5 May 2020}}
In 2021 Tricker's employed 86 workers in its factory who typically produced 1,000 pairs of shoes weekly.{{cite news |last1=Schomberg |first1=William |title=Historic English shoe-maker counts the costs of Brexit |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-exporters-idUSKBN29V1B5 |access-date=4 April 2021 |work=Reuters |date=26 January 2021}}