... I'd read in a variety of places that you need to get fitted for the correct shoes for running in, which makes sense when you think about the pounding your feet get when you go for a run! Everyone's different and so everyone lands differently on their feet and your feet can roll in different ... Read review
Advantages: Very good service, wide product range, competitive prices Disadvantages: Not very many stores
...need to get fitted for the correct shoes for running in, which makes sense when you think about the pounding your feet get when you go for a run! Everyone's different and so everyone lands differently on their feet and your feet can roll in different directions so they need the right support!
The shoe fitting service:
I was a bit nervous going in because I always feel a bit intimidated by little specialist shops as I feel I'm ... ...shoes and stand barefoot on the floor with my feet together, directly in front of him so he could look at how I naturally stand, weight distribution etc. He looked at my feet from the front and the back and I was then asked to walk up and down the shop so he could look at the movement of my feet. After a lot of walking around I was allowed to sit down and he explained that my feet had slight pronation and that I had quite high arches so I needed ... more
I made a visit to Sweatshop after I'd been running for a few months in some running trainers I'd bought without being fitted. I'd read in a variety of places that you need to get fitted for the correct shoes for running in, which makes sense when you think about the pounding your feet get when you go for a run! Everyone's different and so everyone lands differently on their feet and your feet can roll in different directions so they need the right support!
The shoe fitting service: I was a bit nervous going in because I always feel a bit intimidated by little specialist shops as I feel I'm not experienced enough to be allowed in! The man in there was very willing to help thought when I said that I was looking for trainers and started to ask me questions about my running - how often I run, how long I run for, my aims, any injuries etc.
He then asked me to take off my shoes and stand barefoot on the floor with my feet together, directly in front of him so he could look at how I naturally stand, weight distribution etc. He looked at my feet from the front and the back and I was then asked to walk up and down the shop so he could look at the movement of my feet. After a lot of walking around I was allowed to sit down and he explained that my feet had slight pronation and that I had quite high arches so I needed trainers which would give me some cushioning and some support!
Trying on the trainers: He then went and got out a few pairs of shoes for me to try on. After watching me tie them up, he told me that I wasn't tying my trainers tight enough and so they wouldn't be giving me the support that they should be and so I received a lesson in tying my trainers tight enough which was very helpful!
I tried on all the pairs that he had got me and was allowed to walk around the shop and even go for a quick run on the street outside the shop to see how they felt. He also offered to bring out more pairs, but I had already made up my mind about which trainers felt best, typically the first pair that I had tried on. I felt that I couldn't feel too much difference between the trainers that I tried on and that trying on even more pairs would make the decision even harder!
He asked if there was anything else that I needed to buy or if I needed advice about anything else, but I didn't so it was on to the till point!
Paying for the trainers: So i went to pay for my trainers (Mizuno wave inspire 3's) at the price of £55 which I felt was a good price as some trainers can cost more like £100. Some people feel that specialist shops will charge you more than a high street sport shop, but this price was competitive and in line with what JJB or somewhere else would charge. I was asked if I wanted to join the mailing list but I decided that if I wanted to I could do it on their website. So after paying, I left with a pair of trainers that I was happy with and that I felt were really suited to me.
Other products sold: Sweatshop had a good range of trainers for juniors, females and males and also had a wide range of other sportswear - everything from socks to shorts to hats. They also sold gadgets like heart rate monitors and Garmins, as well as water bottles, energy drinks and every other thing you could think of to do with walking, running and sports! The prices of these products were in line with other sports shops and they seemed to have quite a good sale and offers on the products.
The Website: The Sweatshop has a good website which offers advice about trainers, you can look at their range of shoes online and buy, if you know what you're looking for. They sell a good range of clothes online, though there is not as much choice as in store and there is information about races that they are involved with and all sorts of links and other information. There is also a store finder tool so you can get the details of your nearest store! It seems quite easy to navigate and quite simple, which I feel is a good thing!
Overall: My experience at Sweatshop was a good one and though they didn't have any fancy treadmills or technology, I know that the man that served me took a lot of time looking at my feet and watching my movement and I felt that he really understood about the need for the correct trainers and made that his priority rather than trying to sell me the most expensive pair. There were a wide range of trainers to choose from and the prices were good. I would go there again and recommend it to others!
...and to work out in the gym. Last week we visited a branch of the Sweatshop in Teddington and found just what I was looking for. You know how it is sometimes you find that the shop assistant seems totally bored and is counting the hours until the end of the shift, well the Sweatshop went a long way to disprove this myth. The sales assistant took great pains to find out exactly what i wanted to use the cross trainers for, whether I had any injuries ... ...on pairs of Nike, New Balance and Adidas before finally settling upon a pair of Reebok Go Dare DMX's and I have been really pleased with them. They feel very comfortable just like a pair of slippers in fact. Full credit to the Sweatshop for their unhurried and expert advice. ...
Mikew79 06.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Sweatshop (Shop)
Advantages: Extremely helpful and knowledgeable advice Disadvantages: Possibly have to travel to get to nearest branch
After trawling the usual 'sports' shops looking for trainers for gym and power walking, I was relieved to find a shop where the assistants were extremely knowledgeable about the products they were selling. I explained to the assistant that I had foot pain wearing my existing trainers and they scanned my feet into a 'computer' and showed me which trainers would suit my running style. They offered me the use of their treadmill to test before I bought. ... ...decision about my purchase and the assistant was more than happy for me to try on as many pairs as I wanted. Other customers entered the store whilst I was being served and they received attention immediately. The store was very well staffed and there was a large free car park right outside.
They had a very good range of trainers to suit all budgets. Apart from footwear other products available in the store included swim wear, fitness and tennis ...
Scorpio68 14.07.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Sweatshop (Shop)
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Primark. WOW! If you are willing to fight through crowds (normally involving a lot of screaming babies, not to mention the screaming mothers who come with them) then sure, go and grab your ultimately priced clothing!
Joking aside, once you have either put the fact that to sell clothes this cheap there must be a lot of sweatshops out there producing them to the back of your mind or just accepted that most clothes are made in sweat shops then primark is amazing!
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Advantages: Good Name Brand - wash amazingly well Disadvantages: Sweat-shop produced, limited choice, over-priced
I have several GAP items in my 18 month son's wardrobe.
These items always wash well and right up until they go onto the 'grown out of' pile they always look as good as new.
However, recently I watched a television programme about 'Sweat-Shops' in the third world and the main culprit was GAP which uses Indonesian workers to make all of their garments, for adults and children. It has left me with a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth. GAP pay PENNIES for their items to be manufactured, yet continue to charge the earth for the same items.
I also find the choice is somewhat limited - you can buy a pair of socks in every colour of the rainbow, but are limited to a choice of two or three types of shoe.
I think it is time GAP reviewed their manufacturing process to be more in line with the prices they charge. ...
Doolally-Tap 12.11.2000
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Advantages: Fairly-traded good, lovely stuff. Disadvantages: Food items in multi packs, £4.50 delivery, some items out of stock.
horrible sweat-shops, by children. And that can only be a good thing, right?
The idea is that you're not doing anyone a favour ? you're simply doing the right thing. I've been shopping from Traidcraft for about ten years now, and I've always been very happy doing so. All the goods are of high quality, so don't be suspicious that you'll be paying high prices for inferior items, because you won't be. Everything comes reliably packed ? in all those ten years I've never had a breakage ? but not wastefully packed. And only once, amongst dozens of orders, have Traidcraft ever let me down. Their supplies of a particular item had dried up and they'd sent me a substitute which I didn't want. However, there were no quibbles when I sent it back, and my refund was prompt. They don't do substitutions now, so it is well to be aware that goods made in ...
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![Water Street [PA] - Sweatshop Union](http://imagesa.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/338/Water_Street_Sweatshop_Union__7008338.jpg)
