A COUNTRY town 600km south of crocodile country is not where you’d expect a croc sighting, but the amphibious creatures are taking over Canungra.
Babies and children, teenagers and adults are in their sights as they make their reptilian march into the lives of every person, young and old.
We are, of course, talking about the impressive array of Crocs shoes available for purchase at The Croc Shop on Christie Street.
Nora Jones, owner of The Shoe Vault, opened The Croc Shop in mid-October alongside her other ventures The Thong Shop and Louie and Oopsie boutique.
Her new shop features an entire wall of the world-famous footwear originally designed as a boating shoe and dubbed ‘Crocs’ for its suitability on land and in water (like a crocodile but without the teeth).
Crocs weren’t always this popular but now they are a global fashion staple, and you would be hard-pressed to go a day without seeing somebody wearing a pair.
They are worn by celebrities and influencers, chefs and nurses, comfort-seekers and statement-makers.
Nora, who this year celebrates 10 years since she opened The Shoe Vault, said opening The Croc Shop was a matter of supply and demand.
“I didn’t have anything in the store for children, I had people coming through asking for kid’s shoes and I think just about every child owns a pair of Crocs at the moment,” she said.
“I’ve got four grandsons who all wear Crocs and they’re mad on them so I thought, ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’.
Nora also has a wall of Croc charms, officially known as ‘Jibbitz’, and for the first month of The Croc Shop she is giving away free Jibbitz with each sale of children’s Crocs.
Nora, who said it was important to keep evolving, said in her decade of business in Canungra she had always felt the full support of the town.
“Canungra is such a destination town and it’s always busy,” she said.
“Once you get a customer, they stay loyal to the shop. If you give them good service, good quality shoes and a great experience they’ll always come back.”
