New York – In an arena dominated by men, Maria Germer has made her way to the top, one step at a time.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Germer is the most successful seller at the Brooks Brothers Madison Avenue shoe department and has sold footwear to thousands of customers, including prestigious elected officials, in a career that spans almost four decades.
The 57 year old grandmother from Jackson Heights got her start at Brooks Brothers at age 17, when her father, who did maintenance work for the store, helped her get a foot in the door, reported The New York Post (http://nyp.st/2r22geV).
At first, employees at the male-dominated shoe department kept her at arm’s length but all that changed one day when the Honduran born Germer was the only salesperson on the floor and a Spanish speaking tourist came looking for shoes. She sold 39 pairs of the store’s most expensive shoes in just minutes, setting a store record and shocking her co-workers.
“They couldn’t believe it,” recalled Germer. “Suddenly they realized that I knew more about shoes than they did.”
Germer wears only men’s shoes, custom made for her by Brooks Brothers. She can usually judge a customer’s size just by looking at their feet.
Her loyal customers span the globe and Germer estimated that she has sold more than 15,000 pairs of shoes in her career. Shying away from sharing her client list, Germer named just two: former Governor Hugh Carey and former Mayor Ed Koch who favored plain toe Bluchers in size 12C.
“He always bought them because he could go from work to a party and not have to change his shoes,” said Germer.
I bought shoes from Maria great women she has son that serves in the military.