By bizn_fun 
Early Days was started more than 70 years ago by Bolton’s father and uncle out of their parents’ home. Bolton and his brother have tried to keep the firm in business, but he said he can no longer afford to pump in money to keep it afloat.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5’s Wake Up To Money show, he recalled the company’s “marvellous” trading period after Prince George was photographed wearing the shoes during a tour of Australasia.
Bolton was forced to suspend online sales for a few days due to stock selling out, describing it as “a remarkable time”.
“The factory was on overtime, and it opened a lot of new accounts. People hadn’t heard of us before, so they wanted to stock Early Days shoes.”
The publicity translated into the company’s usual annual turnover doubling, he said.
But, following its best year in 2022, Early Days saw a slowing down in orders from shoe shops, with former customers citing the increasingly tough conditions on the high street.
Bolton also said the firm was hit by rising energy and materials costs, as well as increases in the minimum wage and employer National Insurance Contributions. It is the latest firm to complain about the increasing tax burden and wage bill since Labour came to power in 2024.
“It’s just been hitting us from all angles, so we’ve had prices going up, but demand going down because of the consumer spending [which is] down,” Bolton said.