About GLEN

OWNER

Glen is the original owner of our fantastic company. After an assortment of different jobs, Glen founded Baggins in 1969 and opened what has now become his beloved shoe empire. A true born and bred Victorian, Glen likes to spend time outdoors when he’s not at work; Travelling, swimming, and biking are his favorites. Although he does admit he loves to stay home and read or watch TV as well.

When asked about his favorite Baggins story, Glen said that there is a new one every day, so it would take more than a paragraph and a beer to get into them. When it comes to Baggins products, Glen is all about the classics, naming his favorite as the classic Black Converse Hi-Tops, Vans Classic Slip-Ons in black with the white sole. He is also a big fan of the John Varvatos Low-Tops.

Glen’s favorite part about Baggins is the fact that he gets to talk to people from all over the world, and work with a delightful staff.

About TARA

CO-OWNER / DIRECTOR

Tara / Taradactyl / Big Boss. She first started here in February 2013 (TEN years ago!), and in 2018 she and her Husband bought into the company. She's been running the day-to-day operations and beyond ever since!

Tara is also a part-time dog trainer, she teaches classes in her (very precious) downtime. When she's not at work or training, you'll find Tara hanging with her adorable pets: Storm (6.5-year-old Heeler), Gambit (6-year-old Pit Bull cross), Logan (almost 1-year-old Heeler cross) and Cleo (13-year-old Calico cat). Her favourite thing to do when she's not running the world is unwinding in her hot tub, watching movies and trashy reality TV; Below Deck is best, but she also loves Love is Blind, Ex on the Beach, and Big Brother. As for music, she is particularly fond of Ghost and Rufus Du Sol at the moment.

Originally from Vancouver, Tara moved to Victoria when she was 4, but spent tons of weekends on the mainland with her Dad until her teens. She then attended UVIC for her bachelor’s degree in Germanic studies with a minor in French language.

Tara's obsessed with Dr. Martens. They're a perfect fit for her style and vibe, and if Docs releases anything pink, she'll snap it up immediately. She also can't live without the Vans Old Skool (she's partial to the classic black and white), and even though she can't wear them, she loves to admire the Converse platforms.

According to Tara, the best part of her job is buying and sourcing products - she finds it really interesting to see what the brands are doing, and loves to predict what will be popular in a year!

On the topic of recommendations, if you're new to town, Tara suggests you explore downtown. There are so many excellent parts, with tons of history. We did a team Ghost Tour a few years ago, which was surprisingly informative about our city's history! Outside of downtown, Tara thinks you should check the surrounding area out too - there are so many gorgeous lakes and coasts to explore. Many days you can find her hiking around with Storm, her trusty sidekick. 

About ANNA

MANAGER/LEAD DESIGNER

Anna is our graphic designer, social media and marketing queen, and customer service guru. Anna joined the squad in May 2016. She grew up in White Rock, BC but moved to Victoria to pursue her passion, Graphic Design, after studying Art History in Vancouver. You can find her drawing, crocheting, busting out yoga poses, and hanging with her cat Meryl in her free time. She also reads a ton, not to brag. 

Anna says her favourite memories from Baggins are plenty. From swapping ghost stories, debating which is the best Bubly flavour, painting endless window displays, and sharing tons of amazing lunches, she counts herself lucky to be a part of an amazing crew, old and new. If she had to pick her favorite Baggins products, she would of course recommend getting some custom kicks, probably designed by her, a pair of Baggins Originals (check out the Cat Nap design), or something from one of our fab Artist Collaborators.

Anna is always happy to come to work each day and says that working with such a unique company is a constant inspiration. Anna loves creating new art for our Baggins Originals collection, dreaming up designs for our marketing materials, and working with our incredible clients.

If you're new to Victoria, Anna recommends exploring the beaches. She has a few secret swimming spots that she'll shamelessly gatekeep, but aside from those, a not-so-secret spot she loves is Sooke Potholes. During the colder months, she thinks you should check the bookstores out. Her fave is Munro's, but Russell's is great too. Aside from books (NERD!) Anna's been obsessed with Shameless on Netflix, Love Island (UK, of course), and loves listening to music - Pinegrove, Homeshake, FKA Twigs, the 1975... to name a few.

About ALEX

PRINT TECH

Alex joined our print crew in May of 2022, after finishing her education at SAIT, studying Graphic Communications and Print Technology. She grew up in Saskatoon and moved to Victoria as a teen, where her first job was at Parachute Ice Cream!

A serious nap-enthusiast, Alex has two cats (Pip and Coco) who also share that same passion. Her fave band is the 1975, and she loves reading books and watching movies - her secret guilty pleasure watch is Dodgeball.

Alex says her favourite part of working at Baggins is getting to see all the amazing designs our creative customers come up with, and working in a fun and insipiring team.

Now for some recommendations. If you're new to Victoria, Alex recommends taking yourself on an Ice Cream tour - she firmly believes that Victoria's best when seen with an Ice Cream in hand. She also recommends Converse 1970's, Vans Lowlands, and Herschel Elmer Toques. A girl with great taste!

About JOSH

APPRINTICE / SALES

Meet Josh, our resident "Apprintice." He's been adding his flair to Baggins since Summer '23, swapping civil engineering for the wild world of an aspiring artist. Hailing from Victoria, this dude loves trails, biking the Galloping Goose, and tackling boulders. And yeah, he claims he can "out-smoke anybody," making him the undisputed champion of... well, you know.

Aside from making Baggins cooler, Josh is all about dogs, sustainable fashion (like boots you can re-sole), and vintage road bikes. He rocked Dr. Martens 1462s for his high school grad, his most memorable visit to Baggins before joining our ranks. When pressed on his holy-grails, he says the following: snack? Any Reese’s thing. Netflix? Family Guy always. Music on a deserted island? Dean Blunt's Zushi, blasting.

And if you're wondering about shoes, he's a Vans addict—Slip-Ons, Authentics, and Half-Cabs to name a few. But what really keeps him stoked about Baggins? "I love seeing all the cool unique customs people come up with, and all the amazing Baggins Originals Anna creates!"

About TYLER

ORDERS / WAREHOUSE MANAGER

Born and raised in Edmonton, Tyler joined our Warehouse team in November 2016 after moving to Victoria the previous year. He came armed with experience in a variety of different fields, including a past life as a turkey farmer. He has since dedicated his life to the pursuit of The Truth, and regularly goes out to the sticks to search for Bigfoot.

When not at work, Tyler loves playing music and currently plays drums for local legends Acres of Lions. When we asked what his favourite thing to do is, he said it’s to watch semi-pro Cornhole tournaments and definitely is not answering Anna's Questionnaires.

He finds the task of naming a favourite product difficult, but the last thing he purchased was a pair of Vans MTEs that he loves, and is also a huge fan of Stance socks.

About BELINDA

RETAIL MANAGER

Belinda joined the team in September 2019 and we’re so happy to have her as a part of the Baggins Fam! With a long history in retail and sales, we can safely say that Bo is a total master. When Belinda is not slaying on the sales floor and helping everything run smoothly at the Baggins headquarters, you can find her playing WII (she's a champ), playing Canasta (also a champ), or just chilling and watching crazy reality TV.

One of the first things we noticed about Bo beside her warm, sparkling personality and blistering roasts is how easily she scares. She's called the Scream Queen for a reason!

Although Belinda was born in Halifax, the majority of her life has been spent living in Victoria. Sales have been her passion for 50 years now - it's in her "sole". She's been selling shoes for 22 years to be precise, and she's pretty damn good at it. Bo says "time flies when you're having fun!" and we agree.

Take it from her - she's seen our city through many changes, and Bo says the best thing to do if you're new to town is to take public transit's double-decker bus out to Sidney. Sit on the top level to take in the views, then stroll along Beacon Ave to the waterfront, then check out a restaurant or grab a drink! If it's media recommendations you're after, Bo favours R&B and anything from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In terms of what we offer, Belinda recommends Vans for their wider fit, Converse Wide, and the cute Herschel Mini Nova bags.

About LAURA

SALES / COPYWRITER

Laura's been lighting up our lives at Baggins since April 2022, she's the cutie with a huge smile! She's a pro on the sales floor, and loves helping people find a pair to match their style. She's also a great writer, you can find her work over on our Blog! Laura grew up in Surrey, moving over to Victoria in the summer of 2021 to go to UVIC to study Writing and Psychology.

Laura's favourite part of her job at Baggins is seeing all the cutest customers (Dogs) come through the door! She had a Brittany Spaniel growing up, so she definitely has a soft spot for our furry friends.

Recommendation time! If you're new to town, Laura recommends checking out Dallas rd. for a stroll with some gorgeous ocean views, then grab some dinner at Sült Pierogi Bar. If it's product recommendations you're after, she'll tell you to check out the Vans Lowland sneakers, the Vans UltraRange collection, and any Converse Platforms!

About CHEL

SALES / THE NEW GUY

Introducing Chel, the newest creative force on our sales team at Baggins! They joined us during January 2024 and have already made a lasting impact with their passion for footwear and a unique blend of skills. Born and raised right here in Victoria, Chel holds a BA in English from UVic and aspires to return to dive deeper into the world of art and graphic novels. They reminisce about teenage days spent exploring LoJo and the local thrift scene. These days, when not assisting you in finding the perfect pair of shoes, Chel is often found immersed in their true love – art! Whether it's sketching, painting, or building up their tattoo portfolio, their creativity shines.

Away from the hustle at Baggins, Chel enjoys hitting the beach with their dog Charlie. An outdoorsy icon, they've converted their SUV into a camper! That's not the only surprise – Chel boasts double-jointed thumbs and has a penchant for collecting vintage Playboys. When it comes to footwear, it's all about Vans Old Skool – comfy and versatile, just like their artistic flair. And the cherry on top? Working at Baggins means being dangerously close to Green Cuisine (IYKYK). Cheers to Chel – our creative, shoe-loving, and beach-frequenting team member!

About MARY

SALES

Mary is our resident shoe collector and snack queen. She started working at Baggins in January 2022 after working for a few other local shoe stores, and they say Baggins felt like the best fit!

Mary's favourite thing to do when they're not slaying on the sales floor is to go on adventures with her friends and flex her photography skills. She spends as much time as possible with family and friends both human and animal. Mary has two pets: Floracita, a rescue dog, and Sir Romeo (Momo), a Sphynx cat.

As our most avid shoe collector, Mary's recommendations come with ample first-hand experience. They recommend Dr. Martens Jadon boots, Converse 70s Hi-tops, and the Vans Platform Old Skools. These edgy styles make sense when you ask what their favourite band is (Palaye Royale) & if you're wondering what her guilty-pleasure movie of choice is, it’s Pineapple Express.

Mary grew up in Victoria and has actually always lived within walking distance of Baggins & the Downtown area, so you can bet she has some excellent recommendations for newcomers. They say you should visit some of our beautiful beaches and forests - bonus points if you can find a hike with a path down to the ocean!

About CLAIRE

SALES

Claire's busy writing their bio! Check back soon :)

About OLIVIA

SALES / CONVERSE CONNOISSEUR

Meet Olivia, the latest Converse connoisseur here at Baggins since she started in January 2024. Originally from Ontario but an island girl at heart, she's been soaking in the West Coast vibes since the age of 10. She remembers visiting us at our old location and giving our beloved boy Fraidy Cat some pats in his shoe-box bed.

When she's not helping you find the perfect pair of shoes, Olivia's in her own world—gaming or diving into epic Fantasy novels.

Olivia's ride-or-die snack has to be Haribo, paired best with a Netflix binge (Yellowjackets). When it comes to footwear, she says there's no beating the classic Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars. A timeless choice for a Baggins superstar! Olivia adds her unique flair to our shoe haven, making every shopping experience as legendary as her favourite Chucks.