March 31st, 2011 9:56am - Posted By: Kara
Happy 3rd Birthday – To Us!
This Friday is The Good Sole’s 3rd Birthday. That’s right – on April Fool’s Day 2008 we became part of the Taos business community. And three years later, we still work hard to be the place where Taos shops for shoes. In addition to carrying great outdoor brands such as KEEN and Merrell, we added premier comfort lines for people who are on their feet all day such as Dansko, Naot, and Clarks. Many of our best customers are local chefs, school teachers and nurses from Holy Cross Hospital. We are also proud to be the place in Taos to come for Frye boots.
Last year we added the Taos Running Company and we are now the only place in town for custom fit athletic shoes from Asics, New Balance, Saucony, Brooks, Mizuno, Salomon, Technica, and Montrail. And we are excited to have Nike shoes and apparel due to arrive soon!
It’s been fun and challenging trying to figure out what shoes will work for everyone’s lifestyle –work, fun, and play. The one that’s been the biggest surprise hit is really not even a shoe. It’s the phenomenon that launched the barefoot running and walking craze - Vibram 5 Fingers. Yep, we were the shop that introduced these fun (or funny - depending how you look at it) shoes to Taos and all of New Mexico. Their huge success has created whole new category of footwear called “minimalist” shoes. Everyone from New Balance to Merrell is making them now and The Good Sole is the place to find them all. Soon we will be receiving minimalist styles from Montrail, Jambu and others.
However, the minimal shoe isn’t for everyone and we are still an orthotic facility offering custom and premade orthotics and modifications to provide a custom and comfortable fit for your feet and your shoes. Don Feinberg, our manager, was born into the shoe world and can assist you in finding a special shoe for your specific needs. Annie Stewart is also an old shoe dog and has taken on the role of lab technician to help with various orthotic and shoe modifications. We are also lucky to have Ariana Reyes who helps with sales and gives some great input on what shoes look good and what shoes really do look like old lady shoes! And I continue to work with patients on a daily basis providing custom solutions to whatever ails your feet.
Thank you Taos for welcoming us! It has been a challenging three years for us as it has for most small businesses in the area. But thanks to your support and loyalty, we made it through and plan to be the place where Taos shops for shoes for many years to come!
- Kara Williams
August 16th, 2010 1:32pm - Posted By: Kara
Flip Off Those Flops
I spent four days in Las Vegas last week at the WSA (World Shoe & Accessories) show. This is where about 20,000 shoe store owners like me go every August to look at the latest and greatest shoes to bring into our stores for next spring. After this trip I have some advice:
First of all, do NOT go to Vegas in August if you can avoid it! It got above 100 degrees every day I was there. Ouch! And unlike Taos, Vegas does not get nice cool nights. Walking down the strip at midnight, it was still 95 degrees!
But you don’t read my blog for weather tips. My real advice concerns your feet. At least half the people I saw slogging up and down the baking concrete of the Vegas strip were wearing flip flops. This is crazy! Most flip flops are made for wearing to the pool or the beach. They are NOT designed for serious walking. And exploring the strip involves miles of serious walking. Flip flops do not have the cushioning, stability or arch support you need for putting in long distances on hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt. I could see that many of the tourists I saw were suffering from more than heat – their feet were killing them!
Of course you’re thinking if it’s that damn hot, the flip floppers were just trying to stay cool. I agree; but there are ways to keep your feet cool AND give them the support they need. At the Good Sole, we have walking sandals from Ecco, Mephisto, Merrell, KEEN, Finn Comfort and others that will keep your feet cushioned, supported and cool through miles of walking. And at the end of the day, your feet, knees and back will not ache from pounding the concrete all day with no support.
I mentioned my flip flop dismay at dinner one evening in Paris (the hotel, not the city) with some other shoe folks. One of them quipped that all those flip flops would be good for business in the years to come. He reasoned the people wearing them would be needing orthotics and comfort footwear to alleviate their future foot pain.
Well that may be true, but I would still rather not see folks ruining their feet, knees and hips when it is so EASY to keep them healthy. Next time you’re headed on vacation, remember that flip flops are NOT made for walking. Unless you’re going to be hanging out at the pool or laying on a beach, don’t even pack them.
If your trip will involve walking, bring some quality sandals and athletic shoes. Your feet will thank you for years to come!
