I learnt something last week, aside from selling the best
that we can find in footwear for stylish men and women, we also sell
appropriate foot apparel for club goers!
Ok, so maybe not the type of clubbers that first spring to
mind but nonetheless a lively bunch who most definitely have, in their minds at
least, a spring in their steps.
Mary-Ann, one of our Directors and our very own high
priestess of foot health at the Foot Foundation store, went to visit the
members of the Bampton Bush Club recently. A happy band of senior ladies and gentlemen who
meet every week in the Old School Community Centre for a chat and a spot of
lunch. Organisations and individuals
with something to share are invited to visit the club and inform the clubbers
on a variety of topics. So off clubbing Mary-Ann did go!
Microphone in hand, Mary-Ann offered to give her audience a
rendition of “I will survive” but they preferred to hear about what makes for a
good fitting shoe and were surprised to find out their foot shape was not
necessarily what they had believed it to be for many years. Many complained that in general shoes hurt
them and it was clear to Mary-Ann that had they understood their foot shape
better, they could perhaps have avoided this.
However, we all know we are guilty of buying footwear we love the look
of over and above the comfort they offer.
If, like me, you were raised in pair of well-fitted Clarks
shoes you’ll know how ridiculous it is that all that parental care and
attention was completely abandoned once fashion become a priority in ones
teens. I remember well the feeling of
crippled feet after a night out at the disco!
Sensible shoes are not just for the very young or elderly
but it stands to reason that the older we get the more we acquire aches and
pains and therefore the need for a more sensible shoe is more commonplace. “Sensible does not mean unattractive”, says
Mary-Ann. In fact, she has been raging a
war against ugly specialist fit footwear for some time now and gets
increasingly more excited each time she finds a brand with a nod to current
fashion.
Back to the Bush Club, I wasn’t there, but the
feedback was very interesting both from Mary-Ann’s perspective and the hosts.
Common foot conditions and complaints were raised i.e.,
Plantar Faciitis, fallen arches, bunions and more and it was clear that many
people were not aware that there is real relief to be had by simply wearing
footwear that corrects the foot placement either by being fitted correctly, the
right material in the shoe being used or by having orthotics added. (I’ll go
into the Lynco Orthotics another time but you can find out a little more on
“How it works” here. These are not the sort of orthotic that is medically
prescribed, but they are an amazing tool for Mary-Ann and her team when getting
a shoe correctly fitted for a customer.)
Since opening the Foot Foundation store, 2 years ago, Mary-Ann has learnt that the key to
everyone’s foot comfort is through education and that, rather than offering a cure to
her customers each time, it would be so much better if people came to her before
problems arose. She says, “We need to
properly understand our foot shape and posture, choose our footwear wisely and take early steps
to prevent many of the commonplace foot complaints”. So, don’t think you have to be a senior
clubber to qualify for sensible footwear! There are some real footwear gems out there that offer style and keep your
feet healthy.
Finally, to get more of us to think about foot health, the trick surely is to make the shoes desirable in
the first place. I do hope some of you
splendid footwear manufactures out there are reading this!!!!
Have a great week everyone and in this heat, treat your
feet! Mine are treated to a pair of
Birkenstocks – I couldn’t live without them and “NO!” they are not just for
German tourists!
Danielle
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