IdealHeel™ Blog

A year ago, we released this 40 second PSA highlighting a woman’s relationship with her shoes.  We received so much feedback from women all of the world, we decided it to post it again on our blog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUAh_ymTEww

Did you know that approximately 62 million pairs of shoes are serviced or repaired each year and women generate 60% of total revenues for shoe repair businesses.  (Shoe Service Institute of America) Repairs to the heel are the most common type of repair.

Walking in high heel shoes is difficult, however walking over everyday, problematic surfaces such as city street grates, cracked sidewalks, wood decks, grass lawns and cobblestone is nearly impossible and quite costly without IdealHeel.

Women are constantly getting wedged in cobblestone streets on their way to work, they are sinking in grass at outdoor weddings and they are ruining their shoes along the way, or paying a pretty penny to repair them–if they can be repaired at all!

Before IdealHeel, women had two choices when wearing high heels–”Wear and Despair” or “Wear and Repair.” Both choices are emotionally and financially draining.  Women who wear IdealHeel neither Despair or Repair, rather, their favorite shoes last much longer and they have more money to buy new shoes. It’s that simple.

Our New Size Medium & New Colors, Clear and Dark Brown, are finally here! Enjoy 20% Off now through December 31, 2009 when you order 2 or more pair of IdealHeels (any size/any color)!

Did you know…

- Repairing or replacing a scuffed/torn heel can cost $25-$75 per pair at the cobbler.
- Repairing the tip of a heel can cost $9-$15 per pair.
- A single pair of IdealHeels cost only $12.99!

Benefits of Wearing IdealHeel

1) The high heel shoes you love, and love to wear will last longer!
2) You will save hundreds of dollars in shoe repairs!
3) You will conquer high heel obstacles with ease and confidence and avoid embarrassing high heel disasters caused by cobblestone, grass, street grates, wood decking and cracked sidewalks!

What IdealHeel Fans Are Saying…

“IdealHeel’s patented technology provides complete heel protection, expands the life of the high heel shoe and improves the experience of wearing high heels for women.”
- FashionTrendsetter.com

“I have been in an airport, a bus and a train today, and have been so thankful to have IdealHeels on my shoes!”  Allie – Washington, D.C.

“I have to tell you how fabulous my first day with IdealHeel has been. I didn’t trip, fall or scuff my heel once, and, in fact, felt a whole lot more stable in my fashionable new accessory!”  Chantal – Austin, TX

“IdealHeels are awesome! They made my boots way more easier to dance in…yet another great benefit! “  Erin – Austin, TX

IMPORTANT SIZING INFORMATION

IdealHeels are designed to fit stiletto high heels. Size Medium fits 2-3 inch heels and Size Tall fits 3-4.5 inch heels.  If the bottom of your heel is wider than a dime, or if your heel widens at the top dramatically, your heels may be too thick for this product.

Cobblers across the globe see millions of women every single day who need the heel of their high heel shoe repaired or replaced.  In fact, it’s the most common type of shoe repair performed.  The cost of this ranges from $9 – $15 a pair for replacing the heel tip, and between $25 – $75 (See image below) to repair the heel shaft, if it can be repaired at all!

Women spend hundreds of dollars a year on shoes to begin with, and hundreds more on repairing these same shoes.  You will save HUNDREDS of dollars a year in shoe repair fees simply by wearing IdealHeel.

Experts say that women purchase something when the value of that thing exceeds the cost of it, so spend $12.99 now on a pair of IdealHeels and save hundreds in shoe repair fees in 2010!

On a personal note, I have been wearing IdealHeels on my heels since November 2008.  It is now December 2009 and I have not gone to the cobbler for heel repairs ONCE!  Furthermore, in 2008, I spent $350 in shoe repairs. In 2009, I spent $0! The shoes I purchased a year ago, still look brand new!

Practice Safe Steps™, and protect the shoes you love!

IDEALHEEL HOLIDAY PRESALE

Take advantage of our Holiday Presale and get the New Colors and Sizes before anyone else!  The Colors and Sizes in stock (Tall CAMEL, BLACK and FUCHSIA) will ship immediately, and the New Colors (DARK BROWN and CLEAR) and Size (MEDIUM) will ship the second week of December.  The best part is, you will only be charged once for shipping, and you will receive your IdealHeels in time for holiday parties and gift giving! Start Shopping Now!

Dillard’s at the Hill Country Galleria is having a very special Harvest for the Holidays event to benefit the Capitol Area Food Bank and Coats for Kids. There will be door prizes, free holiday make-up consultations, free sample giveaways, entertainment and refreshments.

Diane Blanco from LipstickDigest.com will be there to tell you all about her fabulous blog. Of course, IdealHeel will be there as well showing off our newest colors (Clear and Dark Brown) and sizes (Medium).

If you are interested in participating or have questions about attending, please contact Alex Rigia at the store at 512-263-0520.

Harvest for the Holidays

Dillard’s @ Hill Country Galleria

Thursday, November 19

Noon – 9PM

I attended a beautiful funeral yesterday. The funeral was for an amazing women who lived to be 94 years old.  The service was held in a sweet Catholic church, St. Mary’s, in Spring Prairie, Texas.  This church was not like a lot of the Catholic churches in the city, rather, this one was very small,  quite old and beautifully simple.  It had lavender stained glass windows and a white interior, and it was filled with aromas from the various floral arrangements send to honor the departed.

The service was very traditional, a full mass followed by a burial service in the peaceful cemetery behind the small white church.  Once the service was complete, the crowd followed behind the priest, hearse and pallbearers to the site of burial, about 100 yards.  It felt very “Irish.” The crushed gravel path was easy to traverse in heels, but once we entered the cemetery, all of us encountered a soggy mix of grass and dirt to traverse.  Of course, I had my IdealHeels on (I don’t leave home without them) and walked easily across the terrain without sinking, tripping or begriming my heels with mud.  As I walked with ease, I heard women whispering back and forth about the need for a pair of flats.  A few who knew I was wearing IdealHeels made a point to come up to me and say, ” I wish I had a pair of IdealHeels on today.”  Even a few men asked me, “are you wearing those heel guards?”

After the burial service was complete, we trekked back towards the church hall and enjoyed sharing memories, great Texas BBQ and desserts supplied by the “church ladies,” which were incredible!  In fact, we were sent home with leftover carrot cake and I just had a piece with my coffee for breakfast!   Anyway, I noticed several pair of heels in the hall with mud caked on and even a few leaves stuck to the side of one pair.  I simply slipped my muddy IdealHeels off and had the only pair of pristine heels in the building. Mimi would have been proud.

Rest In Peace Emma “Mimi” Goertz. Your memory will remain in our hearts forever.

More and more brides are wearing IdealHeels while they take their bridal portraits to keep their special wedding heels in mint condition for the big day!   Not having taken bridal portraits myself, I wasn’t aware of  the precarious situations brides put their shoes, and gowns, in when taking their bridal portraits!

A few weeks ago a bride to be emailed me asking me when our Clear IdealHeels would be in stock because she wanted to order them for her entire wedding party, her self included.  Apparently, her outdoor wedding, with a gorgeous view, is covered in cobblestone, grass and stone pavers! Probably commonplace for outdoor wedding venues.

To practice for her spring wedding, and to take advantage of the beautiful views at her selected wedding venue, the bride decided to take her bridal portraits at the same venue.   She purchased a sample pair of Clear Tall IdealHeels (limited sample pairs of Clear are available now–Fall inventory arrives at the end of November) and wore them for her portraits.  Below is a quote from the bride to be.

“IdealHeels are unbelievable!  As you know my wedding venue is covered with cobblestone, grass and pavers, however, I just completed my bridal portraits at the venue, sporting idealheels and they saved the day! I walked over grass and did not sink, I walked right over the cobblestone that would have shredded my BEAUTIFUL Manolo Blahnik Putziba Silver Stilettos to pieces!  Plus it rained this morning and the the entire venue was soggy, still the IdealHeels kept the heels on my shoes clean and damage free, so they will be PERFECT when I walk down the aisle in March next year!  Thank you so much! BTW, I will be purchasing more pairs for my wedding party as well.  They will be wearing black heels, so the black IdealHeels are perfect–and very much needed!”

I was so excited when I got this email because, well, I love to make customers happy, but also because it opened my eyes to yet another great benefit of wearing IdealHeels.  The email also inspired me to go online and find bridal portraits where the bride could have really used a pair of IdealHeels.

The inaugural Stiletto Stampede for the Cure™, presented by IdealHeel™ and Dillard’s, went off without a hitch this past Sunday at the Hill Country Galleria.  Men, women and children donned high heels for a great cause and as a result raised awareness and money for a very special cause.

The Stiletto Stampede for the Cure is a high heel dash (100 yards) with a mission to encourage young women and men to know and understand the risks of breast cancer and empower them to prevent the disease by utilizing overall Breast Self-Awareness through early detection, screening methods and education.

The event was comprised of testimonials from “Previvors,” four race heats, prizes, a fashion show and breast cancer education seminars.  Below are pictures from the event.  Dates for next year will be posted soon, as well as the fundraising results from this year, so please stay tuned for next year’s Stiletto Stampede for the Cure!

Stiletto Stampeders

Stroller Stampeders

The Organizing Committee

If you would like additional information on this event, or would like to purchase an event T-shirt or Tank ($10) please send an email to info@idealheel.com.

New 8’s Rich Segal did a fabulous interview highlighting the Stiletto Stampede for the Cure. Check out the News 8 Story below, as well as the interview.

By: News 8 Austin Staff

Strap on your stilettos to raise money for breast cancer

You might be putting on your stiletto heels for a good cause October 4 if you’re planning to participate in the Stiletto Stampede.

The Stiletto Stampede for the Cure is a 100 yard dash that benefits the local branch of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

It’s an event for the entire family to attend and participate in.

“We’ve got four race seats that will start at 2p.m. and we’ve got one for families, one for folks who want to celebrate early for Halloween and dress up. We’ve [also] got one that is the actual dash and one that celebrates survivors,” Stiletto Stampede spokesperson, Michelle Patterson, said.

People will be on hand to help you understand what screening methods are out there and what sort of questions you should ask your doctor.

“It’s really for young women, men and families to come out and celebrate your own personal health and taking that into your own hands and understanding your own personal risk,” Patterson said.

Funds raised from the event will benefit Bastrop, Hays, Travis, Williamson and Caldwell counties. Seventy-five percent of the proceeds will be distributed locally with the other 25 percent going to research development.

“We’ll take the funds raised at this event and get them out to non-profits dealing with breast cancer issues in our local area. Those funds will go for education, screening, treatment and support,” Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure spokesperson, George Noelke, said.

The foundation indicates a high number of women will be affected by the disease.

“Our studies show that 900 women in our community will be diagnosed with this disease in the next year and as many as 200 will die,” Noelke said.

A small number of men are also affected.

“It’s a small number that impacts men, but it’s important that men are aware of it for their own bodies and we encourage them to participate as well,” Noelke said.

It is also important for men and families to participate because breast cancer affects the entire family.

The event will take place October 4 at the Hill Country Galleria. Registration begins at 1p.m. and the race begins at 2p.m.

More details at www.StilettoStampede4theCure.org