It was a wonderful thing. I had the good fortune of being with both my kids and my mom this Mother’s Day.

As much as I’d like to think that motherhood has come naturally to me, my mom has guided me all along the way.

Despite my mom and I always being close (my nickname in the family was “The Shadow”), I never fully appreciated the unconditional care, concern, and compassion she’s tirelessly gives until it was my turn to give it myself. And I have to say, she’s better at it.

My mom reminds me that as much as my staff or customers may need me, my kids trump all. My tendency is to let work reign, but with equal compassion of caring for an ailing child, my mom tenderly reminds me to make special time with my husband and the kids. To love unconditionally is easy. To be physically and psychologically available, well therein lies my downfall.

It is this for which I’m most eternally grateful for my mom. Knowing me enough to recognize my natural inclinations, and loving me enough to make sure I don’t awake in 20 years and wonder who my kids are.

In short, my mom inspires me to be a better mom.

Frye is a company nearly as old as shoes themselves. They’ve been making shoes since the Civil War so it’s actually no surprise that their rugged, yet refined boots are still around today.
Here are my top three reasons why Frye has withstood more than a century of boot-strapping.

♥ They tirelessly source their leathers across the world looking for the perfect blend of toughness and texture;

♥ Their classic styles are tried and true. Proof lies in the “Harness Boot” (which was their first boot and is still being made today); and,

♥ Their obvious appreciation of fit and function leads to styles that have been and will continue to be loved for years to come.

With shoes this certain to perform, it’s easy to see why Frye is the ring leader.

Kassie

Check out the Frye line here!

There is a shoe crisis in America. It is not for lack of good shoes (we at Simply Soles try our best to help with that).  It is an apparent lack in sizing know-how.

I thought I answered this captivating, pressing (the world is watching) issue a few years back when I blogged about this. But since I can’t find that blog post, I am revisiting the subject.

N.E.V.E.R. under any circumstances that I am currently aware, should a grown woman have a gap in the back of her shoe.

You may think that this makes the shoes more comfortable.

You may think that shoes are supposed to fit this way.

You may think that no one notices.

You are wrong.

The shoes are too big. And not only does it look ridiculous, it’s bad for your instep. (When shoes are too big, the tendency is to grip your feet to keep your shoes on. And when you grip your feet, you tense your legs which can lead to ankle, hip, and back pain.)

The solution is thankfully an easy one. Buy shoes from SimplySoles. No – I’m kidding. The solution is to buy the proper size. So please make sure that when you are shoe shopping, that your heel touches the heel cup – and not because you scoot your foot backwards to make it touch (that’s is cheating!). If your heel doesn’t touch, you need to size down.

If you simply MUST have the shoes and that’s the only size available, and they are on sale or free (a requirement for this exception), then please do me and your feet the favor of buying a heel slip  to close the gap (similar versions are available at any drug store). And if after buying said heel slip your heel STILL doesn’t touch, you’re on your own.

I don’t remember how I came to know of Chie Mihara, but I can share that the first time I looked at the collection, I was sold. If you saw my closet, you’d know I am huge fan.
Here are the top three reasons why Chie and me are a perfect pair:

• The heel heights and shapes are sensible, making them easy to walk in and painless to wear;
• Each pair of shoes comes with replacement heels, which I find incredibly thoughtful and eventually quite helpful; and,
• The vintage-rich designs embrace all ages and make for wardrobe heirlooms.

If you own a pair then I know you’re hooked. If you haven’t, give them a try and you’ll soon see what makes Chie a SimplySoles’ sensation.

Kassie

Check out the Chie Miharas here!

Last week, very few things could rouse me from my self-pitied, snot-filled, Nyquil-rich, home-bound seclusion. Count Chris Brogan amongst them.

With cough drops and tissues in tow, I went to a Cadre event to see the Google guru speak. And he was worth his weight in kleenex. Not only was he charming and amusing, he’s extremely convincing. Just the week before my team and I had all but scrapped the Google+ icon from the site. Guess what’ll soon be coming back.

Top Five Lessons Learned from Chris Brogan:

1. Make the Customer the Hero

Equip them for success. Know who you are targeting and how to solve the buyers problem even if it means referring them to a competitor because you are sold out of the item they need.  Customers will remember.

2. Mobile is a Must

Make your site mobile-capatible. That’s where people are. Don’t make it hard for them to buy from you.

3. Email Enabler

Give your email subscribers one “call to action.”  Make it clear what your email enables and encourages them to do.

4. Power of Peers

Chris shared that over 70% of people believe peer reviews. Case in point – have reviews on the site. He expanded to say that if only positive reviews are shown, 70% of people think “something is wrong” with the site. It makes me think of that old adage that you can’t get all people to like you all the time. I suppose it rings true with online reviews as well.

5. Buy more CDs

Chris shared a story of how he always stays the The Colonnade Hotel in Boston. He spent 10 minutes of his 45-minute speech talking about the hotel’s social media manager. Said suck-up, after reading Chris’ tweet that he was in town at the Black Keys concert, ran out and bought the band’s recently released CD and had the maid leave it in his room with a short note of thanks. That simple and sincere gesture led to 200+ people in the room being acutely aware of this boutique hotel in Boston that we otherwise wouldn’t have know about.The point? It pays to listen. And in the world of sales, social media, and building a brand, being a suck-up leads to referrals, and referrals lead to conversions.

Thank you to Cadre and to Chris for the ideas, entertainment, and for getting me out of the house. Aside from the above, I had most compelling conversations about KassiesCloset that wouldn’t have happened had I stayed indoors. Not if only I could kick this wicked cold as lightning fast as Chris Brogan has kicked me into gear.

As you may know I recently blogged about my latest addiction to Pinterest. I just simply can’t get enough! I have actually turned the entire office into Pinterest loving fools! So, in the spirit of my new found love SimplySoles has decided to launch their very first Pinterest contest! SimplySoles is offering up 3 gift cards to 3 lucky and talented participants!

Here are the contest details:
For all of you who are active on Pinterest (if you are not don’t fret there is still time to sign up) we would love to see what you can create! Build a board titled “My SimplySoles Favorites” based around products you love on SimplySoles.com including images, outfits, and anything you can imagine to create a beautiful awe inspiring board!

Then email us at: pinterest@simplysoles.com to show us your board! We will choose our favorite boards when the contest ends March 31st.

The prizes are as follows:
First place-$200 Gift Card
Second place-$100 Gift Card
Third place-$50 Gift Card.

We are so excited to see what SimplySoles fans can create!

Follow us on Pinterest!

Just returning from the shows in NYC where we saw lots of shoes in rich shades of gray and burgundy.  The one RESOUNDING trend for fall footwear though?  The one common theme you couldn’t escape?  The Smoking Slipper. Who knew?! Apparently every shoe designer in New York City knew, because each of them had their own smokin’ version.

Our hearts were eventually warmed and won by Bettye Muller and her antique equestrian decor. Velvet smoking shoes and petite antique buckles, just seems like a perfect pairing.

Austin, Megan and I are en-route to NYC for the bi-annual Sole Commerce shoe convention. It’s a pilgrimage that started back in 2003. It sounds like a shoe-lovers dream – trodding through thousands of shoes to find the exalted glass slipper.

But it’s hard. Everything starts to blend together. Like devouring a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, which I also have extensive experience with, the shoe coma is as real as the food coma. There is such a thing as having too much (which as an aside, is why when shopping, I prefer the boutique model over the Zappos model).

The challenge is not finding things you like. The challenge is putting together a carefully edited collection of the best of what’s available. Simply offering everything that’s available is well just that, simple; it’s easy. Offering a “best of” collection requires far more awareness, effort, and insight.

So while I’m assuredly older and seemingly wiser, I could pass this buck (or boot) onto my talented team (Austin and Megan).

Yet here I am. Waking before dawn, rallying while most sleep soundly.

Here are three reasons why after eight years, I still enjoy making this journey:

1. The Designers – Talented designers like Bettye (from Bettye Muller) and Lee (from Butter) are more than mere vendors, they are friends. And as with most friendships, it’s always great to catch up.
2. The Exclusives – This is when we work with the Designers to bring you styles unique to SimplySoles, found only at SimplySoles. The collaboration is what makes our collection so special, and what makes these trips so fun.
3. The Energy – You realize the passion behind the production when you meet the brains behind the brilliance. Without a love for fashion and footwear, we would be swapping commodities instead of shopping for art.

Megan, Austin and I love this and are grateful for having someone, customers and blog readers, to share it with. Thanks for joining us on the journey.

I’m sluggishly making my way through my email inbox. As painful and seeming unproductive as it is (when I should be laying out the next catalog), the mood has struck to clean house. And while I love stumbling upon ones that I can fast and furiously delete, what’s more rewarding is coming across a nougat of gold.

Mariessa Terrell of Simone Butterfly is my new muse. Here’s what she writes:

“It takes a consistent sunny disposition to run after elusive goals in sky high designer pumps perfectly poised for the next adventure.

It takes a diva of a doll to continuously spin straw into gold, pull up and out of each debacle and greet the new day stronger, wiser and more determined than before.”

Poetic prose for an attorney, right? Right! Mariessa, when I’m in need of some inspiration (or some copyright protection) I’m coming your way. In the meantime, thank you for giving me incentive to keeping powering through my emails in my “sky high designer pumps” or just in my really comfortable lillybee wedges.

I’m sharing this blog post of a dear friend not because it’s about me. I’m sharing to showcase her - Kathy Korman Frey – a woman who has spent her professional career cheering on and championing the challenges and conflicts of women.

Through her creation, the Hot Mommas Project, she has amassed the largest database of women case studies anywhere. Through her work, women are finally realizing their potential and that their goals don’t have to be compromised. They are realizing that combating the challenges of overcoming obstacles and/or managing dual responsibilities at home and at work is not just doable, it’s successfully being done by women worldwide.

Kathy Korman Frey is the real deal. She’s a George Washington University professor. She’s a Harvard graduate. She’s a carpooling mother of two. She’s a celebrated award-winning Washingtonian.

But despite being a decorated professional and tiara wearing beauty queen, I love Kathy most for these three reasons:

1. She makes strangers and friends alike feel important and at ease;

2. She has a quick wit and keen sense of humor that I’m constantly in awe of; and

3. She’s highly in demand, but always is accessible.

And if that’s not enough, she’s graciously agreed to serve on my Advisory Board for KassiesCloset.

In short, Kathy you inspire me.