Soles4Souls 50,000 Shoes in 50 Days Challenge!

Soles4Souls has a simple mission: To impact as many lives as possible with the gift of shoes.

Soles4Souls has a holiday mission: To raise 50,000 shoes in 50 days. This program started 18 days ago and runs for another 32 days through December 30, 2008. A $5.00 donation will purchase 2 pairs of shoes for someone in need. Three easy clicks will help someone in need this holiday season. Start here.

The Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls is Wayne Elsey he grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, and always felt compassion for other people. When Wayne's brother Timmy, was killed tragically in 1986, he was an enormous influence on his life. "My brother had a huge impact on me and taught me to have a soft heart," Elsey said. "He would do anything for anyone - he was just trying to make a difference in the world."

Wayne has worked in the footwear industry since he was 15. He started by helping out on the floor and stockroom of a retailer and worked his way up to serve as President and CEOs of several footwear companies in the United States. Still, Wayne felt his life's potential was not being fully realized. He wanted to help people with more than providing a great product.

In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami that hit Southeast Asia, Wayne Elsey, the Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls™ Inc., felt compelled to do something. Like many of us, he did not know what to do. He was at home one night, watching TV and he saw a picture of a single shoe washing up on the beach. That triggered a few calls to some other executives in the footwear industry and the subsequent donation of a quarter of a million shoes to victims in the devastated countries.

A year later when Katrina hit, Wayne called the same group of friends, and they sent over a million pairs of shoes down to the gulf coast communities affected by the hurricane. In all honesty, he admits that he did not expect such an immediate and successful turnout. This left him wondering, why not start a non-profit and do this all the time? One year later, Soles4Souls was formally created.

Since that day, Elsey watched as the charity continued to rapidly expand. "I was working full-time as President of another company while I was also trying to give advice to the Soles4Souls team and realized I had to make a choice," Elsey said. "I couldn't do both, and that's when I realized that the pure joy of working with Soles4Souls - a simple mission to give away free footwear to needy people - was more more gratifying than selling a million pair of shoes for profit."

Soles4Souls has a simple concept. They get shoes and give them away. It has been that simple: Changing the world one pair at a time.

Soles4Souls is a shoe charity dedicated to helping those in need. As a shoe charity they collect worn shoes to donate them to those in need. The donation of shoes gives someone the hope for a better tomorrow. As a shoe charity they collect gently worn shoes to donate them to those in need – it is a great way to recycle shoes. Please donate today.

Written By: Mike Girolami, President of Michigan Industrial Shoe http://www.michiganshoe.com/ , Local Distributor of Work Boots, Safety Shoes and Work clothing, Redford MI

Buy the Right Shoes for the Commercial Kitchen

A busy commercial kitchen – in a hotel, fast food restaurant or the best restaurant in town – could be one of the most dangerous places to work. Slippery floors, knives and other sharp tools, hot surfaces, heavy pieces of moveable equipment, awkward food packages and congested quarters are all invitations for injuries. Add to that mix of dangers the rush of activity during lunch or dinnertime and there is a perfect recipe for a disastrous and costly accident.

Despite all the existing dangers in the kitchen, slips and falls are the leading hazards for restaurant and hospitality kitchens, accounting for 34 percent of all restaurant worker injury cases, according to a survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 1994, and slips and falls and other kitchen accidents account for the majority of workers’ compensation claims in the food service industry. One of the key issues with slips and falls is that they cause a host of back, knee, head, wrist and other musculoskeletal injuries that require long-term care. This is why making foot protection a useful tool for safety professionals looking to reduce slips and falls.

Reduce your exposure to slip and fall accident by purchasing slip-resistant footwear. The material used in the heel and sole of footwear is a major factor in its ability to be slip-resistant. Softer compounds are generally more slip-resistant than harder materials because they more effectively "grab" a surface. Tread patterns significantly can affect slip-resistance performance. Tread patterns that run in the direction of travel are ill-advised, as they tend to accentuate – rather than slow down – forward motion. Also, it is important to avoid patterns that are closed-in, as these can trap water and other liquids, which increases the likelihood of slips.

Shoe comfort also is an important aspect of safety, comfort increases energy and thus increases safety. To feel comfortable in the shoe that you are in is to be safe. Cleaning also helps performance, especially in the case of slip-resistant shoes. It is advised to use a brush and degreaser to clean the bottom of slip-resistant shoes so they maintain their traction. Wear and tear have an impact on the effectiveness of slip-resistant footwear, but several factors influence the degree to which they do so. In any event, it's just a matter of time before slip resistance begins to deteriorate and the footwear needs to be replaced. Upon inspection, signs of wear are usually clear. For example, the rear of the heel may be worn away and the sharp peaks of treads will appear shorter and flatter.

Many varieties of footwear on the market are promoted as slip-resistant. Of note, most tests for slip-resistant footwear contemplate clean, dry floor conditions. Test method ASTM F489 is the most commonly performed and cited test for footwear slip resistance, but specifies dry testing only. Performance in wet conditions may be different. If you are asking for an ideal footwear for the food service industry, it would be a three-quarter top – something that covers the ankle bone, just high enough to protect that sensitive bone. If you look at a kitchen environment, a slip and fall can turn into a lot of things, such as a back injury, a bump in the head or even a fatal wound. If a chef is carrying a heavy pan and it lands on the ankle bone, he could be crippled for days or even more.

Written By: Mike Girolami, President of Michigan Industrial Shoe www.MichiganShoe.com , Local Distributor of Work Boots, Safety Shoes and Work clothing, Redford MI

Merrell Updates Performance Line with Ortholite Insoles

OrthoLite, the leader of open cell foam insoles, has partnered with Merrell to incorporate its proprietary insoles into more than 100 footwear styles. By early 2008, Merrell expanded the number of shoes with OrthoLite insoles throughout most of their line; raising the bar of comfort and performance by millions of pairs.

In addition, Merrell introduced a new line of aftermarket insoles to offer customers additional comfort with OrthoLite technology. The new insoles will contain all the benefits of traditional OrthoLite foams, such as long-lasting cushioning and moisture wicking for an optimal in-shoe environment.

“When looking for the best way to provide customers with a high-quality insole, the decision to partner with OrthoLite was easy,” said Yahn Lebo, strategic business unit manager for Outventure, Merrell. “No other insole is able to provide the balance of anti-odor properties, breathability, moisture wicking and long-lasting comfort to our customers.”

“Merrell’s long history of creating quality performance footwear combined with OrthoLite’s customized technology and benefits will offer outdoor enthusiasts an enhanced level of comfort.” said Glenn Barrett, OrthoLite CEO.

Consumers will be able to easily identify styles that offer OrthoLite comfort by looking for the logo on the shoe’s insole. Merrell footwear and insoles are available at Merrell stores, at retailers nationwide or by visiting www.michiganshoe.com.

Merrell® is a brand within the Outdoor Group, a division of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. that also includes Patagonia Footwear. Wolverine World Wide, Inc. is headquartered in Rockford, Michigan. The company’s portfolio of highly-recognized brands includes: Bates®, Hush Puppies®, HYTEST®, Merrell®, Sebago® and Wolverine®. The Company is also the exclusive footwear licensee of the following popular brands: CAT®, Harley-Davidson® and Patagonia®.

Written By: Mike Girolami, President of Michigan Industrial Shoe http://www.michiganshoe.com/ , Local Distributor of Work Boots, Safety Shoes and Work clothing, Redford MI

Happy Birthday Jungle Moc!

Merrell’s Jungle Moc is turning 10 years old. Here’s a Birthday salute to a very comfortable shoe.

The Jungle Moc has been imitated but never fully reproduced by so many other manufacturers. That alone can tell you the success of this casual shoe by Merrell, a division of Wolverine Worldwide. Merrell has had tremendous growth with plans to be a $1 Billion brand for Wolverine Worldwide.

What’s Merrell’s Mantra? “Let’s Go Outside”. Who created the after sport category of footwear? Merrell.

Originally targeted at the outdoor enthusiast, just like most of Merrell’s footwear, the Jungle Moc became the shoe for any type of enthusiast, with or without enthusiasm. People wear them to go for a walk, go shopping or just to get the mail.

People began to wear the casual shoe for any occasion where a comfortable casual shoe was acceptable. They even began to come to the corporate work place on casual Fridays.

So, how many pair have you owned in the last ten years?

My 7 year-old-daughter has been wearing them for the last 5 years. That translates to about 6 pair. They have been mostly taupe, but she’s gone through two pairs of black jungle mocs and 1 pair of purple jungle moc shoes as well.

My husband still has a pair from the first year they came out. They don’t look to good, but he’ll still wears them for yard work. He’s also had several since then and one pair of new jungle mocs are still in his closet for casual work days.

Me? I have had two pair of the original jungle mocs and also have a pair of the winter polartec jungle mocs. They are a nice and toasty pair of winter shoes. I hate to wear winter boots.

So, Happy Birthday Jungle Moc. We wish you another successful 10 years!

What’s your Jungle Moc story?

Written By: Lisa Girolami, Marketing Manager of Michigan Industrial Shoe, www.MichiganShoe.com , Local Distributor of Work Boots, Safety Shoes and Work clothing, Redford MI

Insulation for Cold Weather Boots

What makes Thinsulate™ Insulation so important to a cold-weather boot? Three words: thin, warm, light.

A thin insulation, of course, is crucial in boots for warmth. There is simply no room for anything bulky. And what better place to look for thin than the insulation that started it all: Thinsulate insulation.

The same goes for warmth. Feet, being furthest from your body's center of heat, need insulation more than any other part of your body. With nearly twice the warmth of foam, felt or pile, Thinsulate insulation is just what feet need to stay warm and comfortable.

Which brings up the third big benefit of Thinsulate insulation: It doesn't bog boots down with weight. In fact, it's one of the lightest synthetic insulations on the market.

So durable the warmth keeps springing back
Boots are a unique part of the outdoor wardrobe because of the pounding they take. Each step exerts tremendous pressure on every boot component. This harsh treatment is especially hard on insulation, which can become compacted. And since all insulations work by trapping microscopic pockets of air in their fibers, compacted insulations lose their effectiveness.

The qualities that make Thinsulate™ Insulation ideal for boots are its compression resistance and durability. It can take a beating and still retain those little pockets of air so important for keeping feet warm. Not even water can dampen its warmth.

For years, many outdoor enthusiasts have chosen Thinsulate insulation over foam and felt based on one characteristic alone: its ability to retain warmth when wet. Thinsulate insulation absorbs less than 1% of its weight in water, so it keeps feet warm even in damp conditions.

For the ultimate in cold-weather performance
No one wants their feet to get cold. But for some outdoor enthusiasts, keeping feet warm is a matter of survival. For them, there's Thinsulate™ Ultra Insulation Extreme Performance for Footwear.

Recommended amount of Thinsulate insulation for footwear - 200 gram* Thinsulate™ Insulation for Footwear is recommended for cool conditions or for high activity levels where wearer generates/builds a lot of body heat through activity.
Work boots
Hiking boots
Rubber bottom boots
Hunting boots
Snowboard boots
Alpine ski boots
Athletic winter boots

400 gram* Thinsulate™ Ultra Insulation for Footwear is recommended for cold conditions or for moderate activity levels where wearer generates/builds a normal amount of body heat through activity.
Rubber bottom boots
Hiking boots
PAC boots
Hunting boots
Work boots

600 gram* Thinsulate™ Ultra Insulation for Footwear is recommended for very cold conditions or for very light activity levels where wearer generates/builds little body heat through activity.
Hiking boots
Work boots
Hunting boots
PAC boots

800 gram* Thinsulate™ Ultra Insulation for Footwear is recommended for extremely cold conditions or for extremely light activity levels where wearer generates/builds minimal body heat through activity.
Hunting boots
PAC boots
Work boots

* Grams per square meter of insulation

Written By: Mike Girolami, President of Michigan Industrial Shoe www.michiganshoe.com , Local Distributor of Work Boots, Safety Shoes and Work clothing, Redford MI

Unwanted Cold Feet

No one wants their feet to get cold. But for some outdoor enthusiasts, keeping feet warm is a matter of survival. One of the most difficult parts of your body to keep warm is your feet. That’s because they’re the farthest, physically, from your body’s warm core. Here are some tips for keeping your feet as warm and comfortable as possible.

Make sure your boots fit properly; Select a style of boot suited to the activity you’ll be using it for (Example – hunting boots, hiking boots, etc.); Try on several boots with the appropriate sock system until you’re sure of a good fit.

Sizing - When trying on cold weather boots, start with a half-size larger than your street shoes. Try the boots on with the sock system you’re planning to wear. Slide your foot all the way forward into the boot. You should be able to slide one finger behind your heel. Change sizes if necessary until its right. Move your foot into a comfortable position and close the boot. It should be snug without pressure points but still have plenty of wiggle room for your toes. Walk around (including uphill and downhill) until you’re comfortable. Your heel should not move more than a half-inch, nor should your toes touch the front of the boot.

Socks - Generally, two pairs of socks are the best bet: A thin liner sock that’s wickable, like polypropylene. A thick outer wool sock, the sock system should not overcrowd the boot, making it too constricted for good circulation. Start with warm, dry feet and footwear. Keep your socks and boots inside your car (not the trunk) on the way to your destination. If your feet sweat, put on fresh, dry socks just before going out, or anytime after a period of activity prior to resting

Keep your feet dry - Consider purchasing waterproof boots. Use foot powder or anti perspirant on your feet. Use waterproof, breathable socks or boot liners. Keep your body warm and your metabolism high. Your body core and head must be kept warm to allow for circulation to other body parts. If your feet sweat, put on fresh, dry socks just before going out, or anytime after a period of activity prior to resting
If either your body core or head are too cold, your body will shut down the heating of extremities in order to keep the core and head warm, causing your feet and hands to get cold. Eating calorie-rich foods and drinking lots of liquids will keep your body energized.

Written By: Mike Girolami, President of Michigan Industrial Shoe, MichiganShoe.com , Local Distributor of Work Boots, Safety Shoes and Work Clothing, Redford MI

Getting the Right Fit

No matter how expensive your shoes are or how much technology your shoes contain, they will not do their job unless they fit correctly. Here are some useful tips that can help assure you are getting the proper fit. Most footwear is specifically designed for men and women, with entirely separate lasts for each. “Last” is a piece of wood, metal or synthetic material roughly following the shape of the foot and acting as a form on which a shoe or boot is made. It is the foundation or “vital center” of all footwear. For women you should always take into account that; women feet are narrower than men’s at the ball, Achilles tendon and heel. Women have proportionally longer toes than men. Women have a higher instep, arch and women’s calf muscles are longer.

When trying on shoes put on all the equipment worn or used on your feet such as socks, braces and orthoses.

Make sure there is adequate space in the toe box. Leave 1/4 of an inch between the longest toe and the end of the shoe. This is about the width of your finger or thumb. This measurement should only be done while you are standing, since the foot elongates with weight on it. If this measurement is done while sitting, there is a good chance that the shoe will not fit properly when you go out for your first stroll or run.

Check the heel counter to make sure your heel won't slide and is rigid enough to provide stability.

Try on shoes in the afternoon or evening to insure you have enough room in your shoes as your feet expand through the course of the day.

Walk, run and jump in the shoes. They should be comfortable right away, not needing to be "broken in." General rule of thumb: If it hurts in the store, it will hurt at home. Also the shoes that need to be broken in tend to actually reverse the role by causing the owners feet to "break in" to the shoe.

Having a basic understanding of what to look for and how to obtain a proper fit will help you sort through the numerous options available. So, take your time and make sure you are getting the right fit.

Written By: Mike Girolami, President of Michigan Industrial Shoe www.MichiganShoe.com , Local Distributor of Work Boots, Safety Shoes and Work clothing, Redford MI