Walk on the Wild Side

Buying children’s shoes used to be a chore, but with the popularity of easy-fastening systems and styles that practically dance out of the store, the experience is a lot easier and far more fun. Customers will appreciate shoes made of materials that breathe to keep kids’ feet cooler and dryer, which helps prevent blisters and foot odor. Patterned and textured soles are the norm, as they provide good traction and help prevent slipping on slick or wet surfaces. Soles are thick enough to protect little feet from injury, yet are sufficiently flexible to bend with the foot.

Customers need to understand that shoes for even young children should fit comfortably from day one. In other words, there should be no “break-in” period. Then there’s the allure factor which today’s manufacturers fully understand. Shoes from Kirsten Licet, Zooshuu, Zooligans and Lelli Kelly take a cue from the animal world to come up with captivating designs that attract kids’ attention. When shoes have child-appeal in the design, and make sense to adult shoppers with fine materials and top quality construction, the bottom line will show the results.

Kirsten Licet Introduces Crop of Farm Fresh Shoes

The children’s shoes of today are as jazzy and comfortable as manufacturers can make them. Cuban-born Licet Espinoza founded Kirsten Licet with a firm belief in producing shoes for tots that are high quality as well as ultra-adorable. The thermoplastic rubber soles provide lightweight flexibility that doesn’t quit no matter how much kids run, bounce and jump around. Soles have an additional advantage in that they are weather resistant and stay attached to the uppers, made of top quality leather. These shoes even have a padded collar for added comfort.

The Farm Collection was Kirsten Licet’s first offering, with the bottom of each shoe in the line stamped with a farm scene and animal paw detail. This group includes a black and white cow sandal with a cow face; the Pink Cowky in white with deep pink spots and hand-crafted ear, face and tail details in size 3 to 5½, the Black Cowky, great for little guys, in white and tan with black spots, and Happy Piggy with a smiling pink pig face and easy-to-manage closure.

Sneakers come in a rainbow of colors, including Cass Tan, adorned with orange butterflies, and Blossom Purple with a pink and green flower detail, as well as classic looks in Kent White, Green and Brown. The Ventura Blue style is marked with stylish stitching.

Even tiny ones can get in on the popular boot trend with styles from KL. The super-soft Pink Farm Boot is available in light pink suede and patent leather with a chocolate and pink cow and chocolate flower appliqué. Boots with buckles also feature “furry” trim on the cuffs and down the sides.

Farm your favorites at www.kirstenlicet.com

Zooshuu Turns a Shoe into a Menagerie

Your customers are on the lookout for ways to get the most for their shopping dollar. With Zooshuu, it’s like having a new pair of shoes everyday, with simple snap-ons that personalize each pair of shoes. Customers begin by selecting a sole from a range of yummy colors including Bubblegum Pink, Go Green or Tangerine. The non-slip soles are made of recycled rubber so they get a green thumbs-up, in addition to being comfortable and long-lasting. Soles come with matching snaps as well as logo snaps to start the designing process.

Next, the customer adds one of twelve animal pals that snap into place, selecting from charmers like Kyle Kangaroo, Elle Elephant, Lane Lion and Bella Bunny, each with a distinctive look and personality. Self-adhesive snap caps give shoes yet another way to stand out. Packages of twelve offer selections such as Sock Monkey; Peace/Love; Funky Flower and Retro Owl.

Finally, there are self-adhesive charms to further bedazzle each shoe, including “diamonds”, hearts, butterflies, flowers and more. Zooshuus are fun to create and even more fun to gift, offering ways to mix and match so every day is a new shoe day.

How do you Zooshuu? www.zooshuu.com

Zooligans are on Track with Paw Prints

For shoes engineered for fast growing kids’ feet, stock Zooligans. These shoes fit like a dream with wide openings and a rear pull-tab that makes for easy on and off. The toe box is wide and roomy, an important consideration as little feet need space to grow and flex for healthy development.

The Paw-Flex Four Way Flexible Sole both looks and flexes like an animal’s paw –– watch a dog or cat maneuver and see how easily they leap and land. The design makes little feet feel natural, while providing great foot protection. Soft-as-butter leather make uppers breathe while padded liners provide comfort and plenty of cushioning for active feet. The topper: when kids walk in their Zooligans, they leave behind a paw print.

Fun to wear and fun to walk in, offer boys’ sport sandals in Sparky the Puppy, a masculine Parisian Blue and Moonbeam Gray with a perky puppy face; Ringo the Raccoon, in Griffen Black and Moonbeam Gray; Jacques the Gator in Crackle Green with Black; and Bobo the Monkey in Walnut with Bone White.

For girls, there is Amanda the Panda, a Mary Jane in Black and White; Bobo the Monkey offered in Pink and White; Pale Pink and Coral Fuzz the Kitty; Bonnie the Bunny in Dusty Pink and Lilac; and Joey the Koala in Moonbeam Gray and Pale Pink. All Zooligans are available in toddler sizes 4 through 12.

It’s a zoo for shoes at www.zooligans.net

Right! Left! Lelli Kelly Marches Out Zoo Shoes

Learning to tell right from left is a challenge for youngsters. With Lelli Kelly Zoo Shoes, left and right shoes come in separate boxes so shoppers (and wearers) can mix and match. Even the animal designs can be different on each foot, but the color of the shoe itself is the same so the end result is a pair with one animal on the right and another on the left. Hit the playground with an elephant on one foot and a giraffe on the other!

The engaging shoes and sandals for little girls in the Lelli Kelly Zoo collection are decorated from heel to toe with sequins, beads and other sparkly stuff, all representing animals including the zebra, elephant, giraffe and pelican. Inner soles are genuine leather that wicks perspiration away; outer soles are anti-skid to protect against tumbles.

The designers reasoned that kids need direct visual contact with left and right and what better place to begin than with their shoes? Get your customers on the right track: www.lellikelly.it