#1 - We stand with consumers, innovators and engineers in the never-ending battle with designers and sometimes unscrupulous profiters. Ever wonder why a shoe that worked so well for you all of a sudden doesn't? The odds are good your Pedorthist knows why. (Yes that is the actual title for those trained in biomechanics and how to read/and fill your doctor's prescription.) Pedorthists will analyze your gait, working to help your balance with footwear and arch support. The large manufactures make a lot of models that do not qualify to be in a Foot Solutions and they are the bulk of their sales. They know most folks are shopping by cosmetics and price and take advantage of that fact.

#2  - Shoe companies are pushing footwear without the features that used to protect your foot. Heel counters, midfoot shanks, combination and straight lasts are disappearing even in brands that became famous for footwear that included these features. The term for this is planned obsolescence. It is the same trick used by appliance manufacturers that make a washer last decades less than they used to, as one obvious example. The sooner it fails, the sooner you need a new one. In footwear, this can lead to reduced athletic performance, unnecessary injuries, falls and discomfort. They know you benefit from proper cushion to protect you from flat, hard surfaces, so they make fresh foam, memory foam, gels and other short-lived materials that make it feel great when you try them on but rapidly lose what little support they offered originally. A Pedorthist will give you a free assessment, analyze your gait, take a 3-D scan and make an informed recommendation for your foot type, age, arch height and flexibility. If you are shopping by brand instead of construction, you are likely missing your best choice.

#3  - When you buy online, you often pay just as much but get less service and expertise. The manufacturer gets to keep the difference between retail and wholesale and ensures you don't get introduced to another brand or construction that might replace them. They take your shoe spend away from your community and from options that could benefit you, making larger companies, less choice and rapidly deteriorating service for the consumer.

#4 - Experience matters. When you shop at Foot Solutions you get the benefit that only decades of experience can give. We were fitting shoes when Rockport, Florsheim, Clarks and Red Wing to name a few, were made with standards that are hard to find today.  Whether you are shopping for work, sports or everyday comfort, find out what tens of thousands of Arizona clients have found at Foot Solutions for 25 years: superior shoes and arch supports and friendly shoe fitters that do not take your business for granted.

In closing, know that we charge the same retail or closeout price you will find online but give you a shop local option and gratitude for your patronage.  

Happy holidays from all of us Arizona shoe fitters. Seven Arizona stores for your convenience.