Shoe Party History Part 4...

If you live in Bellingham, WA you know that there have been positive efforts toward encouraging a thriving downtown center that locals and tourists can enjoy. Everything from great restaurants and shopping to art walks and farmers markets contribute to a bustling downtown.  There is a group called the DownTown Renaissance Committee that raises funds and coordinates local events playing an active role in the growth and beautification of downtown Bellingham.  

A few years back, the DownTown Renaissance Committee put on a Murder Mystery Masquerade Ball and Auction and asked local businesses to donate items for the event...

When they came to Hilton's Shoes, where I worked at the time, I was inspired to offer an after-hours shoe party instead of the expected/typical gift certificate donation.  I worked this out with the Joe Hilton, the store owner, and prepared to show the highest bidder and their two best friends a shoe party like no other...complete with champagne and catered finger foods, a waiter at their beckon call, and a shoe store all to themselves.    

The Shoe Party fetched some great bids and the winner contacted me right away to arrange a date for the party.  I could hear the excitement in her voice when she confessed that she couldn't wait to try on tons of shoes with her gal pals at the private party.  I let her know that I planned to pamper, entertain, and inspire their soles.

The night had arrived and I had arranged our most comfortable chairs facing the wall of shoes, near the full length mirror, so my party gals could use it to admire the shoes as they pranced around with their champagne.  We just had a blast! I sprinkled shoe trivia into our conversations and never let them lace buckle, velcro, zip or slide on their own shoes.  This was a full service shoe party...all they had to do was put their feet on the fitting stool and I would adorn them with shoes both practical and fabulous.  We all reveled in being women who loved shoes and laughed heartily when one party gal rolled her eyes back in ecstacy over a pair of shoes that had never felt more comfortable..."pinch me I must be dreaming.."she exclaimed.  

At the end of the evening there were hugs all around and happy soles.

Of course I wanted to throw more shoe parties and it turned out that the next one involved taking the shoe show on the road to a friend/shoe-stomer in need...

cheers, abigail dagmar

Shoe Party History Part 3...

Shoe Party Saturday

My best college girlfriend (current Chief Officer of Don't Stop Believin') and I were entertaining her out of town guest, Stephano. She spent the day giving him the grand tour of Bellingham and I joined them for dinner at Nimbus...a restaurant that overlooks Bellingham and serves up spectacular meals. The sunset lingered as we relished our last sips of wine and fun conversation. Stephano only had the day to spend in Bellingham as he was passing through on his way to an important event early the next morning. The three of us were reluctant to see the evening end so we agreed to a walk-about through downtown, enjoying the shop windows lit up after hours and the crisp night air nipping at our rosy cheeks....

What does any of this have to do with a shoe party?

Stefano tripped!

An uneven curb ripped the sole of his only black dress shoes that he had to wear in the morning! The incident made his shoe unwearable and certainly not presentable. Duct tape was not the solution this time. It was too late at night for any store carrying black dress shoes to be open....But wait!!! Don't we have a shoe-maven in our midst?...Does she not have the keys to the kingdom of shoes? Abigail to the rescue! The shoe shop I worked in was downtown. This was a shoe emergency and I could help by hosting an after-hours personal shoe party!

Stephano got the full treatment: feet measured, several styles to choose from and two friends to admire his selection of new shoes with the entire shoe store to himself. He marveled at the full scope of service and my shoe-geek knowledge. He was so gracious and I was tickled to be able to help in a moment of shoe crisis...making the world a better place one happier pair of feet at a time.

I noticed there was just a little extra shoe magic that evening. The shoes seemed less business more adventure...the lights glowed a bit more warmly with the night sky just outside and the smell of leather and shoe polish inside seemed more prominent than during regular business hours. This night was the seed that sprouted into planned after-hours shoe parties. If a guy could enjoy a shoe party just think what fun three women could have with a shoe store all to themselves;)...stay tuned...

Shoe Party History Part 2...

 Shoe Party Saturdays :)

After having such a great experience with the first shoe party, I wanted more. I wanted all of my customers who needed that little somethin' extra to experience shoe parties as well. It wasn't long before the words “shoe party" became a part of my daily vocabulary. You would be amazed at what people tell you when you take off their shoes, and that made it easy to figure out when a shoe party was just the thing to do...

It was the customer who just needed some retail therapy. She confided her significant other “Broke up with me today...(and it was Valentines Day)...I would likely stay home and bury my head in the covers and cry, but then again shoes always make me feel better," and apparently trying on shoes just for fun was exactly what she needed in that moment.

Then there was the couple who made a New Year's Resolution to walk together for an hour everyday for the good of their relationship and health that came in to be fit with top notch walking shoes. They wanted to start this commitment off on the right foot wearing the best shoes, and why not make it a shoe party to kick off such a positive decision in their lives?!!

How could you resist the little girl who PATIENTLY sat through her parents trying on dozens of shoes? I had to throw her a mini shoe party by bringing out the most sparkly shoes we had for her to try on....we didn't carry kids shoes but she made the most of trying on the grown-up sizes.

The newly retired gentleman walked in with an air of excitement about him. As I measured his feet, he explained that he was going on a walking tour of Ireland; a trip he had long planned for and was obviously excited that it was all finally coming to fruition. The moment we found the right pair of walking shoes, we both smiled knowing that the journey had begun.

Most folks bought shoes...but in the end, it didn't really seem to matter because we had shared a moment of fun, moved beyond customer/saleperson relations, and made a connection that all included could feel good about. What else are parties for?

Stay tuned for Shoe Party Parts 3 and 4...when the shoe parties move to “after-hours”. 

Love and Shoes,

abigail dagmar

Shoe Party History Part One...

Shoe Party Saturday :)

My idea for a shoe party was borne of sympathy for a shoe-stomer that came to me and said she never had any fun buying shoes because of all the foot problems she had suffered in her life. I couldn't imagine not having fun buying shoes and it just broke my heart that she had such unhappy feet. I knew I couldn't fix her feet or suggest a pair of strappy sandals to cheer her up but perhaps I could bring at least a little fun into the process of buying shoes. I mean if “they” can make “Tupperware” fun by calling it a party....why couldn't she have a shoe party?

We both knew which pair of practical shoes she had to purchase to allow her feet to function without pain but that didn't mean we couldn't have a little fun trying on a whole pile of shoes just to feel like a regular woman who adores them. In the very act of doing this we actually stumbled upon a pair of Helle Comfort sandals that accommodated her orthotics well enough to wear for short periods of time when she wanted to dress up a bit. She hugged me and thanked me for caring enough to listen to what she really needed which was simply a bit of fun. I was truly moved by her hug and what we had both learned.

Now some shoe sales people might cringe at the idea of bringing out a pile of shoes that they know they are not going to actually sell to the customer. I was merely embracing the moment and found that it was worth the smile on my shoe-stomers face. She began to bring her friends in for shoe parties and even enjoyed watching them try on shoes she could never wear but enjoyed the parade of shoes vicariously. Of course, spending your friends' money and helping them pick out shoes is fun too.

And so the shoe parties began....  

Planning Stages...

Shoe Party Saturdays ;)

Still in party planning stages as we continue to leave you with a little bit of mystery....