Bust A Move

Happy Friday Winnipeg! We are so excited with all the stuff that's going on around here that we got two posts on the blog this week!

We wanted to take this time to highlight one of our staff member's. Mark who does our shoe repairs and modifications at our downtown location, was recently at a dance competition in Montreal, and we'll let him tell you all about it!

"Hello my name is Mark San Juan and my dancing name is “Daddy GoodFunk”. My style of dance is called “Locking”! Locking is one of the first street dances that dates back to the late 60’s created by Don “Campbellock” Campbell. It is still kind of unknown in Winnipeg. Myself and some of my crew members of GoodFunk (Joe Boy Rock, Majestic, Shaq Daddy, Lester, Vivik and AllyCat) are helping Locking and other older dances resurface in our city. Because Locking was rare to find in Winnipeg we had to travel around where Locking is still strong, places like Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, Las Vegas, and Montreal!

Back in 2009 I won my first Locking battle dance competition called “One Touch” in Calgary. After that I got married and had a baby named Illya. Now in May 2015 I wanted to Battle again to see where I am at in Locking so I decided to enter a competition called “Bust-A-Move” in Montreal. With the help of Canadian Footwear giving me support with some of the funds it really made my trip an enjoyable experience that I will never forget. I was able to meet up with other Lockers who travelled from all over the world in one place to learn from each other.

Day 1: Friday May 1^{st -} I had made it past preliminary that was done off the main stage that moved me on to day 2. Day 2: Saturday May 2^nd - I faced my opponent in the top 16 of 25 other Lockers. Given the chance to touch and dance in front of hundreds of people on the main stage (also live streamed on-line) was something I have never experienced. Losing to Jeff D. in the top 16 just showed me that Winnipeg has to step up their game, travel as individuals, take experience back to Winnipeg and share your knowledge to help raise the level and let the world know that Winnipeg has great dancers! Let us Rep our City."

Way to go Mark, and keep up the good work! All of us at Canadian Footwear are very proud! You can check out a video of Mark dancing in the competition on YouTube as well as our Instagram! 

(Mark's also rocking the New Balance MT580HTT style shoes, which he says helps keep him dancing all night long)

Say No To Flip-Flops and Yes To Comfort!

It seems the weather has taken a little turn on us. We had a glimpse of summer and hopefully it's May showers bring June flowers. But it's okay, because we know that summer is coming and that with summer means sunshine and sandals!

As with any type of shoe, sandals come in many different styles, sizes, colours, brands, and widths. They usually range in price from $1 to anywhere in the $1000's for designer sandals. The problem is that a lot of people choose style over stability/comfort in their summer footwear. They choose what's quick and easy to slip on and slip off if they're running out to the beach or the park.

The problem with summer is that we often look at what's cute or stylish as opposed to what's supportive and cushioning. Flip-flops are the easiest go-to footwear because it takes less than 3 seconds to put them on and take them off, and they pretty much go with whatever you're wearing.

Recently Canadian Certified Pedorthist Katrina Lammers explains why you shouldn't choose flip-flops unless you're heading to the beach.

See her clip here.

A lot of summer sandals are very flat which you might think is more comfortable, but they lack arch support and comfort for your foot. So if you're wearing them for an extended period of time, your feet tend to get more sore as the day goes on. There's no padding or heel cup which can lead to your muscles overworking, or getting blisters, corns, etc.

There are a few things you should look for when buying your summer sandals this year:

1) Do They Fit Right?

A lot of people will find a shoe they absolutely love, and even if it's a tiny bit small or a tiny bit big they'll buy it anyway. It's very important to make sure you are measured every time you buy shoes, and that you buy the size that fits YOU.

2) Is There Arch Support?

The flatter your sandals, the more pain you're going to experience with wear. Good arch support prevents things like pain, cramps, or muscle fatigue. Sandals that have supportive mid-soles cushion your foot and support the arch which help prolong comfort in your feet.

3) Are You Dressed for the Right Activity?

There are many different types of sandals. Everything from hikers to walking sandals to Birkenstock's and fashion sandals. It is important that you are wearing the right sandal for the activity you're doing. So you'd never wear a fashion sandal if you're on a hike through the park. And remember, sandals are not the proper footwear for running.

If you have any other questions about sandals, our fit experts in store are always happy to answer them. Whether you're searching for sandals for yourself, your spouse or your kids, bring everyone down! We have many brands in store to fit everyone in the family! Shop on-line at canadianfootwear.com.

Step Into Spring!

Happy Tuesday Winnipeg! We're so happy because so many of you came out to our Try on and Win event on Saturday, and we sent so many people home with new shoes AND great prizes! So thank you to all those who came out!

It's officially May, and it keeps getting busier around here, in a good way! We've got all of our summer styles in store, and we just can't take our eyes off some of them! Here's a couple of sneak peeks of some of the styles we've recently got in. Cobb Hill, Clark's, Mephisto's, Birkenstock's and more!

We would love for you to come to our store and see what else we've got in stock! We're also really excited to be hosting our Step Into Spring Event this Friday!

What Is It?

It's our way of showing off some new Spring and Summer styles we've got in our store! A chance for you to come out, enjoy some coffee and pastries, and get a discount on your new Spring and Summer footwear!

When Is It?

Friday May 8th from 8:30 AM to 6 PM

Where Is It?

This one is at our downtown location only, 128 Adelaide Street.

Why?

Because we value all of you and we want to show our appreciation to you our customers!

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for some sneak peeks of new shoes, and our special discount coupon that you'll be able to use in our store this Friday! We're looking forward to seeing you out!

Try On Comfort and WIN!

Spring is officially here, and it looks like we're (hopefully) rid of winter for a few months! We're super excited for some in-store events were having coming up in May! It looks like it's going to continue to be very busy in our store and we hope you stop in to see why!

Our first event is coming up this weekend, and that's our Try on Comfort & WIN event!

What Is It?

Do you love comfortable shoes? Do you like winning prizes? Then this event is definitely for you! In our stores on May 2nd you can come into one of our three locations and try on some shoes from our Aravon, Dunham, and Cobb Hill lines. Just for trying them on you'll receive a scratch card with a mystery prize! This can be a tote bag, Starbuck's Gift Card, or Chapter's Gift Card!

When Is It?

This event will take place this Saturday May 2nd 2015.

Where Is It?

All three of our Winnipeg locations! 128 Adelaide Street, 1504 St Mary's Road, and 1530 Regent Avenue. All locations are open Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Who Is It For?

YOU! Everyone is welcome to come out and try out these great styles we have. Our fit specialists will tell you all about these shoes and who knows...you may leave with a pair (or two, or three....)

Why?

To kick off Spring! We know lots of people like to shop for their Summer shoes early on to avoid their favourite styles being sold out. We also know that these three styles of shoes are so comfortable, stylish, and affordable that you will fall in love with them as soon as you try them on! You've got nothing to lose!


We hope to see you out at our stores this weekend! Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay updated on store promotions, events, and new products coming in!

Spring Is In The Air

Well it sure felt like Spring in Winnipeg last weekend. The snow is pretty much all gone now, people are (bravely) wearing shorts and sandals, and the sun is shining! We hope that this is a sign that Summer is just around the corner! (wishful thinking right?)

Anyway, we have to apologize because we had a bit of technical difficulties with our blog last week. We tried to get our post up and it said it posted but it never did! So here's hoping this one works this week and that you'll be blown away by everything in it!

What's New?

It's Spring! So that means our showroom is FULL of new shoes, styles, and colours! Everything from casual to dress and athletic, we've got TONS of new footwear! And we've still got lots coming in too! Our boot wall came down yesterday, which means that it's sandal season! Be sure to keep checking back as we feature new styles each week!

Here's some of the new ones we're pretty pumped about:

Uneek by Keen

Ok. These shoes look a little weird. I have to admit, I took a look at it, and thought it looked kind of like a glorified Croc. I read a little bit into these shoes and why they're so awesome and unique. Once I tried them on, I couldn't get my wallet out fast enough. These shoes may have a bit of a bizarre look to them, but they are so comfortable and lightweight. They're meant for the outdoors for things like walking and hiking. You can check this style out here, or come into our store to try them out! We have both men's and women's styles in this one.

 

Fresh Foam by New Balance

New Balance is going crazy over these shoes. I have never heard so many people talk about one running shoe before. The breathable upper mesh gives the shoe a nice light weight feeling, and allows your feet to breathe during your activity. The foam like midsole allows for cushioning and stability of the foot, and it looks pretty cool. Again, we've got men's and women's styles! Come into our store and check them out. Try them on, and see why everyone thinks they're so great!

And today (March 19th) is New Balance's launch of the Fresh Foam Zante shoes! This means stores across Canada and the US will be having launch parties to showcase how awesome this shoe is. You can follow our New Balance store in Calgary on Facebook and Instagram for live updates this evening from 7-9PM (or 8-10PM Central Time).

So why is now the best time to look for shoes? Well Spring is here, and you want to have a fresh new shoe collection. So why not take an hour (or two) and go through your current shoe selection and ask yourself:

1) have I worn these in the last year?
2) will I wear these in the next year?
3) is it time to throw these out?

Spring is always a good time to start fresh and new. So see if you can challenge yourself by getting rid of the shoes that you don't need! And if you have shoes to donate, we are always accepting donations of new/gently used footwear for Fit Feet on the Street!