Cold Weather Fashion

Cold Weather Fashion

So, we are on the eve of heading off to the Super Bowl in New York. Yep, this 12th Fan is going to be there to root on our beloved Seahawks. I am so excited that I can hardly stand it!!!!! So, now it is time to pack, yes, I am a last minute girl. What do you wear to do the Big Apple for the Super Bowl? It is supposed to snow. I have no clue what shoes to wear for that! We don't get snow in the 'ham. How do I look amazingly fashionable and still keep my toes warm. 

I want to bring my blue sparkle Ugg boots - have to have those for the game. But what do I wear around town. I am one of those people that is cold when it is 70 outside. How oh how do I keep my toes warm. What do New Yorkers do? Do they keep their fabulous heels in their purse and wear snow boots around and then whip them out once they get inside? Seems a bit much. I have true snow boots but I want to look cuter than that. 

I have some amazing boots. I think I will just suck it up and put on three pairs of socks. I can do this, it is only for a weekend. I want to represent the 'ham well.

Go Hawks!!!

European Sizing

European Sizing

I will try to take the mystery out of the European sizes if I can. For most of the brands, at least the ones that we carry, the easiest way to convert is to just drop the 3. So a size 37 - becomes a 7, a size 39 - a 9 and so forth. Didn't know it was that easy, did you?

Many shoes with European sizing don't come in half sizes, so if you are the half size, start by going up. So if you are a 6-1/2, start with the 37, which would be the 7.

Unfortunately, there are a couple of brands that throw you for a loop. One is Josef Seibel. They size just a bit different. You go down a size with them, so a 37 is a 6 instead of a 7. Naot is the same way. I cannot tell you why but it is what it is.

For the most part - just drop the 3 and that is your size. If you ever have a question - just ask, happy to help!

Fall 2014

Fall 2014

It is that time again! We start looking at what each of the brands will be offering for next Fall. Hard to believe that we are looking this far in advance. We will be headed off to the shoe show in about a month. Up until then we get teasers from some of the brands. Most we see at the show but there are some that come and visit us at our store.

Today we got to see Ahnu. My favorite shoe of theirs was the tall boot. It very much incorporated styling from the Tsubo line. Both Ahnu & Tsubo are owned by the same company, Deckers. The best part of this boot is that it looks like a Tsubo but it has the comfort of the Ahnu. Love it!

The picture doesn't do it justice. But it really is fabulous! I love to look at new shoes! You usually see trends throughout the brand. Since Ahnu is the first brand that we have seen - not sure what trends to expect. Next week we get to see Dansko - super exciting!!!

Winter Clearance Sale

WINTER CLEARANCE SALE
at
12th Street Shoes
Starts Friday, January 10th - 10AM

Store Hours: Mon - Sat 10am-6pm, Sun Noon - 5pm
1204 Harris Ave, Bellingham, 360-733-2066

 

WINTER CLEARANCE SALE
at 12th Street Shoes
Starts this Friday, January 10th at 10AM 

Time to clear out the winter shoes and boots to make way for all new Spring shoes. Our wonderful selection of
Winter shoes & boots will be up to 50% off.

There is even time to sneak in before the Hawks playoff game on Saturday!

 

All of our classic Ugg boots will be 40% off. It's still chilly out there -these will keep your toes nice and cozy.

 

Time to clear out the slippers too!.

All of our Haflinger and Ugg slippers will be 40% off.  

So many savings and so little time. All discounts are limited to stock on hand, sorry, but the savings do not apply to special orders.  So come early for the best selection.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

I Love Red!

I Love Red!

Have to say, I don't know what it is but I love to wear a pair of red shoes! Below is just a sampling of the red shoes from my closet.Oh, yes I have many, many more. You have to after being the owner of a shoe store for 10 years!

Red shoes can add the just right amount of spice to an outfit. Image yourself in all black with black shoes...boring! Now put red shoes with that same outfit and POW, people are telling you how fabulous you look! The little red Cole Haan stilettos on the left are my go to with my little black dress.

It's funny the top three colors for shoes at our store are black, brown and then red. See I'm not the only one that loves red shoes! We hear lots of "I love red" comments. They just make me happy. I have lots of black in my wardrobe - its slimming you know - so adding that little pop of color on my feet just makes me feel good!

To Barter or Not to Barter....

To Barter or Not to Barter....

I would love for someone to comment on this, recently we have had a number of customers wanting to barter on the price of the shoes in our store. Every time it happens I am floored. I guess it just isn't something that I would do in a retail store no matter how big or small. 

I have a tough time imagining the same person going into Rite-Aid and asking for a discount on shampoo so I wonder why it is ok to do the same in a small local store. Someone had asked me the other day, "Is this the best price you can give me?" as if they were bartering for a new car. It just throws me for a loop. We do our very best to give you amazing customer service, attending to your every need. We also spend lots of time looking for the highest quality, most comfortable yet stylish shoes that we can find. And we do our best to package all that up in a reasonable price tag (many times we are bound the price set by the manufacturer).

If you wonder what happened, I didn't give her any additional discount. I felt our products were priced reasonably and any further discount would cheapen the brand. I have given a discount when the product is damaged - I have no issue with that but lately it has been customers that want a discount for discount sake. 

If only we could give every customer a 100% discount but then of course I would have to win the lottery to support my business : )

Jody

Inventory Time

Inventory Time

Oh yes, January not only brings new shoes but it also brings inventory counting. That necessary evil. So what does that exactly mean? Well, two times a year, we count absolutely everything in the store and compare it to what our computer says. I know, technology is never wrong but you would be so surprised. So why are things off you ask? For a number of reasons - 

1) Unfortunately, we have people in this world that like to take things without paying for them - yep, the shoplifter. It is sad but true. It's a tough crime to prosecute too. So in the end, it is less money that I get to take home to feed my family and pay my bills. I could write a whole disorientation on how angry this makes me but a will save that for another post.

2) We input things in incorrectly all the time - we are human.

3) Then of course there is the occasional item that travels to my home and I forget to remove it. 

4) We sell the wrong item out of the computer. It happens. Again we are human.

So we get to spend our Saturday night and Sunday frantically counting before we reopen on Sunday afternoon. Crossing our fingers that nothing has been stolen and that we can explain all the differences in the computer. Best part - I always serve dinner and breakfast. Can't work on an empty stomach - of course none for me, just finished day 2 of the cleanse. So I just get to smell all the goodies. Trust me, the smell of the pizza tonight almost sent me over the edge : )