To the Dealers Conference!

I will be Missing In Action for the next week as I attend the Z-CoiL Dealers Conference in Albuquerque. It's a really special time for me due to a several reasons.

First of all, I get an opportunity to met with all of the great minds in the Z-CoiL World, including the other distributors, the Z-CoiL staff, and the inventor, Al Gallegos!

Secondly, I get an opportunity to learn how to better meet the needs of our customers, including fitting techniques for the hard to fit cases.

And lastly, I get to meet with all of my friends in Albuquerque! I used to live in Albuquerque and teach at the University of New Mexico. I still have a lot of great friends in that part of the country, and we spend time reliving the experiences of our past lives...

So, please excuse the absence, but I will be back in a week with more!

Till later,
Caesar...

Testimonial - Donna Beck

Donna is a tour guide in Florida and suffered from heel pain and lower pack issues. She came into our store when she was in town visiting relatives in December of 2003. When you are a tour guide, your livelihood depends on the ability to walk for miles during the day, and Donna was having a problem doing that.

"Standing on cement floors for 8 hours caused very bad lower back pain, getting so bad that I could not bend over by the end of the day," says Donna. "Z-CoiL's, within two days, completely alleviated the pain in the lower back and I felt rested throughout the day with no problem when having to bend.

"As a tour guide walking 2 miles, 3 nights a week, I never feel fatigued, I have no back pain and they keep my sore heel very comfortable! For anybody that has to stand a lot, these shoes are an investment to your health, comfort and well-being."

Donna got off the airplane and headed straight for our store to see what new styles we had in the store! She spreads the word about Z-CoiL's to her other co-workers, and her manager now has 3 pair! Donna still prefers to visit us when she comes in town because of our good looks! (just kidding... we know her fit and she enjoys the atmosphere that our store provides!)

Till later,
Caesar...

Much Better Day!

So, I talked about my frustration the other day... now to let you in on what happened today... I had one person come into the store who had been suffering from pain in his thighs. After about 5 minutes of walking around in the store, he told us that his pain had totally disappeared! He was incredibly happy!

I also had a woman in the store that had been suffering from a pain in her foot where she had surgery. She also told me how much easier it was for her to walk and that the area where she had surgery did not bother her hardly at all in the Z-CoiL's!

There are good days and bad days in this business... thank goodness the good days, which are the ones where we have success in changing a person's life, outnumber the bad ones significantly!

Till later,
Caesar...

Frustrating situation today...

I had a woman come into the store this morning who had arch pain and wanted to purchase a pair of SideWinder Sandals. I put a pair of tan sandals on her and she walked around. She was feeling a bit of a problem at the side of her foot where the orthotic hits, so I heated it and adjusted it for her a couple of times. Everything seemed great when she left the store.

She came back into the store after walking around for an hour in the Z-CoiL's and said she wanted to return them because it was still uncomfortable at the side. I asked her to sit down and I would resolve the issue, but didn't want another adjustment since it was a "hassle" for her.

I refunded her money and she was on her way. The frustrating thing to me is that with a few more minutes of adjustments, it could have been resolved and she could have been on her way to no more foot pain!

We try to get the shoe perfectly adjusted when you are in the store. Unfortunately, there are times when your feet will swell when you are on them, or you notice something that bothers you after wearing them for awhile. We realize that our feet are not static and can change over the course of a day, month or year. That's why we offer free adjustments for the life of the shoe to any pair of Z-CoiL's we sell. We know your feet can change, and we want your shoes to feel comfortable!

Till later,
Caesar...

Testimonial - Karen Lee

Karen is a stay-at-home mom who purchased her first pair of Z-CoiL's in November of 2003.

"I was in significant pain everyday after being on my feet for a very long time," says Karen. "The very day I got my shoes, my feet felt 50% better! Within a few weeks, I was feeling 80-90% better. It's now been a year and a half. I just bought my third pair and as long as I wear them at home and for exercising, my feet feel fine!"

Karen had to pick up a pair of sandals, since she will be moving out of town soon and wanted to get fit before she left town!

Till later,
Caesar...

EZ Shoes Ranks 15th for Quarter 1 of 2005!

We just keep climbing!! We went from 18th for all of 2004 to 15th in ranking for all stores in North America! Wow!

Of course, we have much higher goals, so continue to watch this space...

So, once again, I thank all of our loyal customers for making this possible!

Till later,
Caesar...

Testimonial - Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen was "drug" into our store by her husband back in November of 2003 since she was experiencing lower back problems, knee issues and hip pain. She looked at the shoes and said "No way am I trying those on!" Well things changed...

"Love 'em, love 'em, love 'em!!" says Mary Ellen. "My husband saw them on a friend and took me to the store to try on a pair. My back had been hurting in the lower back area. Three times around the store and my pain was gone! I have referred numerous folks to the store and eight folks have purchased a total of 13 pairs! One of those pairs just walked the Great Wall of China and they saved the owner's feet and back."

Mary Ellen visits the store regularly to pick up more cards and brochures. So, if you see Mary Ellen bouncing around, feel free to stop her and ask her about her Z-CoiL's! She loves to talk about them.

Till later,
Caesar...

Happy Nurse's Week!

The nursing community is one of my favorite walks of life. Maybe it is because my mother was a practicing nurse for 35 years and my wife was a practicing nurse for 12 years. I saw what these special people go through during the course of time, and it can really take a toll on their bodies. When you spend 8-12 hours per day on your feet on concrete, running after patients with hardly a break, it can cause foot, leg, knee and back issues.

Barbara Shannon is an RN who currently owns 6 pairs of Z-CoiL's. Although she lives 60 miles from here, she stops by regularly on her way down south to check out new styles and purchase a new pair.

"I have knee problems and didn't want surgery," says Barbara. "With Z-CoiL's, I now do not need surgery. I can do anything with Z-CoiL's on!"

Sue Parisi is another of our customers in the medical field who has benefited tremendously from Z-CoiL footwear. She spends hours at a time standing in the operating room assisting the doctors.

"Since wearing my Z-CoiL Shoes for exercising and work, I no longer have pain in my lower back," says Sue. "My legs do not feel as heavy after a workout or after being on my feet 8 hours at work. I would recommend these shoes for anyone who spends a lot of time on their feet at work or for exercising."

We have hundreds of people in the medical community who have been fit in Z-CoiL's from our store. I understand what they go through and my hat goes off to this very special group of people!

So, if a nurse has touch your life in any way, take the time to say thanks for a job well done!

Till later,
Caesar...

Testimonial -Jessica T.

Occasionally, there is a customer who makes a lasting impression, and Jessica T. is one such person. Jessica came into our store about a year ago and she was really suffering from severe ankle pain. She had a brace on her ankle to help keep the swelling down and allow her to walk. We fitted her with a pair of Taos Clogs, and the transformation was amazing! She asked to use the restroom, and after 15 minutes, she was still not back in the showroom. I went back to check and make sure she was OK, when she came out, wiping her tears away. The pain relief that she had experienced was so remarkable, she cried…

“I saw a woman wearing these at the 2004 Women’s March in Washington D.C. (1,000,000 women!)” says Jessica. “I had brought a bike in order to attend, since I could not walk it otherwise. So, I stopped the whole march (just kidding) and asked the woman where she got them. I came back to the Bay Area and spent 3 hours here at the San Jose Store.

“I bought Taos Black and was able to walk instantly!! I am only 34, so this really helped me keep up with my peers and added joy to my life! I now own 3 pairs (Taos Clogs, Rust Desert hikers and Sandals) and am greatly relieved. It is like a cloud has been lifted. I work in the music industry, running around NYC, LA and other places with rock stars. I get lots of compliments in that area and in the art community as well. The fashion consensus is THUMBS UP!”

Jessica brought her mother, Heidi, into the store on Mothers Day, since her mother also has suffered from two broken ankles. She helped her pick out a pair of white Freedom 2000 to ease her pain.

Till later,
Caesar…

Testimonial - Ginny Almond

Ginny first purchased her Z-CoiL's from Dr. Lieberson, a surgeon in Fremont that is a believer in the footwear. She is disabled due to a lower back injury which prevents her from working as an administrative executive.

"I have tried many other orthopedic shoes prior to my neurologist prescribing Z-CoiL's," says Ginny. "I have found them to be life-savers. I could not walk the length of my home without a pain stabbing feeling (lower back radiating down my right leg.)

"The Z-CoiL's seem to absorb the shock which caused the pain when walking. Now, after 2+ years of wearing Z-CoiL's almost always, I can comfortably walk my dog around the block and stand or walk in church for short periods of time.

"Thank you Dr. Lieberson for telling me about these shoes and to Z-CoiL for improving the quality of my life by reducing the pain!"

Ginny's husband also wears the Z-CoiL's with great success. Ginny was in to purchase yet another pair to add to her collection.

Till later,
Caesar...

Testimonial - Lois White

Lois purchased her first pair of Z-Coils about 18 months ago. She is retired and lists her occupation as a "hiker"! She loves to hike in the mountain trails around San Jose. She purchased her first pair of Z-CoiL's about 18 months ago with a pair of white Freedom 2000's and added a pair of balck Freedom 2000's shortly after that.

"Never have I had shoes as great as these! says Lois. "I will never go back to toe pointed shoes. I was starting to have hip problems but with the Z-CoiL, my hip is much better."

As she navigated the rocky rugged trail course in our store, she commented "I used to be afraid of walking on any rocks, but with these shoes, it's a breeze."

Today she wandered into the store to check out the painted clogs and to see if there were any new styles. The white Taos Clog Straps caught her eyes, and after a few minor adjustments, she was on her way. "My daughter is getting married, so now I have something to wear to the wedding," said Lois.

Till later,
Caesar...