Z-CoiL's during Recovery!

As I had reported, I broke three ribs in my motorcycle accident. My feet were both bruised and swollen I could not fit my Freedom 2000's on. My SideWinder Sandals were at the store since I don't ride my motorcycle in them, and all I could fit on my feet the next day were a pair of old non-Z-CoiL sandals. With every step, I could feel the impact echo through my rib cage causing much pain. My wife generously volunteered to take me to the store to get my SideWinders and what a difference they made! Getting rid of the pounding helped tremendously to reduce the pain... not eliminate by any means, but reduce!

I had a woman come into the store a few weeks ago. She had injured one of her ankles and was in an orthopedic boot. Unfortunately, the boot was a half inch higher than her regular shoes, and with the injury, she was coming down much harder on her good leg. Due to the difference in the leg lengths, her hip and back started hurting. She purchased a pair od Z-CoiL's and we adjusted the one for the good ankle. This put her in balance since we are a bit higher than a regular shoe, and the reduction in the impact eased her pain in both the hip and the back! She has since gotten out of the boot and has purchased 3 more pair of Z-CoiL's, which has also helped with the recovery of her injured ankle.

This is not to say that it is the best thing for every type of injury during the recovery phase, but we have been successful with many people in easing the pain as they get through different types of trauma to their body. So, when you have an injury, come and see us!

Till later,
Caesar...

TV Advertising

Many of you might have noticed our ads now running on your local television station. We were recently given permission to do TV advertising on major networks. This has definitely helped grow our business and busy-ness! It is really interesting to see the attitude of the people that come in off of the ad versus the people who come in due to an encounter with a Z-Coil wearer and who have heard someone's personal account.

Does the word "skeptic" describe it? Pretty close. When a person has had an opportunity to talk to a real live person (especially if it is someone they know), they become more intrigued and curious plus they are filled with hope that these unique shoes can also help them. When it is based on a 30 second ad, their interest is piqued but they are not a believer and in many cases do not have much hope... Many times they won't even try Z-CoiL's on! We had one woman today that saw the ad, drove 45 minutes to the store, but would not even try them on... The worst part is that she was suffering from heel pain, and I don't remember a single case where we were not able to provide some immediate relief in this area.

You do not have to take our word for it to become a believer... try them on, experience them for a week in your environment. If they are still not for you, then what have you lost? Just a trip to the store, nothing more...

Till later,
Caesar...

Testimonial - Wanda Elder

Wanda first came into our store 2 years ago suffering from pain in the ball of her foot. She works as a financial analyst at a local hospital and had seen Z-CoiL's in the hospital plus her sister purchased a pair.

"My sister had terrible plantar fasciitis pain and when she put on Z-CoiLs, she immediately felt better!" states Wanda. "I almost stopped doing aerobics because of the pain in the ball of my foot. I too had instant relief with Z-CoiLs and continue exercising.

Wanda came in to purchase a second pair of Z-CoiL's to be able to swap off with her first pair.

Till later,
Caesar...

I'm Back...

So, it has been three weeks since I have posted in my blog... and the last post said I would do better at posting every week! I do have a pretty legitimate excuse... I was in a motorcycle accident where my bike slipped out from under me at 50MPH on a curve where a natural spring had developed over the highway. I went down but survived! A few broken ribs, a broken finger, stitches, cuts and scrapes everywhere, but I survived! I was very lucky in that I didn't roll, but slid with the bike and an EMT was two cars behind me who took control of the situation and got the cars stopped and came to my aid. God was on my side that day!

So, my apologies for the lack of posts, but I had to take a bit of time off for healing but I'm back and raring to go!

Till later,

Caesar...

I've been a bad blogger...

If you look back through my blog, I used to do several entries per week! Lately, it is several per month... I have a million excuses, like vacation of my staff and myself, very busy in the store, taxes, and the list goes on... But in the end, the priority will change and I will do better! I appreciate all of the feedback I get from people that come into the store about the usefulness of the entries and someone today told me that they miss the usual updates!

So, hold me to it... email or post a comment if I slack off!

Till later,
Caesar...

Cushioning

Many people wonder why we stress the nature of the neoprene material in the front of our footwear. It's really quite simple... Most shoes use an EVA foam, which can compress to nearly 50% of it's depth and over a short period of time, it will remain there. This allows for the shoes to feel very cushioned and soft when you first buy them but within a period of months, you can feel the pavement again.

This is not the case with our shoes. I used to replace my athletic and running shoes every 4-6 months because they would loose that soft feeling. I now have a pair of Freedom 2000's that are close to 3 years old. I wore this pair for two years pretty much every day from 6AM to 8PM and they still feel cushioned! I still wear them when I ride my motorcycle and work in the yard, but wear my Anniversary Z-CoiL's and my sandals now for everyday use.

An interesting article was published that pointed out when you should replace your normal (non-Z-CoiL) shoes

"When Should Running Shoes Be Replaced?"

"Your kicks will cushion for only about 200 miles," says Lance D. Barry, D.P.M., a Georgia podiatrist who has completed 21 marathons. "After 200 miles, the midsole has lost enough impact cushioning to make you more prone to heel pain and carpal tunnel-like symptoms."

Don' t track miles? "Pinch the sole with your thumb on the outside and fingers inside," says Richard Braver, D.P.M., a science adviser to Runner's World. "If your fingers can't compress the sole, it's time for a new pair."

Source: Matt Bean, Men's Health Magazine (NAT) [5/24/06] "

I challenge anyone to take the pinch test with a pair of Z-CoiL's that are a year or two old... it will still compress! The quality materials used in Z-CoiL Footwear outperform all other shoes on the market.

Till later,
Caesar...

Z-CoiL's Help in a Marathon!

We've featured Dan Crotty before on our website with pictures of him at the top of Mt. Baldy in New Mexico and in Ireland on some very rocky surfaces. Dan originally came to us with bad knees and problems with his feet in December 2003 and had to hike 70 miles in 10 days at Philmont Scout Ranch in the mountains of New Mexico. He did not think he could do it, but he managed the hike with no issues!

This time, Dan took on a team marathon with his relatives in the Big Sur Marathon on Sunday, April 30. The course varied from some straight and level to some pretty interesting terrain.

Here's Dan's comments:

"Hello, Caesar,

The attached photograph shows me near the finish line of the recent Big Sur Marathon. I ran the 5th and last leg of our marathon relay team: five miles up and down three hills.

The Z-coil shoes sure open up possibilities!

Thanks again.
Dan"

Your right Dan... Imagine the possibilities! Congratulations on your latest triumph!

Till later,
Caesar...

EZ Shoes Ranked 6th Among All Dealers!

EZ Shoes has moved up from the 13th position at the end of 2005 to the 6th position at the end of the first quater of 2006! Our sales have increased tremendously due to additional advertising, word of mouth, and doctor referrals.

This is exciting for us since it not only means that our business is growing, but more importantly, it means that there are many, many more people out there who have benefited from Z-CoiL Pain Relief Footwear and are able to participate more fully in their day to day activities pain-free!

So, to all of you that have helped make this possible, we send our sincere thanks and look forward to a long and healthy relationship in the future!

Till later,
Caesar...

Vacation time!

I am off to go skiing for the next 10 days! The store is in the capable hands of Andrew, but you have to be patient if we get a rush in the store! We want to ensure a quality fit and that takes time...

Till later,
Caesar...

Motivation...

I had a customer come into the store today who has been evangelizing the benefits that she has received from Z-CoiL Pain Relief Footwear! She went from barely walking to now walking 6+ miles per day. She regularly comes by to pick up more cards to hand out to people, and she was wondering how many people had come in as a referral from her. She was very surprised to hear that no one at all had come in!

That's really not that unusual... it seems like people need to hear about or see Z-CoiL Footwear at least 3 times before they come in. Each time reinforces in their mind the benefits that they might receive and each time a little more sticks...

This week, there were a couple other motivators that were apparent. One of them is vacation! We have had at least 4 people this week who have foot or knee issues and are about to take a vacation of a lifetime... either to Europe, DisneyLand, or Mexico, and know they cannot make it without some help.

Another is that the doctor said to plan for surgery within the next few months in order to remedy the issue they have...

And the last one this week was that the doctor had to increase the amount of pain medication in order for them to "function".

So you see, there are many different reasons people come into the store... what will it take to motivate you and get you to try a pair of Z-CoiL Footwear? More medication? Missing out on a vacation? Surgery? Family problems because you cannot participate?

Don't let it come to that... Come in and at least try a pair on! We don't charge for that... yet!

Till later,
Caesar...

Transformation!

Wow! I had two different customers come into the store this week... in both cases, it was hard to recognize them! The first person had originally come into the store about 1.5 years ago and was walking with a cane, overweight, and with very poor posture. This week, she no longer was using a cane, had lost over 40 pounds, and was walking incredibly well! The second person originally purchased her shoes about two years ago when she was pregnant. She gained 90 pounds during the pregnancy with twins, but this week, I swear she had lost all of it!

The reason? Exercise... By getting rid of the different pain related issues, they were able to start their exercise program and lose weight! They both looked fantastic, and the whole aura around them was different... Self confident, happier, and pain-free!

That's what we like to see!

Till later,
Caesar...

Z-Walker Slip Resistant Now Available!

For all of you restaurant workers and people who deal with slippery environments on a daily basis, we now have the Z-Walker SR which sports a slip resistant sole!

The new SR outsole rubber is softer in order to make it resistant to slipping, therefore it may wear out more quickly. Wearing them on abrasive surfaces may also cause quicker outsole deterioration, so they are not recommended for heavy-duty use on rough surfaces.

Supplies are limited and the first shipments come with an extra set of heels as a bonus!

Till later,
Caesar...

New Colors!

We have had many requests in the past for brown or earthy tones in our shoes. You spoke up and Corporate listened!

We now have in stock a Brown Z-Walker (renamed from the CloudWalker) and a tan Zueco Clog. The Zueco can also be dyed in other brown tones if you prefer a little darker shade. Supplies are currently limited in the store, so come on in and grab yourself a pair!





Till later,
Caesar...

Testimonial - Michael McMillen

Michael came into our store in January, 2005 with his wife, Qing, to purchase a pair of footwear. Michael has a severely injured back and had great difficulty walking. He is a college professor and must be on his feet constantly.

"I was walking with a cane and couldn't stand for more than 15 minutes," says Michael. "The day I bought my first of two pair, we stopped at the San Jose Import Car Show. I walked and stood for 6 hours with no cane and no pain!

"Since buying the sandals and the CloudWalkers, I haven't worn any other shoes. I have told all of my co-workers about them. I wear the sandals every fair weather day and my CloudWalkers on poor weather days.

"I have a heart condition and have to walk to keep my blood flowing. Before, I couldn't walk more than 1/2 mile. Now I can do several miles with no strain or pain! Before buying Z-CoiL's, my only medical option was back surgery," concludes Michael.

Michael's wife is about to go to work as an X-Ray tech. She is getting her first pair today. She has witnessed what they have done for Michael and wants to experience the same level of comfort as she tackles her new position.

Till later,
Caesar...

Our Return Policy...

Because our footwear is unique, we have a unique return policy. If your purchase a pair of footwear from us, we allow you to take them on a 7 day "test drive" to see if they are going to work out for you. We believe in our product and want you to be able to experience it without worrying about money down the drain! We do ask one thing in return... If you are having any issue with the footwear, such as pressure in the arch or increased pain somewhere, come in at your earliest opportunity and let us adjust the footwear. Most times, it is a simple change of the coil or adjustment in the orthotic and it will straighten it out. We can extend the test drive if necessary to have you try the Z-CoiL's for another 7 days. If you are willing to work with us, we are willing to put whatever time is necessary to help you reduce or eliminate your pain.

Our goal is to adjust the shoes as best we can while you are in the store and send you out comfortable. The fact of the matter is that we are changing your alignment plus when you are in your normal environment, you are doing things differently then when you are just walking around the store. Sometimes, we can't totally anticipate what the impact will be and adjustments will need to be made. We take our profession seriously... we want to help people lead a normal, pain-free life. We get a bit frustrated when we get a return from someone who will not work with us when we know that a simple adjustment will take care of the issue. Any footwear that comes back costs us money, which is a part of doing business... but I don't think that it is too much to ask to give us a chance to make it right before returning the footwear!

The other thing that is frustrating is abuse of our return policy. Two cases in point happened this last week. One gentlemen who was suffering from plantar fasciitis and gout came severely limping into the store, barely putting any weight on one foot. His one shoe was barely tied due to the pain he was experiencing. He brought the shoes back 7 days later and returned them saying they did not help. The interesting part was that he was not limping and his shoe was tied normally indicating that the swelling had gone down and he no longer had an issue. Z-CoiL's resolved his issue so he returned them... kind of like a free rental!

The other case was a woman and her husband that each bought a pair. They wore them for a week and returned them. When asked what the issue with the footwear was, they responded that there was no issue, they just thought it would be fun to wear them for a week since we had the "test drive" policy! She told me that they had no intention of keeping them when they purchased! Of course, it cost her nothing but cost me over 15% of the sale...

So, please, if you come into the store to buy a pair of Z-CoiL's, be sure that you really want them to work. Don't do it for fun and don't assume that if the footwear has a pressure point after a couple of days that they cannot be adjusted. We have fit thousands of pairs of shoes and understand what we can and can't do!

Till later,
Caesar...

Testimonial - Deborah Renner

Deborah first came to our store in may, 2004 complaining of foot and ankle pain. She is a Retail Supervisor at a large department store, and is on her feet all day, every day, ensuring the operations are running smoothly.

"I constantly had foot and ankle pain due to being on my feet all day," says Deborah. "Since purchasing Z-CoiL Shoes, I no longer have to worry about my feet and ankles. A very good investment for my feet!" concludes Deborah.

Deborah purchased a pair of Brown High Desert Hikers so she had a pair of Z-CoiL's to wear when she was not at work. After 21 months of wear, she also needed to replace the heels on her CloudWalkers... but the shoe itself is still going strong! Not a bad investment!

Till later,
Caesar...

Testimonial - Christy Camacho

Pictured above is Christy Camacho and Bill Stamp, who have been wearing Z-CoiL Pain Relief Footwear for about 2 months. Both were suffering from low back pain and foot pain.

"I used to have a great deal of low back and heel pain," says Christy. "I couldn't walk for more than 1 hour.

"Now with these shoes, I can shop all day long! They are the best investment I have ever made. I am here to buy my second pair. Just love 'em!" concludes Christy.

Bill's back pain is also gone and both of them were in the store to purchase a second pair for wearing when they weren't at work.

Till later,
Caesar...

How Much Time Does It Take?

This is a question we get all of the time when people call on the phone, and it is not one that is easy to answer! The short and long of it is that it could take anywhere between 30 minutes and several hours.

If you have a "normal" foot (whatever that looks like) with regular arches, a perfect size for the Z-CoiL, not too narrow or wide and a normal gait, it might take 30 minutes if there is no one else in the store.

On the other hand, if you have severe issues with your feet, legs, knees or back and require a lot of adjustments, then it could take a couple of hours.

If there are a lot of people in the store, we try our hardest to service everyone, making the best use of our time. Saturday was a good example. We had a handful of people between 10:00 and 3:00, then the flood gates opened! We had people everywhere and boxes of shoes everywhere. Most people required a fair amount of adjusting and it took us a couple of hours on many of the people. Luckily, there were some returning customers who brought in their current pair which makes it easier to adjust.

So, please plan for adequate time. We want to provide the best fit possible, and if you are rushing the process, we can't guarantee that it will be the best fit possible!

Till later,
Caesar...

You got a screw loose??

Are your coils loose or are you getting a clicking sound? This is not really common but it can happen... The coil on the Z-CoiL is held on by a screw that is reached by removing the insole. You will see a small flap, and under that flap is the screw.

Sometimes, depending on your use, the screw can come loose. If this happens, either come on in and we will tighten it or use a phillips screwdriver to tighten it up yourself.

If it comes too loose, the top of the coil, called the Z-Nut, can get separated from the coil. This needs to be reglued, which takes about two minutes in the store. Normally, if this happens, you will get a clicking sound. So come on in and we will fix it for you!

Z-CoiL Footwear is more than just a shoe, so sometimes things like this can occur. Hopefully, the pain relief you receive is well worth it!

Till later,
Caesar...

Testimonial - JoAnn and Gregory Batcheller

JoAnn and Gregory live in Southern California and purchased their Z-CoiL's in Grand Junction Colorado in 2002. JoAnn had suffered from a bad lower back, neck issues and migraine headaches. Gregory had similar problems with his back and also his shoulder.

"I saw Z-CoiL's demonstrated at the Christmas Fair," says JoAnn. "The demonstrator let us try on a pair and walk around inside the fair to try them out.

"I was hooked on the shoes immediately! My headaches went away, my back felt immediately better and I have been wearing them religiously since then. I recommend my Z-CoiL's to everybody," concludes JoAnn.

Gregory had similar results from his footwear.

"My Wife and I saw the Z-CoiL's at a Christmas Fair and we each tried a pair on," says Gregory. "We immediately realized that these were the shoes for us...

"Our backs, shoulders and bodies felt better almost immediately. We each bought a pair on the spot! Since then, our family and friends have all bought a pair of the Z-CoiL's," concludes Gregory.

JoAnn's mother and father live in this area, and they recently purchased a pair for each of them. She was sharing that her mother was barefoot a couple of weeks ago and tripped over a treadmill and fell, seriously injuring herself. She had been in bed not able to walk. JoAnn came into town and told her to put her Z-CoiL's on and they were going out to eat. Sure enough, with her Z-CoiL Footwear, she was able to stand and walk to the car and into the restaurant, where she couldn't without them!

Till later,
Caesar...