Z-Buzz Newsletter Winter 2007

The latest version of Z-Buzz, the quarterly newsletter, is available. It contains an article on arthritis, care of your Z-COiL's, new franchises and more! It is available at http://www.ez-shoes.com/zbuzzwinter2007.pdf.

Enjoy!

Till later!
Caesar...

More Than Just a Shoe Store!

One of my customers, Herb, bought a pair of Z-CoiL's in September and went from a walker to a cane and occasionally no walking aid at all. He's all of about 5'7", very thin and in his 80's. He is a true believer in Z-CoiL's.

He called the other day and said he desperately needed a new pair of Z-Coil's. His wife is sick and he is taking care of her and last night, he was in the living room without his Z-CoiL's and without his walker and she needed him. He told me his Z-CoiL's felt too small and they hurt so he tried to take them off but couldn't (Z-Walker ties). He ended up cutting them off of his feet, straight through the leather in the toe box. Now, I'm wondering what is going on because they were plenty big when he was fit... He said he was trying to get a ride and would be in to see me.

He came in and had Uggs on, was barely able to walk, was very short of breath and the bottom of his pants from about the knee down were soaked. I lifted his pant legs and his legs were about 18" in diameter and draining water out of his legs. Considering that he is a very skinny guy, this was serious. But he didn't want to deal with it... he just wanted another pair of Z-CoiL's so he could walk comfortably! It took me 5 minutes just to get the Uggs off of his feet and his legs and feet looked horrible. Red rash, scratches from where he was using a piece of wood to try and get his Z-CoiL's off, and water just oozing out.

I told him I would not sell him another pair until he got this taken care of and that he needed to get to the hospital. His symptoms were of someone having a serious heart issue and my concern was that he was on the verge of a heart attack. All he cared about was being able to walk so he could take care of his wife and he only way he could walk was with Z-CoiL's. I finally told him that if he agreed to let his ride take him straight to the emergency room (about a 4-5 minute drive), I would not call 911 and I would put a pair of Z-CoiL's on his feet so he could walk to the car and into the hospital, which he agreed to do.

He normally wears a size 10, but there is no way a size 10 would go on his swollen feet. I happened to have a pair of M13 Z-Walker Velcro that had been stretched extremely wide for a customer. I cut the tongue loose, we got them on his feet while his ride went to get the car, and got him out the door. He did not want to leave until he paid me! I told him these were loaners and that we would fit him with his own pair once his legs and feet were back to the normal size, so off he went.

They admitted him with what I believe to be congestive heart failure. They are getting the fluids drained from his body and have him on a regime of various drugs. He is feeling much better but will be hospitalized for a few days.

My point of this whole story? When we see someone who has a medical condition and has not been to a doctor, we will recommend they do so. There are times when we will not sell a pair of Z-CoiL Footwear to a person until they see a doctor. Many times the pain may be in one area but that is just a manifestation of another underlying issue. Although we are neither doctors nor licensed medical professionals, many of the people that come in our store are or should be in the care of a medical professional. We have an obligation to recommend they see a doctor for an evaluation. So, no medical aid is a substitute for medical advice. Make sure you consult a doctor when you have an issue!

Till later,
Caesar...

Christmas Gifts!

Looking for something for that special person on your list? Z-CoiL Footwear makes an excellent gift for that hard-to-buy for person on your list! Just think of how you can be remembered all year round when they are living a pain-free life. We offer gift certificates in any amount for your purchase.


Does that special person already have enough pairs of Z-CoiL Footwear (although I believe there is never enough)? How about some soft, cushioned Thorlos Socks. Right now we have a special "Buy 3 Get 1 Free" sale on some of the most comfortable socks you have ever had on your feet. They have excellent wicking to keep the moisture away from your feet.











Tired of seeing your loved ones shoe laces untied? A pair of Knoty Boy Laces turn any tie shoe into a slip-on so you never need to tie your shoe again!




















We carry a wide selection of shoe care products including cleaners, brushes, protectants, laces and polish. We also have great shoe cleaning kits that include a brush, polish, mink oil and conditioner.

Who would have thought that a Z-CoiL dealer could be a one-stop-shop for all your Christmas needs!! At least, ones that are practical and that will put a smile on someone's face! What a better gift than a gift of pain relief!

Till later,
Caesar...

Children in Z-CoiLs

We get asked many times in a month if we fit children in Z-CoiL Pain Relief Footwear. The answer is: only if there is a medical necessity for them to wear Z-CoiL Footwear. There are a few reasons for that...

First and foremost, kids tend to use their body before their head! Imagine a young girl jumping rope with Z-CoiL Footwear on. The coil would present a danger to them if they caught the rope in it.

Secondly, children's feet are still growing and Z-CoiL Footwear is an investment expected to last several years. I know that my kids outgrew their shoes every 3-6 months, and that would be very expensive if they were wearing Z-CoiL Footwear.

Last, kids can be intimidated by peer pressure. The first time that someone makes a comment about their shoes being a bit different, they might never wear them again, and we do not want closetware!

Now, that being said, I have many children in Z-CoiL Footwear. We talk to them about the dangers of the open coil, we give them responses to tell their friends if they do have a crude comment, and we will fit them a bit big with extra padding so that they will last longer as they grow. We also talk to their parents and ensure that they understand the risks and the benefits of their child wearing Z-CoiL Footwear.

A few examples of the children we have fit:

• We have a very special customer who has muscular dystrophy. His feet always hurt and he could not participate in PE or other sports with his friends. He drug his toe and wore out shoes very quickly. With the Z-CoiL Footwear, he is no longer in pain, and he can run, jump, and experience the same childhood his friends are!
• We have a young girl who destroyed her feet and knees doing gymnastics from an early age. With her special footwear, she is also living a normal life pain-free.
• Another young boy was born with a congenital issue of the ankles and has always caused him severe pain. Again, Z-CoiL Footwear has allowed him to have a more normal childhood.

The list goes on and we have provided great benefit to many children when they are fitted correctly and the child is educated.

Till later,

Caesar...

What a Hectic Month!

As I had posted, I was out of town for some very intense training for two weeks on my journey to become a pedorthist. I complete the pedorthic training and passed the test for the class! It was 11 days of 8:00AM to 7:30 PM with an hour for lunch with tons of information thrown at us, but I really learned a lot. It will help immensely in understanding people's issues and better fit Z-CoiL's for our customer's problems. I came back home for a couple of days then flew back out to Albuquerque to help out at the International Balloon Fiesta.



Z-CoiL Corporate had a booth there and were selling tons of shoes to people throughout the world! It is great exposure for our innovative product plus if you have never been to the Balloon Fiesta, there is a lot of walking everyday (just to get from the parking lot alone!) plus a huge field where all of the balloons launch from There were 700 balloons representing many different companies. So, here are at least a couple of shots for your enjoyment!





Till later,
Caesar...

Training time!

I've decided to take courses to become a Certified Pedorthist. So, what is a Pedorthist? Pedorthists are trained in the design, fit and function of shoes and orthotics. They practice both the “science and art” of making feet comfortable.

As a Z-CoiL retailer, we are always seeing various medical issues that people arsufferingng from and in order to better understand how we can properly fit our customers, I think it is a wise investment for me to take this training...

So, I will be out of the store from Sept 16 through October 1. This will leave us a bit short staffed, so your patience is appreciated as Andrew provides the best service he can in my absence!

If you send any request into through our website, it will not be responded to until after Oct 1, but feel free to call the store for additional information.

Till later,
Caesar...

Great Day!

How many times a day does someone say to you "Have a great day!" I know I hear it and say it a lot... Yesterday, a couple of things happened to help me understand better what a great day is. It is very relative, depending on your situation.

The first thing in the morning, I was out in the back of the store and noticed our cardboard man making his rounds. He makes a living by going around to shopping centers picking up cardboard boxes and taking them in for recycling. His truck was jammed full of cardboard, much more than normal. I asked him how he was doing, and he said "I'm having a great day! So much cardboard today!" That's what his measure of a great day was. He was smiling from ear to ear.

A little later, I had a customer come in the store. She was helped in by her husband to help steady her. Due to her back and knee issues caused by an automobile accident, she was very unsteady on her feet and in a lot of pain. We fit her for a pair of Z-CoiL Footwear and she was amazed! She could walk without assistance and her pain level had decreased dramatically. She made the comment "This is a great day for me! I just can't believe how much better I feel!" Her measure was the amount of pain relief and stability she had gained from the footwear...

This led to me thinking about my day. We had not sold as many pairs of shoes as I would like to have sold, but I realized that overall it was a great day for me also! I was above ground and breathing, I have a great family, friends and a comfortable home, and I had changed yet another person's life! What else could you ask for...

Till later,
Caesar...

Am I Wearing a MAN's Size???

I sold a pair of Freedom 2000's to a female customer the other day. She came back into the store yesterday very irate because I sold her a man's shoe! She was a woman's size 9 1/2 and we come in full sizes, but it so happens that a man's size 8 is the same as a woman's 9 1/2 so it was a perfect fit. She returned the shoes, not because they were uncomfortable but because they said men's 8!

Many of our styles are unisex, ranging from a women's size 5 to a men's size 14. Some shoe manufacturers make men's shoes wider than ladies, but that is not the case in Z-CoiL Footwear. Our goal is to ensure that the length and width are appropriate and that the shoe is adjusted correctly, allowing you to experience the pain relief that is possible. We run on the wide side, but we have ways to fit narrow feet and we have ways to deal with half sizes.

Leave the fitting to us! We will fit you in the appropriate size and discuss with you how they feel to make sure they are comfortable. Don't be hung up on what the shoe says. Each manufacturers sizing varies, so if you wear an 8 1/2 but I put you in an 8, it will be because it fits!

Till later,
Caesar...

Vacation time!

I will be out of the store from Aug 16 through Aug 23. If you send in a request for information, it will not be answered until after that time.

Andrew will be holding down the store and your patience is appreciated.

Till later,
Caesar...

Testimonial - Barbara England

Pictured above is Barbara England, who first came to us in February of 2005. Barbara suffers from Lupus related issues and has had to have her ankle joint fused, which impacts her gait. She first bought a pair of Freedom 2000's in blue and white and has never regretted that decision! A year later, she purchased a pair of black Taos Strap's for more dressy occasions.

"I was in Stanford Emergency and noticed the nurses wearing the shoes (Z-CoiL Footwear)," says Barbara. "They said they could do 12 hour shifts with no pain.

"When I was released, my husband took me to get these shoes. These shoes allow me to walk straight for the first time in 5 years. They have also corrected my posture. They are spectacular!" concludes Barbara.

Barbara was in the store with her daughter looking at new styles. Barbara's daughter and son-in-law purchased two more pair of Z-CoiL Footwear for her since she no longer wears any other shoes except Z-CoiL Footwear!

Till later,
Caesar...

Interesting returns...

As you are aware, if Z-CoiL's are not working for you, we have a 7 day no risk trial period. We do get some returns, although very few. I was going through the return reasons the other day, and thought I would share a few of the more interesting reasons:

- "I wore them for a full hour and they did not totally get rid of my pain!" You have to understand that this person had severe plantar fasciitis and heel pain for over 5 years and you could see the swelling in the heel. I know what our shoes can do, and in many cases, heel pain will be greatly reduced just by wearing them for a few hours... but to have total relief with such a severe condition as hers in an hour would take a miracle! She did say that her pain was 50% relieved, but that wasn't good enough. If she would only have given them a little more time...

- "I couldn't get into my sports car easily." This customer wore them for 1 day. In that day, her back felt much better and her poster improvement was incredible! We offered many solutions such as Knoty Boy shoelaces to be able to slip in and out of the shoes and wear a different pair of shoes to get in and out of her car, but to no avail...

- "I'm a woman and I am too vain to wear something that looks like that." This woman wore them for five days, and during that timeframe, was able to cut down on her pain medication for her knees, but she decided that she would rather take the pills than wear something that "ugly". As we say, vanity versus sanity... you choose!

- "My sister did not like the looks." This customer had bad back issues and the shoes were helping her tremendously in just a few days. She goes out to lunch twice a week with her sister and her sister did not like them? Who is wearing them? Who is in pain? Not her sister... So, the customer decided to go forward with surgery.

- "They make my foot look big when I look down!" The shoes did help this customer's knees tremendously and she said she was less tired at the end of her 12 hour shift. She decided to keep looking for something that made her feet look smaller.

Maybe I take my job too seriously, but when something works to cut down on the pain with no medication or surgery, why would you want to opt for another choice that is invasive? I wished all of them best of luck and sent them on their way...

Till later,
Caesar...

Testimonial - Kathy Phillips

Kathy is a teacher who was suffering from knee issues. She was getting ready to go on the trip of a lifetime in Patagonia Chile! The map above gives you an idea of her route. She knew she was going to have trouble, so she stopped in to get a pair of Z-CoiL Pain Relief Footwear. Kathy chose a pair of Freedom 2000's in blue and white to take this trek!

"I bought my first pair the day before I left San Jose for a hike around the mountains of Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile in South America," says Kathy. "I was apprehensive about this hike because I have lousy knees and was willing to try anything that would help me finish this hike."The hike was 80 miles and I spread it out over 13 days. The trail was every kind of terrain; flat, steep up, steep down, rocky, boulders, hideous mud slog, straight down the hillside slippery mud, down-climbing rocky areas, wading through the ice cold glacier fed stream...
"My Z-CoiL's worked extremely well on all these kinds of terrain. I credit the shoes with making it possible for me to finish all 80 miles!

"I also have a pair of sandals that work great when teaching," concludes Kathy.

You can see by the pictures that there was some pretty incredible terrain that Kathy covered, and her Z-CoiL's performed great!

Many people in the store are always concerned about having an open coil when they are out hiking. As long as you follow some simple, common sense precautions, you won't have an issue.



Until later,
Caesar...

Testimonial - Barbara Miller

Barbara is a registered nurse who first came into our store in January, 2005 with low back and knee pain. She tried on a pair of Z-CoiL's and what a difference it made!

"A friend recommended Z-CoiL's to relieve my back pain and they did that and more!" says Barbara. "I work on cement floors walking all day caring for patients and before X-CoiL's, my hips and thighs would sting and be severely painful.

"After one day of Z-CoiL's worn at work, no more pain anywhere! I use these forever and ever through all weather and activities.

"Thank you for helping make my professional and personal life so pain-free and give me a great attitude toward life again!" concludes Barbara.

Barbara came in today to buy a pair of sandals for the heat wave we are having to add to her collection of Taos and Zueco clogs.

Independence Day!

Wow! The summer is almost half over already! Time has flown right by. We have had a very busy time in the store and we thank our customers for your continued success.

Independence Day is very special in that we have the opportunity to celebrate the true freedom we have in America... And Z-CoiL's are very special to many people in that they allow them a different kind of freedom... Freedom from pain! Freedom to live their life in a more productive manner! We are very thankful for having the opportunity to provide this freedom for our customers.

This week, another dealer brought a clip to my attention which says it better than I could ever do. For those of you who are young enough that you don't remember Red Skeleton, he was a movie star and comedian on television back in the 1950's. He created a number of characters and his show was watched by millions. He did this on his show one evening, back when shows were live. It is a bit long, but it is worth listening to! Click here to view the clip.

Enjoy the Holiday... and your freedom!

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...