Category Archives: Shoe care

NEW! Anti-friction balm for blister prevention

New Products, Shoe care

Give your customers an alternative to chronic shoe pain and toxic blister removers.

Solemates Blister Blocker is a natural, vegan, cruelty free and fragrance free anti-friction balm that helps to prevent blisters when wearing any type of footwear.

By applying a thin layer of the clear Blister Blocker to feet, skin is protected from friction-born blisters. Lasts for up to 6 hours, making shoes more comfortable for all-day wear. Blister Blocker is available in a 0.15 oz tube.

Contact us to learn more and place your order!

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RECAP: 2019 Justin Blair Summer Sales Meetings

Foot health, New Products, Shoe care

We had a productive summer sales meeting last month, including daily meetings with our customers and partners—plus a bowling outing (and competition) in the evening.

Thank you to those who attended: Milt Morevak of Pedifix, Jason Bates of Core Products International, Kate Spezia and Evan McGill of Knit-Rite, John Gerick of Apex, Ivan Komashinskiy of Pedag USA, John Blankenship of Powerstep, and Tom Traver of Orthozone (Thermoskin).

Our goal is to stay on the leading edge of shoe and foot care, while offering the products your customers are asking for.

Here are several new product announcements (click the links to go directly to the ordering page):

Powerstep

We have added two (2) new colors to the popular Women’s Fusion sandal collection, Plum & Khaki.

Pedifix

Silicone Tape will now feature new packaging, length options and bulk options.

New products to be added to our selection include: ¾ Length Arch Supports (P5610), Low Shock Gel Heel Straights (P5180), Toe Coaches (P2853), Foot Repair Cream (P3305), and Extra Arches (P1140).

Thermoskin

Their Compression Brace program will simplify a store’s brace offering with less SKUs and product at a lower price point.

Pedag

Pedag handmade insoles

We reviewed their line of handmade winter insoles, including:

Apex

We reviewed the all-new SS100 Slip-On Basis: a unisex, stretchable, washable therapy-extending, socklike slipper.

Thank you again to everyone who attended—we appreciate your support.

And congrats to Justin Bennett of Justin Blair & Company who won the bowling competition this year!

Doing business, made easy…

As always, we appreciate your comments and feedback to make working with us easier—that’s why we call it “Doing business, made easy!”

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Back-to-school checklist for shoe repair shops 

Shoe care, , , , ,

This time of year means kids of all ages are heading back to school—and along with them, lots of gear and supplies that may need fixing and polishing. 

We’ve put together a list of common shoe repair and shoe care needs that come up during the back-to-school season.

Review our handy checklist and your shop will be ready for anything your customers ask for this fall:  

Fix a broken backpack

Backpacks are the essential back-to-school supply. Every student needs one and possibly has a favorite with a broken zipper or ripped leather that they can’t bear to part with. Stock up on zippers, sliders, snaps, leather skins, leather strapping, awls, needles and other findings to help them hang onto to their prized possession. 

Clean up my (sneaker) act

Athletic shoes can get dirty and dingy over the summer. Make sure your customers are heading back to school in style by stocking an athletic shoe shampoo (like this one from Ralyn) as well as Sneaker Rescue shoe wipes to keep sneakers looking good on-the-go. 

Waterproof shoes for class-hopping

Students have to venture out in all types of weather during the school year. Make sure you are stocked with a weatherproofing spray, such as Ralyn Aquatec or Moneysworth & Best Campmate Pro-Tex.

Resole a favorite pair of shoes

Kids and adults alike tend to become attached to a favorite pair of shoes. Help your customer get more wear out of their favorite pair with new soles. We recommend Soletech and SVIG full or half soles, which are available in a variety of textures. 

Eliminate the sneaker stink

When gym class is back in session, shoes are bound to get stinky. Help your customers destroy foot odor with the innovative new Ralyn DeoSole shoe deodorizing patch. Or for everyday freshening, the Ralyn Shoe Deodorizer spray. 

Make athletic activities more comfy

Daily sports practices can wreak havoc on a pair of shoes and make them uncomfortable. Stock up on a variety of sports-inspired insoles and orthotics to suggest to your customers, such as the Sneaker Magic Step, Viva Sport and Viva Sneaker by Pedag, as well Powerstep’s Pinnacle Junior, which is made just for kids.

Polish up interviewing skills—and shoes 

Help recent grads make a good impression in their first interview or job by shining up their shoes. Make sure you have all the shoe shine accessories you need, such as shoe polish, shine brushes, shine cloths and fully-stocked shine boxes. And don’t forget to send them home with a DIY solution like the Ralyn Leather Shine Sponge or Angelus Instant Shine.

With a little help from you, your customers will be ready to shine this school year!

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Ralyn Shoe Care makeover: how we updated a local shoe care kiosk

Shoe care, , , ,

 

We recently did a “makeover” on the Shoe Hospital shoe care kiosk in the B Concourse of Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

The kiosk offers travelers a quick shoe shine, as well as grab-and-go shoe care products. With a record-setting 79+ million travelers passing through O’Hare each year, we wanted to help Shoe Hospital attract as many potential shoppers as possible, so we upgraded their kiosk with a selection of Ralyn Shoe Care products to appeal to the on-to-go traveler. 

Whether travelers are seeking comfort or needing a quick shoe upgrade, the Shoe Hospital kiosk now offers Ralyn Shoe Care insoles, shoe shapers, travel shine kits and shoelaces—plus our new DeoSole shoe deodorizing inserts and fitting aids to improve shoe fit and comfort (perfect for travelers on long flights).

See our full line of Ralyn Shoe Care products. 

To schedule a shoe care makeover for your kiosk or shop, reach out to one of our sales representatives. 

Tips for protecting shoes in rainy weather 

Shoe care, ,

Spring showers mean May flowers—but they can also wreak havoc on shoes. Make sure your customers are prepared for rainy weather with these easy weather protection tips.

Weatherproof them

A mink oil productwill condition the leather and also make it water repellent (not waterproof, so you still want to limit the shoe’s exposure to water).

For ultimate protection, choose a weather protection spray such as Ralyn Aquatec or Moneysworth & Best Pro-Tex Camp Spray. It adds a water-repellant layer to the shoe—causing water to bead up rather than soaking into the leather.

Cover them up

For total rain protection of dress shoes, good-old rubber overshoes are the way to go. They are 100% waterproof, lightweight and reusable—and also offer extra traction on slippery walking surfaces.

If shoes do get soaked

If shoes get soaked, always let them dry naturally. Never use a heat source to dry (i.e radiator, hair dryer) as this can dry out and damage the leather.

Stuff the inside of the shoes with newspaper and allow them to dry overnight. Inserting a pair of plastic shoe shapers or boot tree will help them retain their shape and prevent shrinkage as they dry.

Treat the leather

If shoes have gotten wet, the leather may become dry or brittle. A leather balm or  leather lotion will soften and condition the leather, bringing it back to life.

Questions about which weather protection products you should offer your customers? Give us a call or email.

Winter essentials for shoe repair shops

Shoe care, ,

Snow, slush and sleet are almost upon us—or should I say, upon our shoes. Is your shoe store or shoe repair shop ready?

We’ve put together a list of essential shoe repair and shoe care needs for the unpredictable winter season.

Review our handy checklist and your shop will be ready for anything—before the snow and salt hits the ground!

Start with a silicone

The first line of defense is an offense: brush on a liquid silicone, like Ralyn Liquid Silicone, which repels water from shoes and keeps leather soft.

Spray on heavy-duty protection

Prepare for the worst winter has to offer with a high-tech weather protector spray like Ralyn Aquatec. A spray is easily applied and thoroughly protects the entire surface of shoes, boots and apparel against rain, snow and slush—it even prevents salt stains. See Ralyn Aquatec in action in this product demo video.

Offer a natural solution

Are customers looking for a natural weather protection solution? A natural beeswax product like Sno Seal protects leather shoes and boots from rain, snow and salt. Regularly applying a wax will also extend the life of your shoes, and it can be used in conjunction with your regular shoe polish.

Take special precautions with suede

Suede shoes are especially susceptible to winter’s effects. Make sure to only use a product especially made for suede, such as Ralyn Suede & Nubuck Aquatec. Note that waxes should not be used on suede.

If you can’t protect ’em—cover ’em

If shoes haven’t been protected or your customer often travels in wet weather, you may want to suggest a pair of overshoes. Made of rubber and 100% waterproof, they fit over dress shoes and provide a physical barrier to moisture, as well as extra traction in wet weather.

And what to do if they do get wet…

If shoes do get wet, let them air dry—don’t use a heat source to dry them. And pack them with newsletter or use a wooden shoe tree to preserve the shape.

A good weather protection program will keep your customers’ shoes looking good throughout the winter season. Come springtime, they will be thanking you!

We carry a full line of weather protection from our in-house brand Ralyn Shoe Care as well as several other high-quality brands.

RSVP for one of our monthly Warehouse Meet & Greets in Chicago and shop in-person for your winter shoe care needs.