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It’s no CROC
Decatur Daily, Jul 19, 2005
Some people consider Crocs in the water a good thing.
No, not the scaly reptilians infamous for devouring the dogs of Egyptians along the Nile. Think shoes instead.
“They feel really good,” said Lindsey Vonloh, Dillard’s sales associate. “I can’t really explain it.”
The new, colorful Italian-style clog for men, women and children has had trouble staying on department store shelves since their introduction in 2002.
“Before we got them, we had people coming in every day or calling asking if we had them in yet,” said Joey McKenna, Dillard’s shoe department manager. “The first day we had them out, we sold a few pairs.”
Whitney Miles, 25, of Decatur bought a bright yellow pair two years ago, which she wore out, to wear to church camp.
“It’s like walking on air,” she said.
She said she bought another knock-off pair at Payless because of their comfort and easy-to-clean features, and plans to purchase another color in the brand name.
“They are the most comfortable shoes in the whole wide world,” Miles said.
Scott Seamans designed the waterproof clog as the ultimate boating shoe, and even introduced his design at a boating show in 2002.
The shoes’ most-touted features include comfort, and the ability to float and repel water.
Dr. Keith Luper of the Foot Specialists Inc. in Decatur said the water- resistance feature explains why crocs.com claims the anti-microbial shoes will not have odor from extensive outdoor wear.
Five styles of Crocs exist in 13 colors, with a flip-flop coming soon.
The styles include the original Beach, known for its comfort and ventilation holes on the top and bottom of the shoe; the Cayman, a thinner version of the Beach; the Metro, with only ventilation holes on the sides; the Highland, the no-hole clog for colder weather or biohazardous settings; and the Nile, an open-toed version of the clog.
All styles are made of a soft resin with an orthotic bed that with body heat will soften and mold to the shape of a person’s foot for maximum comfort and support.
Vonloh said rounded spikes on the sole of the shoe massage your foot and add to the comfort.
Crocs.com suggests that the shoes should fit loosely, with the sides of feet and toes not touching the sides of the shoe.
Luper said while the shoes feel extremely comfortable, he felt skeptical about how much support they would offer a person who needed it.
“I like the idea,” Luper said, “but I don’t know if it actually works.”
Testimonies on the company’s Website from nurses, gardeners and water-enthusiasts seem to suggest that it does work.
Other features of the shoe have attracted customers ranging from doctors to campers.
The slip-resistant and non-marking resin material makes the shoe easy to wipe clean.
Crocs also weigh no more than six ounces.
The resin ankle strap can be pushed forward allowing wearers to sport them as true clogs, or stretched to fit comfortably around the back of the foot.
The Niwot, Colo.-based company sells shoes in the United States and Canada, with plans to offer them in European cities this summer.
“It’s been crazy,” said Tia Williams, company spokeswoman. “Every month we increase production. We’ve grown exponentially.”
The shoes sell between $30 and $40 dollars and crocs.com already offers T-shirts – possibly a hint of a larger apparel and accessory line in the works.
Martin’s shoe department manager Amanda Dobbs said her store has prepared for fall by ordering the darker and more neutral colors of the shoe.
“It’s a hot seller, for sure,” Dobbs said. “I don’t have a pair, but I’m definitely thinking about it.”
Jenny Thompson
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