The search for Okanagan's Biggest Feet Contest at Roy's Shoes ended on Oct 31st as 6 ft 10 inch JR Clifton walked into the store wearing a pair of size 20 shoes. For seven weeks Roy's Shoes has been searching for the largest feet in the Okanagan to promote their custom made to order shoes for men.
More details at: http://kelownacustomshoes.blogspot.com/
Jim Belshaw
Roy's Shoes, Boots and Repairs
1627 Ellis Street
Kelowna, BC
V1Y 2A8
250-763-5696
Showing posts with label Big Foot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Big Foot. Show all posts
Feet First - Okanagan Big Foot Contest Winner
Feet first
J.P. Squire
2009-11-06
If the shoe fits …
That has been a problem for Keremeos cattle rancher J.R. Clifton, whose feet require size 19 1/2 shoes.
The 21-year-old became the unofficial Mr. Okanagan Big Foot on Thursday, thanks to a Search for the Okanagan‘s Biggest Feet Contest by Roy‘s Shoes on Ellis Street in downtown Kelowna.
The soft-spoken young man received a $1,000 gift certificate for a pair of custom-made shoes, a trophy bearing a size 19 1/2 sole and a T-shirt with the words, I am the Okanagan‘s Biggest Foot.
Clifton was attending a horse expo in Chilliwack with his fiance when an Okanagan horse owner told him about the seven-week contest.
“I thought, ‘Great. I‘ll probably get something for my big feet.‘ I wasn‘t sure if I had the biggest feet in the Okanagan, but I thought I may as well give it a shot,” he said.
He gets a few foot jokes sent his way, but most people focus on his six-foot-10 frame.
In fact, he had to bend over to get inside Roy‘s Shoes on the last day of the contest to enter. Shop owner Jim Belshaw was ready to declare him the winner at that point, but waited until the end of the day.
“The contest was a way to promote our custom-made shoes,” said Belshaw.
“It just took off. J.R., for example, was in Chilliwack when he heard about the contest. The response was phenomenal and it was a lot of fun. We had 60 to 70 people come in to register. Only 35 actually registered because they looked on the board (at foot outlines from entrants) and then they found out that they‘re not going to win.”
Custom-made shoes in the size 13-14 range cost $400 to $450, while a size 23 pair would cost about $1,100. The process of determining size, design, colour and choice of leather at his shop takes about six weeks, then a factory in Leon, Mexico, fabricates them.
“One of the most surprising results of the contest was the number of women who entered and had hard-to-fit larger footwear requirements, so much so that I started bringing in larger footwear sizing,” said Belshaw.
“The tremendous success of this year‘s contest will no doubt lead to the second annual Big Foot Contest – maybe just for the women.”
When Belshaw bought the shop three years ago, he carried up to size 13 for men and size 10 for women. He now regularly carries size 11 and 12 for women and up to 16 for men, but is looking for larger sizes.
Clifton‘s feet grew to size 12, the largest size carried by most retailers, before he hit puberty.
“I was kind of hoping they would stop growing when I could still get shoes. I didn‘t expect size 19 1/2,” he said with with a laugh.
“I get shoes here and there. I got these size 20 directly from New Balance, which makes shoes for athletes. These are their biggest. Work boots for around the ranch are tough, but Red Wing makes some. It would be nice to have a pair of dress shoes for my wedding next summer.”
His mother used to say: “We‘re going to have to butcher a cow to make a pair of shoes to fit you.” At the moment, he has only three or four pairs of shoes and boots.
In addition to the largest overall category, Clifton won the blue collar class.
David Crawford, a humour columnist for The Daily Courier, won the celebrity category with his size 15 feet.
“Can I use those for new ballet slippers?” he joked. “I make those too,” responded Belshaw with a laugh.
Ashley Pohl, 13, won the ladies category with size 14 1/2. Braxton Bunce‘s size 16 1/2 won the sports category. Brett Vanderhoek‘s size 15 1/2 won for civil servant.
Cal Manky‘s size 15 1/4 won in business professional and Tyler Harcus won in the general public category with size 18 1/2.
There were no entries in the politician category. Each category winner received a $200 gift certificate toward a pair of custom-made shoes.
Jim Belshaw
Roy’s Shoes Boots and Repair
1627 Ellis Street, Kelowna, V1Y2A8
250-763-5696
roysshoes@shaw.ca
http://www.roysshoes.com/
http://www.soles4soulscanada.com/
Finding the Okanagan's biggest feet - Castanet Kelowna
Nov 3, 2009 / 2:30 pm
'If the shoe fits, wear it' isn't an expression that all Okanagan residents can easily relate to.
With that in mind, Roy's Shoe Repair on Ellis Street in Kelowna decided to hold a contest to find the Okanagan's biggest feet.
Owner Jim Belshaw says they were looking for a way to promote their service of custom-made shoes for men with large feet and the 'Big Foot' contest seemed like a good fit.
“We launched the contest in mid-September and we were going to run it for six weeks. Halloween day was going to be the end of the contest. It was fabulous, it sort of took off on its own,” says Belshaw.
He says they had about 30 people register for the contest. The contest had eight categories such as, business professional, local celebrity, sports figure and general public.
“We even had a ladies category because the company that I deal with that actually puts the shoes together is thinking about doing a ladies custom shoe next year. The winner of the ladies category was a young lady, 13-years-old with a shoe size of 14 and a half.”
Belshaw says the winner of the men's category was a young man from Keremeos, with a shoe size of 19 and a half.
“The category winners won a $200 gift certificate for custom shoes. The overall winner won a pair of custom shoes up to a cost of $1,000.”
He says $1,000 is a pretty typical amount to pay for custom made size 20s. By comparison, a pair of men's custom made size 12s would cost around $400.
The winner of the local celebrity category was Castanet humour columnist David Crawford. His feet measured in at size 15.
Jim Belshaw
Roy’s Shoes Boots and Repair
1627 Ellis Street, Kelowna, V1Y2A8
250-763-5696
roysshoes@shaw.ca
http://www.roysshoes.com/
http://www.soles4soulscanada.com/
In seach of Okanagn Big Foot - Kelowna Cap news
Published: September 22, 2009 6:00 PM
If you live in the Okanagan and have large feet, Jim Belshaw of Roy’s Shoes in Kelowna is looking for you.
Your large feet will allow you to participate in the hunt for Okanagan’s Big Foot.
The store is offering the winner custom made shoes worth up to $1,000.
The contest runs to Oct. 31 and it is free to enter.
To enter visit Jim at the store at 1627 Ellis St. in Kelowna to have your feet measured.
There are eight categories to enter and they include business professional, blue collar professional, politician, civil servant, local celebrities, sports figures, general public and ladies.
Each category winner will win a $200 gift certificate that can be applied towards the purchase of a pair of custom made shoes.
The Okanagan’s biggest foot will win a custom made pair of shoes valued up to $1000.
According to Belshaw, men, typically, have two choices of footwear: comfort or style.
A large number of men have trouble finding a pair of dressy, casual or even golf shoes that are comfortable, he said.
“If a customer has a size 10 on one foot and a size 11 on the other foot, that’s what he gets.”
Belshaw’s shoe store has been in operation for 37 years.
Jim Belshaw
Roy’s Shoes Boots and Repair
1627 Ellis Street, Kelowna, V1Y2A8
250-763-5696
roysshoes@shaw.ca
http://www.roysshoes.com/
http://www.soles4soulscanada.com/
Power 104 Kelowna - Have You Got Big Feet?
In Search of Okanagan's Big FOOT
If you live in the Okanagan and have large feet Jim Belshaw of Roy's Shoes Kelowna is looking for you!Your large feet will allow you to participate in the hunt for "Okanagan's Big Foot".Win a custom made pair of shoes valued up to $1000.00
The contest runs September 15th to October 31st 2009 and it is free to enter.
To enter visit Jim at Roy's Shoes at 1627 Ellis Street, Kelowna and have your feet measured.
There are eight categories to enter and they include Business Professional, Blue Collar Professional, Politicians, Civil servants, Local Celebrities,
Sports figures, General public, and a Ladies division.Each Category winner will win a $200.00Gift certificate that can be applied towards the purchase of a pair of custom made shoes.
The Okanagan's biggest foot will win a custom made pair of shoes valued up to $1000.00
Jim says that men typically, have two choices of footwear: comfort or style.A large number of men have trouble finding a pair of dressy, casual or even golf shoes that are comfortable.
Roy's Shoes custom fits incorporate both."If a customer has a size 10 on one foot and a size 11 on the other foot, that's what he gets."We make sure our customers get the perfect fitting pair of shoes.
For 37 years Roy's Shoes Boot and Repair has offered great service and shoe repair in Kelowna's the downtown core.Roy's Shoes provides Old World Custom Shoe Craftsmanship, specifically made for your feet by blending bench crafted footwear and the latest technologies
to service all Western Canada.
More Details at our website http://kelownacustomshoes.blogspot.com/
Jim Belshaw
Roy’s Shoes Boots and Repair
1627 Ellis Street, Kelowna, V1Y2A8
250-763-5696
roysshoes@shaw.ca
http://www.roysshoes.com/
http://www.soles4soulscanada.com/
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