Aussie Soles Canada
About Us and How We Discovered Aussie Soles™
My name is Barb Shields, and that's a picture of me getting a kiss from a wallaby when I went to visit my niece in Australia in November 2009. This was my first visit to Australia, and I can safely say it will not be the last! I loved everything about the country, but especially the climate!
Without getting into gory details, I have had ongoing issues with foot pain. I've spent thousands of dollars on "comfortable" shoes, inserts, orthotics etc but never found any relief. On our last weekend in Australia, we attended an outdoor market on the Gold Coast. A vendor was selling Starfish sandals and I purchased a pair. We had been doing a lot of walking and my feet were absolutely killing me. I put on the Starfish sandals and was amazed! No pain what-so-ever!
When we got home to Alberta Canada, I was kicking myself for not buying more. I had my niece in Australia on the look out to find them for me, and I started searching the internet . The internet brought me in touch with Aussie Sole's Founder, Craig Taplin.
When I learned that the only way to get Aussie Soles into Canada was through a Canadian Distributor, I jumped at the opportunity. Initially, I was interested in getting a shipment to sell in my local gift shop in Mundare, Alberta, but it just made more sense to distribute these amazing shoes throughout Canada. The bad news is now I have one less excuse to travel back to Australia ;)
Without getting into gory details, I have had ongoing issues with foot pain. I've spent thousands of dollars on "comfortable" shoes, inserts, orthotics etc but never found any relief. On our last weekend in Australia, we attended an outdoor market on the Gold Coast. A vendor was selling Starfish sandals and I purchased a pair. We had been doing a lot of walking and my feet were absolutely killing me. I put on the Starfish sandals and was amazed! No pain what-so-ever!
When we got home to Alberta Canada, I was kicking myself for not buying more. I had my niece in Australia on the look out to find them for me, and I started searching the internet . The internet brought me in touch with Aussie Sole's Founder, Craig Taplin.
When I learned that the only way to get Aussie Soles into Canada was through a Canadian Distributor, I jumped at the opportunity. Initially, I was interested in getting a shipment to sell in my local gift shop in Mundare, Alberta, but it just made more sense to distribute these amazing shoes throughout Canada. The bad news is now I have one less excuse to travel back to Australia ;)
About Aussie Soles™
Aussie Soles Management Team
Craig Taplin, Director.
Australian born Craig Taplin has been an entrepreneur for the past 10 years. His extensive travel and entrepreneurial experience provided him with solid business foundation and first-hand knowledge of market preference and product development.
Craig was introduced to the footwear industry in 2003 recognizing an opportunity to distribute a new style of shoe which is now a multi-billion dollar style. After great success in the shoe industry he then developed and built his own brand of footwear called Aussie Soles™. He designed and patented a range of shoe styles for the Global market. In 2006, Craig introduced Aussie Soles to the US and European marketplaces.
Mark Elcock, Operations Manager.
New Zealand born Mark Elcock was introduced to Aussie Soles in 2004 while running a men's fashion store known as Unfold in Noosa Ausralia. Mark instantly saw the opportunity to increase sales for the store and brought Aussie Soles on board immediatly. After 4 years there, Mark moved back to his home Country New Zealand to buy a franchise restaurant with a partner and took it from the bottom of the franchise chain of performers to the top within two years. Needing to get back to the Sunshine Coast of Australia, Mark contacted Aussie Soles Director Craig Taplin to see if there were vacancies, and the rest is now history. Successfully opening 4 new locations for Aussie Soles in Qld Australia, he is now ready to roll out another 4 stores by end of 2010.
