(Health-NewsWire.Net, April 09, 2015 ) Largo, FL -- Health and comfort footwear advocates Jacob Wurtz and Jane Strong have a lot to celebrate.
Three decades ago, on April 19, 1985, the pair set up a kiosk in Tyrone Square Mall, St. Petersburg, FL. This year, they have proudly opened their tenth upscale footwear location in the famous Sundial Center in downtown St. Petersburg.
Self-described New Age free spirits, who once lived six months in a tipi in remote British Columbia, the subject of business was self-taught by Jacob and Jane after they moved to Florida to try to change things for the betterment of mankind over 30 years ago.
A winter freeze killed their first business - picking, packing and shipping organically grown Florida citrus. Recovering from that, they then got into the sock business for a while at local flea markets. They discovered the Kenkoh original Japanese massage sandal at a Natural Health Fair in 1980. This product launched their business when they sold $10,000 worth at the Florida State Fair, to foot-sore fairgoers. They both agreed to promote the Kenkoh, recognizing it as a product that everybody needs. Soon they also took on the little known, odd-looking German sandal called Birkenstock. During the years that they were building their business locally they also traveled from Florida as far as New York State for up to 20 shows a year and frequently an 80-hour work week.
Today, Happy Feet Plus is flourishing across the West Coast of Florida from Tampa to Sarasota and Fort Myers. Jacob and Jane have continued their commitment to the planet by utilizing environmentally-friendly materials in all ten stores. A decade ago, Happy Feet Plus opened the very first LEED Gold Certified retail building in the U.S. "Being a "Green" business isn't always about saving money", says Jacob, "it's about doing what's right for the greater good."
Since a full decade before founding Happy Feet Plus, Jacob has been a strong advocate of achieving wellness through the practice of Natural Health. Today, along with many other brands of health and comfort footwear, the company is the national distributor of the original Kenkoh Japanese massage sandal that sparked the business thirty years ago.
Jane Strong has been an active member of the St. Petersburg Toastmasters Club, serving on the Executive Board and as President, and was an Area Governor in 2008, as well as a member of the American Business Woman's Association. In 2007 she was named the Business Woman of the Year by the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, and in 2009, Entrepreneur of the Year by the Tampa Bay Business Journal.
"Happy Feet Plus features shoes that have a reputation for Health and Wellness and environmental awareness," said Jane. "We are so gratified not only that our business has grown, but that the concept of healthy, natural footwear has generated so much enthusiasm and loyalty over the years."
About Happy Feet Pluss: Happy Feet Plus is a Florida West Coast based, footwear company with ten retail shoe stores in Tampa, Carrollwood, Clearwater, Largo, Brandon, St. Petersburg, Ellenton, Sarasota , Ft. Myers and Sundial (downtown St. Pete), as well as a large online presence at http://happyfeet.com. These trendy shoe stores feature euro-comfort footwear brands including Birkenstock, Finn Comfort, Dansko, Aetrex, Ecco, Brooks, Vionic, Mephisto, Taos and Kenkoh Massage Sandals more.
Happy Feet Pluss
Jane Strong
1-800-336-6657
jane@happyfeet.com
Source: EmailWire.Com
|