Pediped Footwear: Difference between revisions

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pediped Footwear

Industry	Apparel
Founded	2004
Headquarters	Henderson, Nevada, U.S.
Products	Footwear
Website	http://www.pediped.com

pediped is a marketer of soft-sole children’s footwear, with a focus on healthy orthopedic development as children progress through the stages of learning to crawl, walk and run.

pediped was founded in Henderson, Nevada in 2004 by husband-and-wife business partners, Angela and Brian Edgeworth^[1] after the birth of their first child.^[2] The lack of healthy children’s footwear options on the market led the Edgeworths to conduct research, develop a product and ultimately found pediped.

In 2006, pediped’s "Originals" shoe line earned the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Approval,^[3] signifying the fact that the company’s products promote healthy foot development. In addition to the APMA approval, pediped is endorsed by the Children’s Hospital of Boston and Harvard Medical School.^[4] In 2008, pediped hired Rudy Glocker, a former vice president at Goldman Sachs, as its chief operating officer.^[5]

According to research conducted by a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon and pediatric podiatrist at the Children’s Hospital of Boston and Harvard Medical School, barefoot walking (or footwear that accurately mimics barefoot walking) is the healthiest option for infants and children learning to walk. Children who go barefoot also have a lower incidence of flat feet and deformity and greater foot flexibility than children who wear shoes.^[6] Based upon these findings, pediped developed shoes designed to mimic the feeling of barefoot walking through the incorporation of flexible, coated leather soles and a wide toe box. The company worked with medical professionals and parents of young children as it developed its first line of shoes, modifying their product for 18 months prior to taking it to market.^[7]

In 2009, pediped developed a three-step-system brand-extension, which consisted of three main shoe collections: the “Originals,” the “Grip ‘n’ Go”and the “Flex.” Each line includes products specifically designed to follow children as they progress through the main stages of learning to walk. The “Originals” line is designed for infants learning to walk; the “Grip ‘n’ Go” line is designed for active toddlers; and the “Flex” Collection is designed for walkers 1–10 years of age.^[8]

pediped also holds a patent on the method it uses to make its “Originals” shoe line,^[9] ultimately creating a breathable shoe with a soft sole and embedded stitches.^[10] The embedded stitches are designed to avoid direct contact with rough surfaces, which is important as a child is learning to crawl and regularly drags his or her toes on the ground. In 2006, pediped was featured for this invention in the United States Patent & Trademark Office Museum’s “Innovations in the Footwear Industry” exhibit.^[11]

pediped’s first retail store, located in Las Vegas, Nevada, opened its doors in 2013.^[12] Additional retail stores are located in Shanghai and Beijing. The company sells its products to over 2,000 stores in the United States, has distribution in over 41 countries and employs 270 staff members worldwide.^[13] pediped also distributes its product on online retailers Amazon.com and Zappos.^[14]

The company’s main manufacturing and distribution factory is located in Suzhou, China, with an additional 35,000 square-foot facility located in Henderson, Nevada.^[15]

In 2008, pediped donated $111,621 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in order to fulfill wishes for 15 children with life-threatening medical conditions.^[16] Following this, the pediped Foundation, a nonprofit foundation designed to support children’s charities in the sectors of education, health and basic necessities, was launched in 2011.^[17]

In 2015, the company designed a boot for Kenadi Jean Weis, a young girl who suffered from Infantile Spasms and passed away at age 5 ½. Along with the boot design, pediped launched its “Kolor for Kenadi” campaign, ultimately donating funds to the Kenadi Jean Weis Foundation for each drawing submitted. In total, pediped has donated over $450,000 in cash to the Make-A-Wish foundation and $2.8 million in products and monetary support to charities overall.^[18]