Business Conversation: Kids Foot Stop on Leaving a Footprint on Main Street

Eric Keough got tired of working for someone else after 15 years in the marketing and advertising world.  Even working as an engineer designing aircraft engine parts for GE wasn’t what he was looking for.

Keough opened Kids Foot Stop two and a half years ago, after doing some research in town to see what was missing in terms of retail.

“Initially, I was going to open a bridal shop next door,” Keough said. “When I got into the numbers of what that was going to take, I decided it was far too complicated. So I saw that there are a lot of young families in town with young kids, I had two young ones myself and said, ‘Wow, nobody’s measuring feet anymore, you don’t see that local shoe store where you knew the owner and you know everyone who shopped there.’”

Keough took time to talk to Winchester Patch about the world of kids’ shoes.

WP: What ages do your shop cater to?

EK: Initially, it was infants to 7-year-olds. After second season, we started getting bigger sizes as bigger kids came in. So now we go all the way up to a youth 7 which could be a junior high. But most of my kids here are in elementary school. We also have women’s shoes too, because moms will come get shoes for the little ones, and they want a pair too.

WP: What is the biggest distinction between your store a big department store?

EK: I’m not selling one-of-a-kind brands here. You can get all of this stuff in a big department store or online. But I don’t know how anyone can order shoes online and not walk around in them first. But every shoe, even with in brands, the sizes are totally different. Here we create an atmosphere where kids can run around, it’s not jammed packed so they can’t move. Think about it, what’s the first thing a kid is going to want to do with a new pair of shoes on? Run in them. We encourage that. We have a hang time meter to see how high they can jump. We try to have things I here that will entertain the kids. We have a T.V. in the fitting area while we measure their feet, so they are entertained.

WP: What is the life expectancy for a kid’s shoe?  

EK: From infancy to about three years, they grow once every two months. Then it slows down after that. But I’ve had kids come in and get measured in May and in June they’re a size bigger. I see that boys burn through their shoes quicker than girls when they drag their feet while bike riding or scooters. Girl’s shoes can last for about a year if the brand holds up. Boys usually outwear them before they outgrow them. But kids like new colors and styles, which is a big factor too.