Why move production from China to Mexico you ask? If you’ve looked at these photos and still have to ask, the fact is that the shoe industry in Mexico has a long and venerable history and is every bit as state-of-the-art as China’s. It’s one third the distance from New York, my Spanish is improving olé, the weather is balmy year ’round (olé olé olé) and I can be in our factory in seven hours, not twenty-four. It’s neighborly and I like that. Most important, closer to home means more control.

NOT AS SIMPLE AS FLIPPING A SWITCH

Proximity aside, though, moving production from China to Mexico was not as simple as flipping a switch. Manufacturers had to be found, interviewed, tested and approved. Samples had to be made, remade, tested and approved, and raw material suppliers had to be vetted to meet strict performance standards. There are lots of parts to a shoe and it was a many months process, moving inch-by-cautious-inch, to put the right suppliers in place.

THE A-TEAM IS IN PLACE

Building this new supply network has been interesting and challenging, of course, and there were the inevitable moments along the way when I thought medication might be in order, but it’s also been incredibly gratifying to know that I’ve found the right team and they’re just next door. I want suppliers who are as passionate about what they do as I am and I have found my kindred spirits in Mexico. The A-Team, Picky-Puss Squad is in place, cielo de gracias.

YES, I AM A CONTROL FREAK

The best thing about having production so close to home now is that I am able to spend more time in our factories, more often, and work with our new suppliers personally. I also have a direct hand in selecting raw materials and making sure that they meet our performance standards – something that had to be delegated to our agent in China some eight thousand miles away when we first started. Travel time to our factory in Dongguan, China, was twenty-four hours door-to-door, a logistical challenge that made more frequent trips unfeasible and the delegation of decision-making a necessity. And as good as our agent was, his eyes were not my eyes, and there simply is no substitute for having my eyes on all aspects of our production. (Yes, I am a control freak.)

MARIACHI MUSIC TO MY EARS

I will forever be grateful to our first suppliers in China for giving us our start and for teaching us Shoe Production 101, but am happy to be working with our neighbors next door now, who are every bit as technically profficient and capable as producers in China, but vastly more invested in the product itself and a good deal more flexible. Mariachi music to my ears. Our shoes, gloves and bags are not just numbers on a spreadsheet to them. They are sources of excitement and enthusiasm and, ultimately, vehicles for the expression of well-honed skills and the commitment to excellence. I love that.

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Many of you have emailed or called to find out when in the name of heaven we are going to be introducing our new line! The answer is momentarily

THE HYBRID SHOE IS HERE!

We know it’s taken longer than anticipated or hoped (no one is itchier than I am to get new products onto our website), but we are excited about the results of our hard work of the past year and hope you’ll be just as enthusiastic about our Next Gen collection as you were about the first. There will be more styles coming in lots of colors, finishes and combinations AND, most important of all, a new textured sole – The Hybrid, we like to call it – that will allow you to wear these shoes on or off the golf course, anyplace your active life takes you. After all, it’s about walking in comfort right? All the time.

COMFORTABLE SHOES FOR NON-GOLFERS, TOO

One of the surprising things (not really) that came out of our exposure in O Magazine was the feedback from so many non-golfers across the country who, as it turns out, are just as interested as we are in great looking, comfortable w-a-l-k-i-n-g shoes. I was busy removing cleats for some of these customers so they could wear our shoes with their jeans. (I’ve been known to do that myself.) What I haven’t told all of you till now is that I’ve had it in mind, all along, to breed a collection of hybrid shoes – the kind of multipurpose shoes that deliver sublime comfort with have-to-have-them style – no matter what you’re up to. Well, they’re almost here. (Oh, and so are the matching totes. You’ll die.)

OMG, ARE THOSE MADRAS WING TIPS?

What you’re seeing here are sketches (tasty morsels) of some of the new products. There will be four basic shoe styles: the Wing Tip (yes, Summer Bright will be back!); the Spectator, redesigned in new colors with flax colored canvas; the Oxford, a classic stitched and perforated wing tip in extraordinary colors; and our newly beloved Weekender slip-on loafer in every color you will have to own.

CALLING ALL SIZE 10.5 & 11!

And for you size 10.5 and 11 women out there, we are making shoes for you, too! I said I would do it and I did. The final master samples of all the shoes, totes and belts (yes, they coordinate) have been approved and we plan to go into production for early spring delivery. Can’t wait. We’ll keep you posted on that through our newsletter.

THE TOTES ARE COMING!

All along I have had my eye on the accessories that we need for our active lives (over and above our sports) and have designed some gorgeous totes and belts to go with our ever expanding shoe and glove collection. This first collection of accessories will be made of leather, but we have waterproof bags on the drawing boards, too, and plan to roll those out next summer. You’ll be able to dunk those in a swimming pool or hose them down after a day at the beach. When I’m done, every part of your life will have functional Equipt accessories to make your mouth water and your life easier . (Did someone say iPad covers? Can’t help myself.)

FEEDBACK, PLEASE

As I turn my eye to developing and improving our line I want to encourage you to get in touch with me to offer your feedback. We are a work-in-progress here at Equipt and depend on you for constructive criticism. Do not hesitate, ever, to share your feelings or make suggestions. If there is something we missed or something we can do better, please let us know. All feedback is good feedback when our sole objective is to make the best performing products on earth.

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Way to go Chelcie! Thanks for bringing the great state of Wyoming into the Equipt fold. If the golf in your neighborhood is a fabulous as the skiing, our shoes and gloves have found a great home.

We are now down to two states, Nebraska and Arkansas, that need to step up to take us to 100%. What’s it going take? Seriously. The shoes and gloves can’t get any better looking or better performing or better fitting. Ladies: we need to put out the BAT CALL.

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Welcome to the fold, Valerie, of Kaysville, Utah! Your O Magazine discount is on its way to you and our goal of shipping all fifty states is in sight (be still my beating heart). Just three left.

The offer still stands: The first person from each of the remaining three states who steps up and purchases will get the ‘O’ discount of 20%. Call me to claim it. I am sitting here waiting for you. Tick. Tock.

Or, tell me on Twitter or Facebook.

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Our sincere thanks to Pam, of Fargo, North Dakota, for being the first golfer in her state to try Equipt products and let us put another notch in our belts. We made good on our promise and gave her the O Magazine discount for allowing us to take ND off our target list. Four to go (you can see who you are).

The offer still stands: The first person from each of the remaining four states who steps up and purchases will get the ‘O’ discount of 20%. Call me to claim it. This is a one-shot deal, ladies. Come and get it.

Or, tell me on Twitter or Facebook.

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We broke a lot of finger nails and missed a few cocktail hours over here, but it was all worth it. We shipped our shoes and gloves to 45/50 states and all over Canada – and more than doubled our sales from all of last year in three and a half short, but intense weeks. Our mission to blanket the earth with great golf gear for women is underway.

It was a pleasure meeting so many of you by phone and getting your comments by email. (Some of you should quit your day jobs and do stand-up.) Thank you! You’re the reason we’re doing this.

If we were out of your size, we apologize. The response was huge (as in, scary) and we did our best to keep up. Please send us an email and let us know what style and size you’re interested in. We’ll keep track of your request and let you know when we’re back in stock. You’ll get first shot.

Meanwhile, we’ve been busy designing new shoes, gloves and totes (yes, totes!) over the past few months and look forward to introducing them to you this summer. We think you’re going to like what’s coming up. If you didn’t do it already, sign up for our newsletter on the sidebar or friend us on Facebook or Twitter and we’ll let you know what’s up and when.

OK. Time for a manicure. I look like I’ve been hoeing potatoes in the rear forty. Barehanded.

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We have shipped our golf shoes and gloves to every state in the union EXCEPT Arkansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. That makes just five states out of fifty that didn’t give themselves the gift of golf. What’s UP with that Arkansas? And, you Wyoming? Are you too busy rustling cattle to squeeze in a round?

I make a habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes my way and believe me, O Magazine was a big, fat gift. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. HOWEVER, being the a-retentive person that I am, the perfectionist, the striver extraordinaire, I will not rest till I have all fifty states under my belt, wearing Equipt golf gear. So chop chop, you five.

Here’s what I’m willing to do to tick you off my list and, OK, be able to color the state in with Equipt green (loved kindergarten): The first person from each of the remaining five states who steps up and purchases will get the ‘O’ discount of 20%. Call me to claim it. This is a one-shot deal, ladies. Come and get it.

Or, tell me on Twitter or Facebook. 

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Holy smoke. Everything you’ve ever heard about being given the nod by Oprah is true. Her magic wand is magic – on a grand scale. Our little company has been awash in orders since the May issue of O Magazine hit the stands and we are exhausted, but hugely grateful, for the exposure and indescribably vast reach that O has afforded us.

I started this business in 2008 to answer a personal need for comfort and style on the golf course. It wasn’t at all clear at the outset that I would find a following, but I pressed on in the belief that there were other women out there like myself who were dying for playful, comfortable golf gear. It turns out I was right! We are a large and growing sorority, ladies. I am also happy to say that most of you have understood my idea of offering a coordinating glove for every one of our shoes because we all know that accessories rule. CONGRATULATIONS!

I am very excited about the new products we have on the drawing boards. There will be more course-to-street shoes: slip-ons, lace-ups, zip-ups. You name it. And, of course, (some say at last!) new colors in our classic cleated golf shoes. There will be new coordinating gloves for everything and a simply irresistible waterproof tote that looks like a million. You won’t know it’s waterproof just by looking at it – but you can throw it in your swimming pool if it get dirty. My idea of the perfect carry-all (a-c-c-e-s-s-o-r-y).

Stay tuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuned.

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One of the things that delighted me at the recent PGA Show in Orlando was meeting young golfer, Samantha Marks, who is on her way to UNC on a golf scholarship this fall. Samantha, 18, fell in love with our  Spectator/summer sunrise shoes and I decided to give her a little gift to take away to school. (A matching glove seemed in order, too.) Our shoes and gloves have often been referred to as playful – they are – and were designed to appeal to golfers of all ages. Voilà. Proof’s in the pudding.

There’s nothing I love more than seeing young, athletic women pursuing the sports of their dreams. (Heaven knows I wish I’d taken up golf at her age…then maybe my handicap would have something more than a prayer of a snowball in hell… Never mind. My currency rises whenever there’s a tournament.)

Samantha just sent me a few snaps of herself out practicing in our shoes and matching glove (while I’m at my desk) and I thought you might like to see how terrific she looks. We’re going to be keeping an eye on her progress and will keep you posted along the way. Go Samantha!

Now. In case there’s anyone left on earth who hasn’t heard our news yet, these shoes, the ones you see here on young Samantha, are in O Magazine this month (page 85). We made the ‘O’List, holy cow, and to celebrate our good fortune are offering everyone a 20% discount on everything on our site through April 30. Buy them while you still can! No joke.

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