Progress Ridge's When The Shoe Fits wants every customer to feel like Cinderella

Alan O’Hara can describe his store in three words.

Excellence. In. Footwear.

O’Hara, a certified pedorthist and owner of Progress Ridge TownSquare’s When The Shoe Fits, said that it’s important to find a balance between fashion and function.

“We have trained staff who know how to help people select shoes that are going to fit and function,” said O’Hara. “We have the best of all the world’s major comfort brands. We think that you shouldn’t have to substitute style to be comfortable.”

Fashion styles change with the seasons, but When The Shoe Fits works hard to have the right shoe for any occasion, whether you want to look your best or are planning your next hiking trip, O’Hara said.

“There’s a big movement, right now, in the footwear industry. The brands that are having the most successes in retail stores across the country are brands that are being deemed by consumers as fashionable yet have comfort features built in,” O’Hara said. “That plays right into our major strength … knowing what to do with these better-quality shoes, now, and how to make them work.

At When The Shoe Fits, you’ll find brands including Taos, Earthies and Romika.

“Of course, we’ve always done great with Dansko and Keen, (too,)” O’ Hara said. “But in the last several seasons, we’ve seen major strides from some of the more fashionable brands at making shoes that can actually help people be more comfortable, but still be fashionable. That’s where we’re seeing a lot of growth right now.”

Spring is a busy time at O’Hara’s store.

“March and April are our two biggest sandal months,” he said. “We’re loaded for bear right now. By that fi rst week of March, we look to try to get most all of our spring shoes in — those first few warm days, people really start to think about getting something springy. We’ve got all kinds of great stuff and fun colors.”

Expect a lot of one-on-one customer service at the Beaverton store, O’Hara said.

“That’s our difference. We know how shoes should fi t and what’s going to work for different people.”

It may seem old fashioned, but O’Hara said he wants the experience to remind you of visits to shoe stores when you were a youngster.

“We actually fit shoes,” O’Hara said. “There’s no substitute for putting a shoe on a foot and seeing how that actually interacts with a person’s foot.”

Etcetera

A series of in-store events, with key vendors, is planned. These events are scheduled weekly, from mid-March through the middle of April.

According to its website, When The Shoe Fits uses pedorthics, the design, manufacture, modification and fi t of footwear and orthotics, to work with customers and their unique foot problems.

Among other brand names at When The Shoe Fits: Brooks, Merrell, Naot, Saucony and Clarks.

If you have foot conditions, including hammer toes, heel spurs, bunions, arch pain-strain or shin splints, staff at When The Shoe Fits can help with shoe selection.

Give them a call at 503-746-4609

Visit them at whentheshoefi ts.com