Perhaps the most important piece of merchandise in a planner's arsenal is a pair of comfortable shoes. Here is a quick primer on how to devise a shoe strategy that will give your productivity a boost, culled from advice originally shared on the online forum known as the MIM list (
[email protected]).
Sarah Casbeer, a sales rep for Phoenix, AZ-based Gold Canyon Candle, offers the following checklist to consider when shopping for shoes:
1. Investing in several good pairs of shoes is worth the expense for meeting planners. Your feet actually increase in size as the day goes on due to the pressure on them, so when you shop for shoes, go in the evening when your feet are at their largest.
2. Buy one pair of shoes that is a half-size larger and wider than your normal size for the last day of your event.
3. Make sure the shoes you purchase are not just comfortable, but give good support to your arches.
When working a meeting or attending a trade show, Casbeer recommends packing at least two pairs of shoes and suggests changing shoes at least once a day along with your socks or hosiery as well. She also swears by the practice of soaking her feet in water with Epsom salt at the end of each day.
"For shoes that are comfortable (but not necessarily fashionable), I would look at the following lines: Clarks (www.clarksusa.com), Bjorn, Ecco (www.echoshoes.com), Birkenstock (www.birkenstock.com), and Naturalizer (www.naturalizer.com) for ladies still wanting some semblance of a pump."
—Gloria Nelson, president, Gloria Nelson Event Design, LLC, Winneconne, WI
"There's a great company in the metro-D.C. area called 'Comfort One Shoes.' Although they aren't national, you can order online (www.comfortoneshoes.com). Better yet—get the brand names of these comfortable shoes and search out where they are offered in your neck of the woods. I bought a pair of Hartjes that I specifically purchased for a trip to Spain where I knew I would be walking most of the time. My feet never got tired. You will pay more, but it is worth it."
—Drennan Lindsay, event planner, Z-Tech Corp, Rockville, MD
"I wear Mephisto (www.mephisto.com) shoes on site. They are pricey ($275), but I've worn the same pair now for four years. I would recommend them highly. My feet no longer ache at the end of a long day. They come in a variety of styles but I wear the most comfortable ones."
—Nancy P. King, president, The Event Management Group, Rockville, MD
"I have about 20 pairs, different types, of the brands known as Merrell (www.merrell.com) and Mephisto. I don't think you will find shoes, sneakers, and sandals as comfortable anywhere else. Plus, they're geared toward walking, standing, and just about everything. I even keep a couple of pairs under my desk, for when I head out at lunchtime."
—Steve LaManna, sales manager, Galt House Hotel & Suites, Louisville, KY
"When I need to be in a cocktail dress for a gala or other event, I wear either Aerosoles (www.aerosoles.com), or Easy Spirit (www.easyspirit.com). They're very comfortable, but nothing beats my Danskos (www.dansko.com). I have a pair in brown and a pair in black. Warning—they're clogs (mine have backs), but they look just fine with pants or a pants suit."
—Patricia Ahaesy, CMP, CSEP, P&V Enterprises, New York, NY
"When I worked as a CSM at a hotel I swore by a pair of Joan & David Loafers. I still have them and still bring them on site. I also really love Taryn Rose shoes (www.tarynrose.com); she designs them to be comfortable and fashionable at the same time. I also have several pairs of Nine West shoes that I have put through the wringer because they are so comfortable, as well as some pairs of Enzo Angiolini's."
—Melissa Biele, CMP, regional director, HelmsBriscoe, San Jose, CA