From Sunday 15th of April we will now be open from 10am until 4pm. Why not come in and take a look at our new layout and new brands. Bring the kids along to choose one of out new range of childrens bags. we have everything from Peppa Pig to Fireman sam.

The new ladies Hotter display

Having recently watched ‘Mary: Queen of Frocks’ myself on Channel 4 I found this programme very interesting. As her new TV series begins, retail guru Mary Portas criticises the fashion industry for ignoring the over-forties. “Most of the high street is aimed at 18- to 25-year-olds.” In my opinion, this is true! You never see any ‘fashionable’ clothing for the over forties, especially the elderly. Why do the elderly have to dress old fashioned? Why can’t today’s fashion influence our older generation to dress more ‘up to date’?

Are our elderly slippers too old fashioned? Do we need more fashionable styles, colours – but would these appeal to the older generation?

A Quick Guide to Children’s Foothealth and the Importance of Properly Fitted Shoes

How Children’s Feet DevelopA baby’s foot contains no fully formed bones at all – the shape of the foot is mapped out in soft and pliable bone similar to cartilage, surrounded by a layer of subcutaneous tissue or ‘puppy fat’. This makes the foot feel soft, but also makes it prone to being bent out of shape without you noticing and without your child feeling any pain.

As the child grows, so does the bone structure in their feet. By the age of three, your child’s foot will have started the development of the full complement of 26 bones but the final structure won’t be established until they’re in their late teens!

Until this time, they need shoes designed specifically for each stage of development and that fit properly in order that their bones develop naturally. Shoes that don’t fit properly can prevent this, causing discomfort and health problems, and can hinder their walking development.

Crawling

Once a baby has learnt to sit up on their own, they’ll quickly learn to pull themselves along. Soon after, their legs will join in and then they’ll be crawling. Alternatively, some babies will learn to shuffle on their bottoms – sitting upright, they’ll bend their knees to pull themselves along. They can move quickly – in the time it takes to make a cup of tea a child can crawl up to 400m!

Even at this stage, there are times when feet may need protection. For these occasions we have a range of shoes specifically designed for a crawling child. They’ll deliver the best protection and grip as your child begins to explore the world around them.

• Very lightweight and flexible to help them as they learn how to move
• Textured sole which comes up over the toe and the heel, to aid grip for propelling themselves
• 10mm growing room – enough to allow them to grow, but reducing the chance of them tripping as they learn to pull themselves up
• Smooth, seamless interior that won’t rub their feet
• Leather uppers and other soft breathing materials to care for feet
• Whole and half sizes and a choice of widths
• Shaped for the natural toe shape
• Easy, fully adjustable fastenings to make them easier to put on and stay on

Cruising

Many children don’t go straight from crawling to walking – the first time they stand they’ll use furniture as a support.

Once they’re steady enough, they’ll slide their hands to the side whilst moving one foot and then the other, always keeping three points of contact to help them stay upright. Once they begin to grow in confidence they’ll let go and totter towards the next support.

We have a range of shoes with specific features to help them at this stage whilst ensuring that their feet are well looked after.

• Protective toe, heel and waist guards
• Textured side pattern to aid grip between crawling and cruising, and helping them feel steady
• Lightweight, very flexible soles to help their feet feel the floor, helping them to improve their balance
• 10mm growing room  – enough to allow them to grow, but reducing the chance of tripping as they learn to pull themselves up
• Smooth, seamless interior that won’t rub their feet
• Leather uppers and other soft breathing materials to care for feet
• Shaped for the natural toe shape
• Easy, fully adjustable fastenings to make them easier to put on and stay on
• Whole and half sizes and a choice of widths

Walking

Most children learn to walk aged between 9 and 18 months, depending on the development of the required muscular strength and co-ordination.

There’s no need to be anxious if it takes them a little longer, every child is different and needs to develop naturally – the worst thing to do is rush them.

When they do take their first unaided steps, they’ll walk very differently from a grown up. Their feet will be wide apart and point outwards and there will be no flexing of the knees or ankles. They’ll take short stamping steps which reverberate, making them very unsteady, and they’ll hold their arms out to aid balance. So their shoes need to be properly fitted to provide stability, protect them and encourage them to develop their walking skills.

• Close-cropped soles to prevent tripping
• Lightweight, flexible soles to aid walking development
• Soft leather and other natural upper materials to keep feet cool
• Padded ankle collar for protection and support
• Fully adjustable fastenings
• Full 14mm growing room
• Whole and half sizes and a choice of widths

Did you Know?

• Babies can’t feel if their shoes are too small. That’s why our shoe fitters check the length, width, ankle fit and heel grip.
• Children’s feet grow very quickly. That’s why all our shoes have up to three months growing room.
• Feet are as individual as faces. That’s why we make shoes in whole and half sizes and a range of width fittings.

In Store at our Lichfield branch we have a fantastic ‘First Shoe’ area designated just to babies and toddlers. We have our expert fitters trained to fit your little ones first shoes to give them the best support and comfort possible. We do a range of styles, colours and sizes to suit your preference. We give you a presentation box to keep with a photograph of your child wearing their new shoes and a booklet about looking after your child’s feet. It’s an all round great experience for you and your child to get their first shoes!

It’s all about feelgoodfeet™, Padders’ own unique system of design and manufacture producing exceptionally comfortable and supportive footwear. feelgoodfeet™ has been independently recognized by the industry’s premier research and testing organization SATRA; who gave Padders feelgoodfeet™ one of the highest ever scores, in their footwear Comfort Index tests.

Comfort is trademark

Padders have the concept of comfort so well sewn up that feelgoodfeet™ is Padders very own trademark. It’s a word the sums up their unique approach to creating the ultimate in comfy footwear for men and women, with styles and materials based on exhaustive research into the physiology of feet. Using their own systems of design and manufacture, they’ve gone right back to basics to work out how shoes can be made lighter, more comfortably supportive and durable. Result – feet that feel good from dawn ’till dusk!

Dual-Fit system

A wider fitting is made possible by removal of the footbed. This also allows orthotics to be added where required.

Why not view Friary Shoes Padders range, with 20% off ALL Padders you would be silly not to

Girls Top Selling School Shoe so far is Clarks Daisy Talk Jnr

• Girl’s school shoes from Clarks Daisy Magic Steps range, which include a free YoToY doll, pretty bracelet and Sprite charm.
• The durable black leather is classically styled with an on-trend bow trim and an adjustable Mary-Jane strap.
•  A padded collar adds comfort.
• Available in whole and half sizes and different width fittings.

Boys Top Selling School Shoe so far is Clarks Jack Learn Jnr

• Boy’s black leather shoes – perfect for school – in durable dyed-through leather with a protective rubberised toe guard.
• As part of Clarks fun Jack Nano range, every pair comes with a YoToY character hidden in the heel, and triple rip-tape fastenings for easy on-off and adjustability.
• Available in whole and half sizes and different width fittings.

School Shoes Fitting Appointment System -

• Booking an appointment means NO waiting
• Massive selection of Clarks and Start-Rite School Shoes
• Fully Trained Staff to fit Childrens Shoes
• Free Growth Checks

Offers available in store -

• Buy any FULL priced School shoes and recieve £5 off any FULL priced Clarks Trainers or £10 off any FULL priced Geox Trainers
• Currently in SALE – Clarks Doodles and Sandals, Lelli Kelly Canvas and Sandals

• Booking an appointment means NO waiting
• Massive selection of Clarks and Start-Rite School Shoes
• Fully Trained Staff to fit Childrens Shoes
• Free Growth Checks

Offers available in store -

• Buy any FULL priced School shoes and recieve £5 off any FULL priced Clarks Trainers or £10 off any FULL priced Geox Trainers
• Currently in SALE – Clarks Doodles and Sandals, Lelli Kelly Canvas and Sandals

Now do you see why you should choose Friary Shoes

Friary Shoes see’s its BIGGEST ever SALE start early this year, with practically 90% of its stock now in SALE, massive savings to be gained.

Brands such as : Anatomic Gel, Barkers, Clarks, Ecco, Fit Flop, Gabor, Geox, Lelli Kelly, Lotus, Rieker, Van Dal and many more..

 If any of these bones are misaligned, your entire body could be affected. You may not even know that you have a foot problem but over the years it can cause knee problems, hip or low-back problems, shoulder and neck problems and even headaches or stomachaches. Foot problems can also cause emotional stresses and physiological changes in the body like adrenal stress, blood sugar, fatigue and many others. Many doctors look to the mechanics of the foot for proper posture but there is so much more making up the foundation that we stand, walk and run on.

Now see why you need properly fitted shoes?? Shoes that are too tight will shut off your positive support mechanism which keeps your body standing in an upright position. If the positive support mechanism is not working properly, you will start to slouch with your shoulders and head forward as you stand. This can cause discomfort throughout the body, even chronic neck/back pain and will eventually cause permanent posture problems and bone deformation.

It is important to treat the foot with respect and to invest in its good health.  An important factor for prevention and to maintain the health of your feet is wearing good shoes. A good shoe will support the foot well and prevent injury and deformation. A good shoe will support the foot while standing, walking or running.

A well fitted shoe will have -

• Laces - the more eyelets the shoe has for laces the better. The laces help the shoe to form to the foot so that the foot can work properly. Lace-up shoes are much better to walk in than slide on or most strap on shoes. Make sure you lace up you shoes so they are snug but not too tight. Do not wear your lace up shoes with the laces loose because your foot will flop around in it and cause problems.
• heel support and a firm shank to support your arch but will still be flexible when you walk. The heel should not be higher than a medium height.
• The correct width and length - Your toes should not touch the front of the shoe and the foot width should not hang over the side of the shoes. You should try on or be measured for shoes at the end of the day because your feet expand during the day due to gravity and your body weight while you are walking.

So i think that says it all really, what do you think??

Picture Left to Right – Kayleigh Ashe, Tina Walker, Laura Allen, Nicci Lewis, Linda Swaine and Jill Medford.

A massive well done to all the girls that completed the Race For Life on Sunday in Sutton!! Raising £400 we at Lichfield are so very proud.