Business takes the 'sneak' out of sneakers

BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer

PHOTOSBYJENNIFER AMATO Dawn Firsing-Paris only lets her children Shane (l) and Summer wear Squeaky Feet Kids Shoes, manufactured in China but sold through her own Web site. The shoes make noise when children walk, encouraging them to take steps while alerting parents to their locations. Squeaky Feet Kids Shoes offers 30 different styles of noise-making shoes, sneakers and sandals to encourage children to walk. They are available for boys and girls size 4 to 8 in canvas, vinyl or leather with laces or Velcro. NORTH BRUNSWICK - Many great ideas are spread through word of mouth, but Dawn Firsing-Paris has one spread by the sound of feet.

The township resident and owner of Squeaky Feet Kids Shoes sells sneakers, sandals and shoes online that make noise when children walk in them, providing a fun time for kids while teaching them to walk, in addition to providing peace of mind to parents.

"They encourage kids to walk, new learners to walk, and kids like them because they squeak and they're fun. I like them as a parent because I can hear them and know where they're at," she said.

The noise is made when the child steps on his or her heel, as air comes out of a small piece inserted on the side of the sole of the shoe. Although her personal babysitter hates the noise and bought the kids non-squeaking shoes, Firsing-Paris said she only dresses her children in the squeakers. She has not gotten any complaints because parents enjoy being able to hear their children without necessarily seeing them. She even said a customer of hers who is visually impaired bought the shoes for his grandchildren so that he can keep track them.

"Some people say to me, 'Doesn't that drive you crazy?' I say, no, it doesn't bother me because I know where they are," she said.

The 30 different styles of shoes are available in canvas, vinyl or leather and come in various designs such as striped, camouflaged or decorated with butterflies and flowers. They are available for both girls and boys size 4-8, although shoes up to size 13 can be specially ordered at an additional cost. A handful of shoes have laces but most are attached with Velcro strips.

"That makes it easy for kids to do and for parents to do," she said.

About 1 1/2 years ago, Firsing-Paris' twin sister heard about shoes that squeaked, but Firsing-Paris had trouble finding a pair. With her son, Shane, starting to walk at 14 months old and her daughter, Summer, not wanting to wear shoes or walk by herself, she decided a bit of motivation was needed.

"I put them on him and the first time he heard them squeak he started to laugh and run and jump so I decided it was a good thing. I figured if I didn't know about them, other people didn't know about them," she said.

She said Shane, who is 3 now, walked in about two months and that Summer, who is now 22 months old, liked the squeaking so much that she gradually started walking more and more to hear the noise.

As a result, the North Brunswick resident located the manufacturer in China and decided to offer the product to consumers all across the world, with the majority of her clientele located locally and in Florida. She now receives an average shipment of 100 shoes per month and mails them to customers every day.

The mother of two has been selling various items on eBay for about 10 years. She is hoping to make this a full-time venture as of next year, aside from her job as a registered nurse. She would like to expand to snow boots in the winter and offering the shoes to retail centers at wholesale price.

Normally the material shoes are $8.99 a pair and the leather ones are $15.99 a pair. There is no tax, but shipping costs $4 for first class for the first pair and $3 each afterward. They are not shipped in boxes to cut down on costs.

She said most of the shoes run true-to-size but if a customer is not satisfied she is willing to accept returns or exchanges. Wide-width shoes are not available.

Firsing-Paris can be reached at NJDawn@aol.com. Her Web site is www.SqueakyFeetShoes.com or on eBay under "squeaky feet shoes."