The calendar has turned to November now. Around the country, the various versions of winter weather are about to move in with unstoppable determination. That obviously means hidden puddles of water in most regions and, across the Snow Belt, it means that enemy of good leather – street salt. At Allen Edmonds, we’re passionate about the health of your footwear. We believe that we’re the largest shoe cobbler in the world: Recrafting™ some 50,000 pairs of shoes a year! And we make our fine shoes to last for years, not just several months.

This November we’re introducing two new ways to battle the salt, puddles and slush. First, we’ve introduced the new EXECUTIVE COLLECTION shoes –absolutely top quality dress shoes with a cushioned footbed and impressively tasteful rubber out-sole. Unless you turn your shoes upside down and look closely, you can’t tell that these soles are rubber. But they stay dry and help keep the salt lines away like rubber should, and the cushioning inside gives them “out of the box” comfort. Here are pictures of the Van Ness and the Lombard from the Collection, just fantastic dress shoes. For the man who wants to protect his shoes from the elements, or who just prefers the extra cushioning, the EXECUTIVE COLLECTION is the right choice for sharp-looking attire.

Our second winter offering is a brand new kind of galoshes called SWIMS™. I was up in Toronto last winter (Canadians know a lot about winter) and discovered SWIMS™ in a shoe store there. Made by a Norwegian company (Norway does winter, too), these are the best shoe coverings you’ve ever encountered. Unlike other rubbers that leave a dull residue on your shoes, SWIMS™ are lined with a soft material that actually buffs your shoe while you walk. They’re more sturdy and long-lasting than other products. And they come in different colors if you want to brighten up a grey day. We started carrying SWIMS™ in our New York and Chicago stores in early October and sold out of our initial supply in just a few days!

Winter is a great season; at least I’ve always thought so as a die-hard Minnesotan. My native-Texan wife and I disagree about the virtues of walking on frozen lakes (she clearly doesn’t think I walk on water) or slipping out-of-control on snow (aka “skiing”), but she now agrees that winter has its own charms. You just have to be prepared.

Stay dry,




Paul D. Grangaard
President & CEO

It’s a pretty diverse range of shoes that come into our Port Washington factory every week for Recrafting ™. Many of them look like they are at least 20, even 30 years old, and have seen a lot of living. Some are styles discontinued long ago. In today’s throw-away world, we’re proud to make shoes that last so long and are such a great investment.


Recently, we received a pair of shoes that were very unusual – and just plain fun to see. An Allen Edmonds friend from Southern California sent in a pair of Strawfuts that are at least 60 years old. In the days before air conditioning, keeping customers’ feet cool and comfortable also led to a styling opportunity. The air-flow mesh is made of nylon for durability and, at their advanced age, they sure did hold up well. They must have been saved for special occasions because these shoes had never been touched by a cobbler – the soles were the originals and in pretty good shape. The heels were worn down, though, so we replaced them, fixed a couple of tears and loose seams, and then refinished the leather. It’s interesting to imagine these shoes in their early years. I picture somebody wearing a Mark Twain white linen summer suit, maybe a straw hat to ward off the sun, and these Strawfuts. If shoes could talk, I wonder what stories these would tell…

Best wishes,


Paul D. Grangaard
President & CEO

Early in my finance career, when the loss of some local business to the “experts from out-of-town” was visibly gnawing at me, one of my mentors said, “Paul, don’t let it bug you so much. It’s just business. It’s not personal.” For better and for worse (mostly better), I’ve never been able to follow that advice. To me, business involves people and people are what it’s all about in life – so it has to be personal. I’ve always believed in taking a personal approach to business, particularly when it comes to management and customer relationships.

So, when one of our biggest supporters in the web-community AskAndyAboutClothes.com asked to see us make a pair of shoes for him -- I jumped at the chance. When he asked to bring his young son along for the experience, I was doubly enthusiastic. Our guest, Gerard Toohey, who drove up from Chicago for the tour, turned out also to be an excellent writer as well as a big fan of our shoes. He chronicled his time in Port Washington better than we ever could have anticipated. If you’re at all interested in how shoes are made, I encourage you to click here to read Gerard’s terrific web journal.

Gerard seems to have struck a chord with a lot of people. Over 8500 people have logged-on to the “thread” and experienced Gerard’s photos and writing. For many Allen Edmonds customers, their shoes are highly personal and the reasons they purchased them are as varied as our many styles. They may wear AE shoes because the superior fit has a custom-made feel or because they remember how their dad or a trusted mentor may have unforgettably introduced them to AE. Wearing Allen Edmonds shoes may be a part of their professional image, or they may have a special pair that they bought for their wedding day and still enjoy after years of wear and a few recraftings. For some it’s just the value found in supporting a great American product with an authentic and rich American heritage.

That day with Gerard was a real business highlight for several of us here at the plant. We enjoyed having the two of them here as much or more than he and his son enjoyed the visit, I’m sure. Having only interacted with him via email before the visit, it was great to put a face, a life story and a name together. He’s a good man and now a friend. It may be business, but it’s definitely personal.

Best wishes,


Paul D. Grangaard
President & CEO
Allen Edmonds Shoe Corporation

The Fourth of July

The "Fourth of July” and “Made in the USA” are two weighty phrases for Americans. I’m a bit of a history fanatic, and in the past couple of years I’ve read some of the outstanding newer books about the founding of our country and its early years. Among the slow-moving pile on the nightstand, David McCullough’s John Adams and his 1776 have both offered fascinating revelations about how the United States of America came into being, guided often miraculously by Providence. In addition to the horrific wars fought, lives lost, twists of fate, sudden changes in weather and heroic feats that created our country and then, ever since, defended it, I find it also amazing to read of the learned debates, the personal perseverance and the incredible wisdom that were required to create a nation so well worth preserving.

American industrial achievement is also a huge factor in our history. Like so many of you, I’m stunned by the number of great U.S. manufacturing companies that no longer actually manufacture anything in the U.S. We all understand the cost advantages of low-wage countries, but we also know that there’s much more than low wages that go into being successful in business. Creativity, ingenuity, commitment to excellence, common employee dedication and, most important, listening and delivering what customers want and need are what drive success. That’s what we’re all about at Allen Edmonds today. While 90% of all shoes bought in America are imported, we still offer Made in the USA. We intend to continue earning our customers’ faith and support by delivering what they want and need – authenticity, superior value, long-lasting quality, diverse product offerings and excellent styling.

Don’t you sometimes wonder what Washington, Adams and Jefferson would think if they could see the USA now? I’m sure they’d be immensely proud of American successes over the 12 generations since those scorching summer debates in Philadelphia. They would indeed see the “shining city on a hill” that has done so much to advance humankind in that time frame, and they wouldn’t expect anything like perfection. But I think they’d look at our economy today and want to give us a good swift kick.

We feel that kick here at Allen Edmonds. We greatly appreciate the guidance and support of our customers, who are the whole reason we’re here. To them, our suppliers, our other business partners, our communities and our employees…Happy Fourth of July! and Thank You! for your dedication. We are so fortunate to live in this country.

Enjoy your 4th of July weekend!

Best wishes,


Paul D. Grangaard
President & CEO
Allen Edmonds Shoe Corporation

Happy Father’s Day

Father’s Day…those two words conjure up many thoughts, memories and emotions. More than any other, Father’s Day seems the perfect day for Allen Edmonds. Over the years, countless loyal customers have told us how their dads took them in their late teens or early twenties to a store and said, “Son, good shoes are important. A successful man needs to wear shoes that look good, fit right and are well made.” -- or something along those lines -- and then bought the son his first pair of Allen Edmonds. I just received an email a few days ago from the manager of our Madison Avenue store in New York City, passing along greetings from a customer. The customer was in the store with his retired father, and this time it was the son buying a pair of shoes for his dad.

The Allen Edmonds tradition passes from one generation to the next and, apparently, back again. With that in mind, we came up with some special gifts for Father’s Day. In addition to offering great shoes, belts and ties, we’ve put Father’s Day greetings on shoe trees and tie racks. We thought it’d be great for dads to see a “World’s Greatest Dad” or “Happy Father’s Day” message every morning and evening throughout the year -- not just one day in June. When you consider the cost of a paper greeting card, these everyday/twice-a-day greetings are an awfully good deal. Check them out on our website.

I wish I could say that my dad introduced me to Allen Edmonds shoes specifically, but he didn’t. Having battled alongside his parents through the Great Depression and served in WW II, he did teach me a lot about integrity, authenticity, working hard, quality, the value of money, faith and pride in America, and the importance of family. So, I think he actually did point me in Allen Edmonds’ direction all those years ago. (He also showed me how to drive a golf ball a long way and chunk a wedge …but that’s a fun story for another time.)

From our family to yours, Happy Father’s Day!


Best wishes,

Paul D. Grangaard
President & CEO
Allen Edmonds Shoe Corporation