So happy for Ken! A big congrats…this is really exciting and I wish him more of these types of days because I know first hand he totally deserves it!! -Julia

Oh What a Feeling

I remember how I felt the day I got my first job in the shoe business.   It was 1989 and I was offered a position as a sales rep for a start company.   The salary was not as important as my business card: “sales executive”.   I remember stuffing about 100 cards in my wallet to pass out to anyone who I thought would be impressed with my title.

The “title” feeling wore off but I still remember how I felt receiving the “Salesman of the Year award”.   Being brought up on stage and shaking all the executives hands.   Afterwards, I bought drinks for all my fellow sales reps and realized that my smile was so broad, I could have eaten a banana sideways.

The “award” feeling became a distant memory when I accepted a promotion to “Regional Manager” and was asked to join the other Regional on stage during a sales meeting.    Can one feel any better than I did at that moment?   Yes.  Read on!

I was being recruited to lead the children’s division of a shoe company.   I interviewed all day, flew home and was offered the position a few days later.   I was asked to come back with my Wife to sign the papers.   We were put up at the nicest hotel in town, and treated to a wonderful dinner with CEO and his Wife.   That night, I had the feeling of being on top of the world!

The Family

I can honestly say that the sum of all these events pale in comparison to what I felt this weekend.   Twig has a wonderful account in Seattle, Sole Food who had asked me to do a trunk show on a Saturday in late March.  As I booked the trip, I realized that my kids were on spring break, and after some discussion with my Wife Margo, I called the buyer Annie and asked if we could make it a Twig Family Trunk Show.   As Sole Food is a family shoe store owned by a family, the idea was quickly accepted.

The day was just perfect.   Sole Food is located in (my opinion) the single best shopping area in the country – University Village.  UV as it is known to the locals is a mix of national chains and locally owned business’s.   It is an outdoor mall that is well trafficked by locals.  

My Wife and Kids were present when I gave the product knowledge seminar and passed out balloons during the morning.   They got to see first hand the fruits of their parents labor when kids came in to try on a Twig.

The day was a success because we sold some Twigs, promoted a family owned business, and most importantly, showed the kids that in life it is quite satisfying to create something rather than just live off of someone else’s ideas, concept or business.  

At dinner that evening, my son Andrew and daughter Kelsey admitted how proud they felt wearing the t-shirts and promoting a brand that they in some way, helped create.   My 5 year old daughter Elizabeth…she just loved passing out balloons!  

Ken Proctor
Front Man – Dad
Twig Footwear, LLC
c:   501.276.0140
e: Ken@twigfootwear.com
 www.twigfootwear.com