Interview with Foot Petals creator, Tina Aldatz
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What do you get when you combine a fashion insider with a love of heels (but, of course!) and an entrepreneur with a genius idea? You get the talented Tina Aldatz. And lucky you, you also get Foot Petals. If you’re a woman, chances are you probably already know what Foot Petals are. If by some chance you don’t, know this; they are tiny little pieces of heaven that are here to make your feet feel better and therefore, make your life better. Sound dramatic? Anybody who’s ever suffered a night in a pair of uncomfortable shoes knows how serious I am!
Tina is passionate about her products. Foot Petals was started in 2001 when she noticed there was something lacking in the marketplace for stylish women that enjoy wearing high heels, but still want to be comfortable. Since then, she has even became a Certified Pedorthist (an individual trained in the modification of footwear and orthotics) to further her knowledge and produce even more advanced products. She’ll share this know-how with you too. Check out her website for tons of information, including her Guide to the Perfect Fit and Foot Petals adorable Blog (called The Shoe Whisperer!) But I think my favorite feature on the site is her Tips for Budding Entrepreneurs. I really appreciate when a successful woman wants to try to help others, rather than hoard all her wisdom and experience for herself. Put that on top of truly wanting you to feel better on your feet, and you’ve got one wonderful woman! We were honored to speak to her, but tried desperately not to be jealous of her bedroom. Read on…
wht: When and why did you develop Foot Petals?
Tina: The short answer is…I just wanted them for me! The deeper answer is twofold. First, as a child, I suffered from severe burns on my feet after accidentally walking over hot coals that were buried in the sand at the beach. This actually happens to hundreds of children every year and Foot Petals is helping to benefit burn victims with sales of our Lavender scented Killer Kushionz (check out how cute they are in the above photo ~wht). Secondly, I grew up in California and worked in the fashion industry. I later moved to New York and actually had to walk and look good at the same time. My feet suffered and I was constantly trying products that were either useless or ugly.
Why do you think every woman should own at least one of your products?
Because every woman wears shoes! Our feet are already the hardest working part of our body…our feet don’t have to suffer to be beautiful.
I read on your blog that you should never buy ballet flats that bend in half. Uh-oh, why? And what if I did already?
Flat shoes are tricky; you assume that they will automatically be more comfortable than high heels but, anyone that has ever experienced “flat failure” knows what I’m talking about. The reason is because with every step you take in flats, your feet (including the muscles, bones and tissue) fully expand and retract (similar to doing a full sit up vs. tiny crunches). If the shoe is able to bend in half it is obviously going to lack support to fit the natural contour of your foot. It will interfere with your body’s natural movements and will hurt! If you already have pair of painful flats- try my personal favorite combination: Heavenly Heelz and Sexy Soles.
Is there any point in saving a beautiful pair of shoes that whenever you wear them, you end up barefoot by the end of the night? (I speak from many experiences!)
If they are too small, NO. Give them away and move on (or donate to Soles for Souls and help a great cause). But if they are the right size or a little too big, then yes! Now is the time to refresh your shoe wardrobe – Shop in your own closet! I call those beautiful shoes at the back of the closet (that we refuse to give away because we’ll be jealous if anyone else wears them) the “Shoe Graveyard”. The great thing about Foot Petals products is that we have a solution for every “ISSHOE”! Pick up the Stiletto Stylist Kit and you’re guaranteed to get a new pair of shoes out of your own closet.
What are your favorite Foot Petals products?
I cannot live without my beloved Tip Toes – my original product. My second favorite is Sexy Soles – these got me through the entire winter in my Tory Burch platform ankle boots.
Any exciting new products in the works?
Yes, we are launching Flexyfeet, which will be in stores for summer (good news, they’re here! and they are adorable ~wht) I think Flexyfeet are the best flipflops around. They are 100% vegan and 100% recyclable. Plus they are so lightweight and airy, they’ll feel better than bare feet on a warm summer day. I guarantee it. And, Flexyfeet are made with antimicrobial material to resist odor. Plus they are machine washable and fade-resistant.
And no interview is complete without a few questions from our we heart this Potluck question vault…
Me in a nutshell: smart, witty, dramatic and a Type A personality
I heart: my family and my Chihuahua, Diego
I’m a do-gooder because I: believe all women in business should help other women in business – I do this through mentoring (with Step Up Women’s Network)
What book do you think everyone should read? Eat, Pray, Love
My favorite room in my house and why: My bedroom…because it is literally a “Tina wonderland.” I created a baby blue sanctuary that has a fireplace, a huge bed, walk in closet, a separate shoe closet (of course) and a vanity area with makeup, jewelry and perfume all sorted out! Plus its own private balcony.
If I were an 80’s movie/TV/music star, I’d be: Cher
What are 3 things you can’t live without? Coffee, my Chihuahua and my car
Ladies, know the joy of Foot Petals? Let’s show Tina the love!
I love Foot Petals! They save me (and my poor feet) time after time. I bought a pair of shoes recently, that somehow felt just fine in the store. But when I got them home, I could barely get out my front door in them. (Shoe blindness, I guess!) I had a pair of Tip Toes (I honestly keep a stash of a couple of different kinds of Foot Petals for new shoe purchases), popped them in and instant relief. My feet still were kind of sore by the end of the night, but I could not have even made it to the cab without them.
Those Flexyfeet flip flops are so cute!! I need ’em.
I tested the Haute Heelz cushions, which was a change of pace for me. One of my issues when wearing heals is the old sliding forward bit where your toes get all smushed up at the front of the shoe. I almost always buy/use pads that go at the front of the shoe to prevent slipping (which always have a limited lifespan as the edges start to peel up after a few wears). However, my other main complaint when wearing heels is that after a few hours, my lower back always starts to ache. A look at the Haute Heelz package told me they are made to cushion and support the heel while “absorbing shock to the heels, legs and lower back.” So I was keen to check them out.
The extra cushy pad fit neatly and easily into the back of my highest black pumps – I had the black cushions as well and they were completely invisible to the eye. I was pleasantly surprised at the nice thick and squishy pad once I had the shoes on my feet. My heels instantly felt more comfortable and more secure in my shoes (a plus for a me – a girl that constantly overturns weak ankles). Over the course of the evening, I definitely noticed that I felt more comfortable for a longer period of time in my heels. Even at the end of the night, my back pretty good – no aches or pains. As an added bonus, because my heel was firmly planted into the heel of my shoe, I also did not have any issues with my feet sliding forward in my shoe! A win –win!
I love all the options for different shoe issues (or isshoes – hee)- you can tell that a lot of thought goes into these products. If you love heels but your feet don’t, I would highly recommend trying Foot Petals to keep everyone happy!
.-= tyna´s last blog ..Win the entire Smashbox Untamed collection! =-.
I had never heard of foot petals, I need them!
I am going to order some for sure, and the prices are so reasonable. I had also never heard of Soles 4 Souls.
So thank you twice WHT & of course Tina Aldatz =)
Great interview :)
BTW those new Flexyfeet are adorable! & So are their slippers!
After a closer look at the Foot Petals site I am itching to try the Sole Stopperz, that you put on the outside bottom of your shoe to give you some traction! I always have to run my new heels/boots over the sidewalk because the bottoms are so slippy. I need them.
Love the Flexyfeet…super cute! I live in flip flops in the summer and these look very comfy yet stylish at the same time. I like that they don’t look like your ordinary flip flop. Great interview Stef. I had also never heard of Foot Petals, but I only wear heels about once a year so that’s probably why. I live in running shoes and sandals most of the time. I’m thinking I need the sporty soles. Anyone tried those?
I love these little angels. they are the perfect accessory for any shoe. they dont slide off my shoes like the others ive tried and my feet could not be happier especially now when it gets hot and my feet start to sweat. they keep you feet in place and feeling good. thanks for the foot petals!
I may be in the minority, here, but I had not heard of foot petals before. I had purchased many different foot pads made for heels before (mostly drugstore variety, but I did try a few others). Not all that I had tried were ugly (I had some zebra print cuties), but none worked. NONE. The problem was always that they either (a) didn’t stay in place (or I had trouble placing in the right place), or (b) provided too much lift so that shoes didn’t fit right.
These foot petals truely are different. I placed them in a pair of peep-toed heels that were ever-so-slightly large with that toe mushing situation Stef spoke of. The petals have stayed in place and show no signs of moving. They also provide a lot of comfort in that little pad. Best of all–no toe mush! Their size also makes them entirely invisible to everyone (cause who wants to see a fab peep toe showcasing a foamy insole rather than a cute pedicure ).
I didn’t notice any miracle cure for backache after shopping an entire afternoon, but I didn’t have any blisters, either. And that’s a first for me.
I NEED some for ALL my heels. Really.
Two words-These work! they are inexpensive and make a big difference.
Well T, I have a declaration of guilt. I DID receive Foot Petals, Haute Heels! For some unknown reason… Well, let’s just say they fell off my cluttered desk and landed between a stack of papers and were out of site- which I just saw out of the corner of my eye this morning at 3am! I was so happy to find them.
I couldn’t get the Haute Heels into a pair of shoes fast enough this morning. I had the perfect pair of shoes I was hoping they would work for. And Wow-za! They are indeed amazing little additions to any gorgeous heel you have that maybe causing you any discomfort. These are perfect for the bottom of the heel. They act like pillows and cushion your heel like you’re walking on air. Stef should have had these on the day we walked South Coast Plaza and your dogs where barking –rather howling! You can go further now and feel great for hours in your favorite heels! Anyway, I am thrilled with these foot petals called Haute Heelz. Stef , as usual, a great interview with Tina Aldatz. What a great lady. I think she’s an amazing woman with great ideas! Thanks for making my tired feet feel wonderful. Tina mentions that you can also try them on the inside top of your closed toe shoes to protect your toe nails and add comfort. That’s an awesome tip!