heels4men.com

GrayLion · 27th December 2003, 20:18

Has this webpage ever been up? All I ever see is "we are finishing this page" ... :-(

cheers

Bernhard

Heelfan · 28th December 2003, 01:43

Yes, it's a shame! Far from expanding, the "Heels4Men" site has dramatically shrunk. When I first discovered the Net and its various heel sites in the spring of 2003, "Heels4Men" had a number of different pages and sections all devoted to finding and depicting tasteful (non-fetish) high heels for men to wear in public. It seemed to be a most promising and developing site, and it advertised the intention to start stocking and retailing such shoes to all of us interested street-heelers.

Then around the late summer, 2003,"Heels4Men" asked if the viewers could donate a secondhand fax machine to assist the business. This dismayed me, because owning a retail business myself, I know that it would take a capital investments of tens of thousands of pounds to launch a business of the sort proposed, including laying-in stocks of shoes and boots with a good selection in all the men's various sizes and heel-heights. If they could not afford a secondhand fax machine, it did not bode well for being able to afford those major business costs.

They had started depicting Western Ranch Boots on the site, and I had sent them a message suggesting that they might try and become the UK outlet for these in addition to various other brands and types of heeled footwear. However, according to Xaphod and others, Western Ranch Boots seems to have gone bust, which scuppers that particular idea.

I understand from Firefox that "Heels4Men" is run by Richie, who is a member of these Megaforums (see membership list). Richie has been actively posting on these forums just lately, so GrayLion maybe you could sent him a Personal Message and enquire as to whether he will be resurrecting "Heels4Men" fully again. I do hope he will, because it would be a very good and much-needed site and service.

Cheerfully yours, Heelfan

Firefox · 28th December 2003, 02:24

I have met Richie a few times in real life and he has some great ideas. But don't be too hard on him. He's a busy chap with a full time job, and like many of us, we don't always have the time to carry forward our ideas as we would like at any particular year due to other comittments. Any progress is welcome, and if people want to develop his broad concepts in real life and on the net, I'm sure he'd be happy.

In a sense, activities like his (or mine) are catalytic, but the true thrust must come from the partcipants.

Heelfan · 28th December 2003, 10:57

Yes, I wholeheartedly agree with Firefox - any progress is welcome! Are you out there somewhere Richie to respond to the interest being shown on this thread and to give us all a progress report?

Cheerfully yours, Heelfan

genebujold · 28th December 2003, 14:33

Alas, the problem with any business involves both capitalization and profitability. Even with both of these issues wired, a myriad of issues from lack of market response to bad advertising, competitors, bad management, etc., ad nauseum, can cause a business to go belly up.

I personally think a website devoted to making cheap custom heels for men would do very well - provided the labor was obtained abroad. From what I understand, countries like Taiwan, Korea, and Indonesia have laborers who'd love to churn out sandals, pumps, and boots, regardless of size, provided they were appropriately compenstated. And it's not like they're into highway robbery. I bought a pair of custom cowboy boots (normal heels) in Korea two years ago for $119. That's pretty cheap!!!

Himark · 28th December 2003, 15:54

Re the reference to Western Ranch Boots, I was in the Toronto area about a week ago, and I thought I'd swing by their location on Westney Road to see if they were really gone. I know where it is because I've been there before.

All traces of their business have been removed. The place where they had their storefront showroom and manufacturing plant is vacant, and there is a "For Lease" sign in the window.

Dr. Shoe · 28th December 2003, 16:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Himark

Re the reference to Western Ranch Boots, I was in the Toronto area about a week ago, and I thought I'd swing by their location on Westney Road to see if they were really gone. I know where it is because I've been there before.

All traces of their business have been removed. The place where they had their storefront showroom and manufacturing plant is vacant, and there is a "For Lease" sign in the window.

I gather from another forum that they have experienced a few challenges and have stopped taking orders but are working to fulfill existing ones. They have also moved. I will do more research and keep you all posted.

Heelfan · 29th December 2003, 00:51

Dr. Shoe, I think Xaphod would be most grateful if you come up with anything. Western Ranch owe him a few hundred lousy bucks (see his recent posting on Firefox's message-board) and he's tried hard to get satisfaction. Also, if they really have moved but are still in business, then I would have thought that upon visiting their original closed premises, Himark would have found that they'd posted up there a forwarding address. Still, I think your researches would be worth conducting, for everyone's benefit (I was about to order a pair of their 5" boots myself!).

Cheerfully yours, Heelfan

Sway · 29th December 2003, 21:06

Hi Gang,

I found this the other day www.bootmaster.com it looks awfully fimiliar don't you think

Later
Sway

Dr. Shoe · 29th December 2003, 23:23

Unfortunately my search has proved fruitless but I may use the above site to pose the question.

It would seem that Bootmaster is a different setup in that they only do western boots (and not the platforms that WR used to do) and they do stilettos too. Moreover, they sell Frye and Dingo but it could be that their "custom" boots could be made by the same craftsmen that made WR's boots?