24-year-old Corey Rust of Troutdale sketched an athletic shoe, and got it made in China, without ever even visiting the country.
24-year-old Corey Rust of Troutdale sketched an athletic shoe, and got it made in China, without ever even visiting the country.
His company, ENVi Footwear, makes lightweight running shoes.
He’s tried to persuade independent running stores to carry his brand, but has yet to find a taker. So he’s relied on his website, www.ENVi-Footwear.com, and word-of-mouth for sales. He’s also tried to interest shoe fanatics — people who collect shoes like some people collect stamps — as well as blog writers who specialize in the athletic footwear industry.
He admits to moments of discouragement. But he says he has no regrets about his go-it-alone approach rather than learning the ropes with a local shoe company or a contractor that works with one of the several shoe companies in the Portland area.
Read more at OregonLive.com.
{biztweet}ENVi footwear{/biztweet}
