Videos of a Z-CoiL Drummer

Last week, I video blogged the Bite Of Seattle wearing Z-CoiL sandals.

Here is a Video Performance with the camera focused on his Zs

Who thought up famous brands?

Raise your right hand if you've stopped at Starbucks, bought their coffee beans or loaded your own swill into a Starbucks mug this month.

Raise your left if you've Swiffered your floor recently.

Now put them together in a round of applause if you have an iPod tucked in your gym bag or briefcase.

Starbucks, Swiffer, iPod - these are among the finest in recent consumer-product innovations. While the end products are highly useful, of eye-catching design, heavily branded and profitable, what you don't see immediately is how they got there.

Who came up with these ideas? What company executives recognized their value? What team put the manufacturing wheels in motion, and who developed the patent, marketing and branding processes?

Welcome to Craig Vogel's world.

Vogel, 53, is a graduate of the Pratt Institute and former president of Industrial Designers Society of America. He's also been a consultant on innovation processes to manufacturing giants such as Ford Motor Co., General Motors, Alcoa and Motorola.

He hoists his foot up to display shoes with noticeable Z-coil shock absorbers. These help alleviate arthritis, he explains.

He mentions this in the context of his strong belief that the aging baby-boomer generation offers some of the best product-development opportunities out there.

For example, consider the OXO GoodGrips vegetable peeler, sold at Target and other discount stores. Developed by a man whose wife had arthritic hands, the peeler has a large oval handle, a patterned grip that prevents slippage and a blade guard that adds balance to the design.



By Annie-Laurie Blair
Enquirer contributor

Z-CoiL Sandals on Sandstone

Z-CoiL Sandles on Sandstone
Originally uploaded by digitalreporter.

Since September 2004, I have worned Z-CoiLs religiously. Yesterday, I walked the dogs for an hour on an asphalt roadway in regular sandals. It was hot and I didn't want to lace up my hikers or get out the Z-sandals.

By the time I went to bed, I had pain shoot up and down my left leg - something I have never experienced before. This morning the pain is gone. It appears my body has grown accustomed to the spring soled footwear.

The photo was taken on Hornby Island, BC. I worn my Z-Sandals during our week long car camping trip through Victoria Island last week. We walked a lot on various terrain. The Z's performed flawlessly.

Dealers Group of Washington

The Washington State Z-CoiL Dealer Group was formed to promote and market the footware in the region.

http://www.painfreeshoe.com/

A TV commerical has been produced and will begin airing in a couple of weeks.

When should I replace my coil?

This is an interesting question that there is no real scientific way to answer! We normally see that people get a year to a year and a half out of a set of coils. We have had some people wear them out in 8 months and others have lasted over two years.

In most cases, it is evident... the rubber is worn through to the metal coil, so it is definitely time to get a new set!

I had a not-so-obvious one this week. A customer had her shoes for about 21 months and there was still rubber left on the heel. (more)

Caesar Snee
EZ-Shoes
San Jose, CA

Orthotics

If you are familiar with Z-CoiL's, you know that a built-in orthotic is the foundation of the shoe. Many people have custom orthotics that their doctor had made for them. In many cases, the custom orthotic is very similar to the orthotic that is built-in to the Z-CoiL's. Some people choose to use their own orthotic on top of ours and others choose not to.

I am not a doctor and I do not give medical advice! If you do have custom orthotics, it is very helpful if you bring them along when you get fitted so we can understand how they compare and also how the shoe fits with and without it. (more)

Caesar Snee
EZ-Shoes
San Jose, CA

UCSF | Student Academic Affairs | Looking to Put a Spring in Your Step?

UCSF Student Academic Affairs Synapse:

By Kevin Huoh
a third-year medical student

Ever since the Z-Connection store opened last year, I have been curious. Sure the shoes look a little bit ridiculous, but for someone like me who has always had problems with a foot flatter than a two by four, I was dying to try on a pair of Z-Coil shoes.

I never had the courage enter the store though. Why? Well for one, the shoes look like something out of a bad science fiction movie — something only Marty McFly would wear in the alternate disturbing future. Every time I brought up the idea of trying on those shoes with my friends, they just laughed.
Two weeks ago, while at the weekly Synapse staff meeting, I found out that Z-Connection was interested in having someone try on a Z-Coil shoe and write an article about it.

This was my perfect chance to try on the shoe without ridicule, under the guise of a semi-professional journalistic endeavor. Answering the call of destiny, I quickly volunteered for the assignment despite board exams looming on the horizon.

For those who have not had the privilege to see the Z-Coil shoes, let me begin with a description. The shoe looks relatively normal except for the coil attached to the heel. This coil is a patented steel spring designed to compress a full inch, thereby reducing impact on the rest of the body.

There is a built in orthotic device that provides rigid support for the foot. Though it sounds uncomfortable, the rigid orthotic is actually well padded and designed to deliver good support through the mid-foot. (more)