Planet Inc. is pleased to announce that Dingo Boots have been added to the growing list of innovative, high quality and fun performance brands for sale on their website at www.PlanetShoes.com.

“Dingo Boots have been around for more than 40 years and their reputation for high quality, durable and beautiful western boots is excellent. With Western boots being such a hot trend this year, and with the quality and versatility of this high quality brand, we couldn’t be happier than to have Dingo Boots on the site!.”

PlanetShoes.com is currently offering 20 pairs of Dingo Boots for men and women including western boots, harness boots and bootie styles.

About Dingo Boots
For affordable western fashion, let Dingo boots express your lifestyle. Dingos take you comfortably to the office, the mall and the night club. Or, on a motorcycle ride down a two-lane country road. They’re perfect with blue jeans or blazers. Wherever you go, or whatever you’re wearing, you’ll experience the comfort and fit of a premier boot by a premier boot maker.

About Planet Inc.
Planet, Inc. is an innovative lifestyle shoe retailer dedicated to selling the most comfortable and stylish shoes possible at value prices. Our flagship site found on the web at PlanetShoes.com specializes in active, comfortable, healthy, earth friendly shoes and products with a flare of fashion. Our product lines are ever expanding to bring our customer new fun footwear to choose from. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast or an eco-friendly fashionista, we strive to offer the selection you want.

We look at affordability and value in pricing our products. Customer service and unique products are our calling card. Contact us directly at 1-888-818-SHOE (7463).

Planet, Inc. is pleased to announce that Fly London shoes have been added to the growing list of innovative, fun fashion brands for sale on their website PlanetShoes.com.

“Fly London has a really unique and sophisticated aesthetic that combines edgy fashion, high quality durability and a great fit. We’re very happy we were able to bring them into the site for fall - we know they offer something to our customers that they haven’t seen before!” said Phil Meynard, President of Planet, Inc.

PlanetShoes.com is currently offering more than 15 Fly London styles for women including women’s boots, women’s casual shoes and women’s dress shoes.

About Fly London
Always progressive, never conventional, Fly London collection offers, as always, an eclectic mix of styles from everyday shoes to glamorous heels but keeping intact the unique Fly image.

Materials are added lightness and freshness, completed by ultra-soft feelings. Colours will take on a fresh and sensual touch, vibrating with warmth and light.

Fashionable comfort is the key, with a view to being functional in today’s world. Fresh styles with unique and innovative soles, created to stand alone as objects of desire.

About Planet Inc.
Planet, Inc. is an innovative lifestyle shoe retailer dedicated to selling the most comfortable and stylish shoes possible at value prices. Our flagship site found on the web at PlanetShoes.com specializes in active, comfortable, healthy, earth friendly shoes and products with a flare of fashion. Our product lines are ever expanding to bring our customer new fun footwear to choose from. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast or an eco-friendly fashionista, we strive to offer the selection you want.

We look at affordability and value in pricing our products. Customer service and unique products are our calling card. Contact us directly at 1-888-818-SHOE (7463).

Planet. Inc. is pleased to announce that Cushe, an innovative and modern comfort shoe brand, has been added to the growing list of exciting, cute, fashion forward and comfort shoes for sale on their website at www.PlanetShoes.com.

“We’re really excited to bring Cushe shoes on to the website. Their innovative city sneakers have now evolved into a really great looking, functional and versatile shoe brand. With versatile boots, shoes and other comfort styles, Cushe makes a great addition to our website,” said Phil Meynard, President of PlanetShoes.com

PlanetShoes.com is currently offering more than 60 pairs of Cushe shoes for men and women including boots, athletic and casual shoes.

About Cushe
Cushe*, (pronounced ‘Cushy’) was born in the summer of 2004. A brand conceived by a group of footwear designers and enthusiasts, we are an independently thinking, design led footwear brand, based in the UK, offering unique and exciting footwear choices for a dynamic, inspired and confident generation. The Cushe name reflects a way of life that we as a team aspire to and we spend every day refining our art to deliver only the type of shoes that we love to wear ourselves.

Cushe was set up as a direct response to the global brands that dominate the lifestyle footwear market. Our aim is to make something a bit different, unique and set apart from the masses, challenging the boundaries of footwear design rather than following trends set by others.

Ever mindful of the increasing work hours and stress levels of modern living, we strive to create shoes for a lifestyle that is independent and individual, with the freedom to do things our own way, at our own pace. That’s the theory anyway, and we design our shoes with this ideal in mind.

We love detail - the little things you can and can’t see that make our product that extra bit unique and special. Because we have the know-how, we also utilise the latest manufacturing techniques, and the most innovative materials to make our shoes conform to your foot’s natural shape, ensuring comfort, protection and stability. Each shoe’s design is thought through, making sure that only the best components and constructions are used.

Season after season, we’ve strived to challenge our previous collection, to keep bringing fresh and exciting product to the table and we reckon we’ve once again set the bar even higher. Every shoe in our collection reflects the passion, commitment and enthusiasm of the Cushe team. We hope you love everything about our shoes. Go ahead and take a closer look.

About Planet, Inc.
Planet, Inc. is an innovative lifestyle shoe retailer dedicated to selling the most comfortable and stylish shoes possible at value prices. Our flagship site found on the web at PlanetShoes.com specializes in active, comfortable, healthy, earth friendly shoes and products with a flare of fashion. Our product lines are ever expanding to bring our customer new fun footwear to choose from. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast or an eco-friendly fashionista, we strive to offer the selection you want.

We look at affordability and value in pricing our products. Customer service and unique products are our calling card. Contact us directly at 1-888-818-SHOE (7463).

PlanetShoes.com is pleased to announce the creation of a Made in the USA specialty shop featuring a great range of shoes and accessories all made in the United States. Planet Inc. has long been known for its commitment to environmentally friendly and sustainable business practices, and the Made in the USA shop is designed to showcase products that are produced in the US and therefore employ Americans, sustain the American economy and reduce the environmental impact of shipping goods worldwide.

“We believe in supporting businesses that keep their production in the USA. While we understand this isn’t feasible for all of the brands we carry, we are excited to promote these particular footwear, sock, bag and accessory manufacturers in a special way. By offering a specialty shop, we help customers find these brands and support their businesses in a meaningful way,” explained Phil Meynard, President of Planet, Inc.

The Made in the USA shop features brands like Red Wing, New Balance, Smartwool, Wigwam and Teko Socks and bag manufacturers Timbuk2 and WeBe Bags. The products available in the online shop include athletic shoes, performance and comfort socks, backpacks, messenger and handbags, wallets and accessories for men, women and children.

“We plan to continue to find brands and companies that operate in the USA and make their goods in the USA as well. It’s well known that the shipping industry is one of the largest polluters in the world, which is why we implemented our Carbon Free Plus Shipping program where we donate proceeds donated by consumers to CarbonFund.org,” explained Meynard. “Finding companies that make their goods in the USA, and specifically companies like Teko Socks, WeBe Bags and New Balance shoes that also take their environmental impact seriously which means we’re supporting businesses that also think sustainability is important - which is important to us.”

PlanetShoes.com is currently featuring almost 300 products in the Made in the USA Shop found on the web at http://www.planetshoes.com/shops.asp.

About Planet Inc.

Planet, Inc. is an innovative lifestyle shoe retailer dedicated to selling the most comfortable and stylish shoes possible at value prices. Our flagship site found on the web at PlanetShoes.com specializes in active, comfortable, healthy, earth friendly shoes and products with a flare of fashion. Our product lines are ever expanding to bring our customer new fun footwear to choose from. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast or an eco-friendly fashionista, we strive to offer the selection you want.

We look at affordability and value in pricing our products. Customer service and unique products are our calling card. Contact us directly at 1-888-818-SHOE (7463).

We’ve talked about Acorn here on the blog before. We’re talked about specific styles and we’ve shown you their extended widths, their Vegan footwear and their earth friendly slippers. Acorn has focused their footwear on comfort.

Every pair of slippers, shoes and slipper socks are engineered for maximum comfort with contoured cushioned footbeds and sturdy but flexible indoor/outdoor soles. Basically, Acorn shoes and slippers are designed to be the kind of footwear you never want to take off and the shoes or slippers you wonder how you ever lived without.

In the past, we’ve focused our Acorn inventory on comfort slippers and slipper socks, but we’re psyched to bring you some great Acorn shoe options! We now have Acorn boots, Acorn casual shoes and even some Acorn Sandals for both men and women. Let me introduce you to the new Acorn footwear style for fall, the versatile and super comfortable Earthroamer.

The concept behind the Acorn Earthroamer is a shoe that can meet the needs of men and women in various styles. We offer an ankle bootie for women and a Moc and Clog for men and women. The look of the shoe is casual and rugged and it’s feature rich.

The Earthroamer is water resistant style and simply slips on with an elasticized panel for maximum comfort and a snug fit. The boot is made of heathered felt which is 50% wool and 50% recycled PET that is treated to make the boot water repellent to keep you warm and dry. The footbed is made from molded PU and is removable and the unique looking outsole is made with rubber pressed with natural Jute.

These men’s and women’s boots, mocs and clogs are perfect for chilly fall days and brisk winter mornings. They’ll feel like slippers while you get the support and protection you need on a daily basis. They are eco-friendly as well and like all Acorn footwear, shipped to you in recycled packaging.

So basically, you get a great value on an eco-friendly shoe that is also super comfortable and designed to be cozy and durable no matter the elements. No brainer, right?

P.S. Don’t forget, we have a TON of Acorn slippers for fall and winter in stock right now - ready to keep you warm and comfortable on those days at home. So check ‘em out!

We continue our fabulous fitness footwear series with a great, high quality, well known brand that we’re very proud to carry here at Planet Shoes - and that’s MBT Footwear!

MBT Footwear has a loyal following and a growing business because their technology works. Their “anti-shoe” mentality is all about helping people to use technology in shoes to get back to a more natural walking experience.

“Natural instability” which comes from walking barefoot on sand or soft ground is some of the best and most healthful activity in which you can engage. The reason this technology and design works is that your whole body is engaged in movement, balance and momentum.

MBT Footwear uses a rocker outsole, which is thick and rounded to encourage a rolling gait. This rolling movement reduces the shock and strain on joints, tendons and muscles and also encourages better posture, a longer and more natural gait and because it’s engaging more muscles, MBT Footwear help you train just by being on your feet.

The shoe is constructed with three major sections. There is a TPU and glass fiber shank that provides the firmness needed to maintain the rocker sole construction and distributes weight and pressure evenly throughout the whole sole of the shoe.

The balancing section of the shoe is integrated into the midsole beneath the metatarsus to encourage the natural destabilization which activates more muscles throughout the body.

Finally, there is an elliptical section underneath the heel of the shoe which creates a comfortable cushion that also emulates the sensation of walking on sand or soft ground, therefore activating additional muscles.

MBT Footwear is popular for every kind of walking activity, including pacing in your office, and they are offered in all styles, shapes and colors so you can use them for your activity of choice. They are also recommended for athletes because they improve post workout recovery and build core muscles and balance at all times.

So how do MBT shoes measure up against the other players in this space?

What often holds people back from getting in on the MBT Footwear craze is the fact that they look a little different and they are not inexpensive. Running at about $250 retail with the occasional promotional pricing, they can be beyond the reach of many folks.

Of course, their innovative design is the key to their success and these shoes aren’t inexpensive because they are made with very high quality materials and they are designed to support you and keep you going in a way very few shoes are.

Essentially, if you are ready to truly invest in a shoe that will withstand time, elements and a lot of walking, MBT footwear might very well be the right choice for you. With their style versatility, they do make a better choice for a transitional shoe from office to home or out and about on the weekend.

So I got the great pleasure of travelling with the Earth Footwear team down to Asheville, North Carolina for the first annual Type A Mom Conference. This conference was started by mommy bloggers and mommy entrepreneurs so they could come together, network, learn from each other and also have a great time. Many of these women previously knew each other virtually, meaning web cams, phone calls, twitter, chat and emails but they all have commonalities – great minds for business and a total commitment to their families and children.

Earth and PlanetShoes.com travelled down together to introduce these dynamic women to the Earth Footwear brand in a creative and interactive way. Now, we’ve talked about Earth Footwear here in the blog before. Every pair of Earth Footwear has technology incorporated into it called the Kalso negative heel. This means that the shoe is at a 3.7 degree incline, so your heel is lower than the ball of your foot. Because of this technology, you not only stand up straighter, thereby strengthening your core, but you also burn more calories because your body always feels like it’s going uphill!

Earth Footwear has made a concerted effort in the last couple of years to reinvent itself. With their new lighter feel, their fashionable look and their calorie burning benefit, Earth Footwear is quickly gaining ground with younger women, especially those who are trying to kick the baby weight while they race after speedy toddlers.

What I found most inspiring about watching new folks learn about and try on Earth Footwear for the first time, was seeing their face as they felt their bodies adjusting to the technology in the shoe. Pretty much every mom we saw try on one of the pairs we brought down had a look of amazement on her face as her body became more upright and her core straightened and tightened up.

Earth had also brought down fitness instructor Tracey Mallet to do a demonstration based on her popular workout DVD that actually incorporates Earth Footwear for maximum calorie burning and minimal time and work! She pulled in two enthusiastic volunteers Leah Segedie and Fiona Bryan and had them do a quick workout in front of all the mom’s while wearing jeans, t shirts and their Earth Footwear!

Earth also interviewed women who had been wearing the shoes and some who were trying the shoes for the first time to get footage for a new promotional video they plan to roll out to their sales folks and vendors. We also made some great new friendships at the conference – these mom’s are amazing, energetic and super fun.

The other thing I found really interesting was which shoes the mom’s picked out among the sample pairs and examples we brought down with us.

The Earth Elite – This boot, in red faux patent leather, was by far the most talked about at the conference.

Every mom that was a size six couldn’t wait to get it on her foot and since its vegan and waterproof, it has been selling like crazy since it hit the site!

It comes in red, black, yellow, green and blue and I’ve been very interested to see that although the red seems to get the most comments, the other colors are selling just as well if not better

The Earth Invincible – The second most talked about – and fondled – boot at the show was definitely the Earth Invincible.

With the use of different textures and terrific styling, Earth has offered, here, a boot that will please any fashionista. The leather is supple and the look of the boot is fabulous, belying its healthful benefits.

And of course, you look fabulous while burning calories with every step. We love the negative heel that hides within a great looking boot, do we not?

Earth – anything red. The third most popular choice really ended up being a tie. Basically anything red and classic was picked up, oohed and aahed over and generally enjoyed.

From the mules and clog styles to Mary Jane’s, anything in a rich, dark red leather was instantly popular.

So all in all it was a great experience. We met a ton of bright, savvy mom’s and we were able to introduce them to Earth Footwear, which many of them were eager to try. It’s exciting and fun stuff to see people discover new technology and cute new shoes!

Skechers has stormed into the calorie burning marketplace with the Skechers Shape Up line for men and women and they are really catching on! Skechers is well known as being a great casual shoe brand and they’ve been steadily growing into a fitness and performance brand as well. With the development and success surrounding the Shape Ups, they are now sure to solidify their place among the premier fitness brands in this space.

In fact, Skechers purportedly worked with a Doctor to run a six week clinical trial to see what impact Skechers shape ups actually had on people who wore them. On average, without changing any other aspect of their diet and exercise regimen, Skechers reported an average 3+ lb weight loss and a 1.1% overall reduction in body fat. Added to the weight loss was the improved strength of glutei and low back endurance because of the muscle activation prompted by the rocker outsole.

The Shape Ups are constructed like most Skechers, with a well designed and good looking upper, a removable and supportive sock liner, a firm midsole which is designed to promote stability and provide complete support and the specialized kinetic wedge. This super soft foam wedge is what provides the innovative shape of the sole of the Skechers Shape Up. It offers maximum shock absorption and created the natural walking motion that improves core strength. Finally, the durable outsole works with the kinetic wedge to support the natural gait and also to provide long lasting durability.

So how do Skechers Shape Ups measure up? Well, their sales are up and increasing and most reviews of the shoes and the results have indeed been positive! Also, their price point is competitive, and sticking around $100. Considering Skechers reputation, this investment is probably worthwhile because they are bound to last.

The other nice thing that helps Shape-Ups stand out in the crowd is that fact that they are well styled and offered in a variety of styles and colors. You can find sneaker, casual and even sandal styles that incorporate the technology. They are even coming out with a Shape Ups Boot for fall and winter, so you can really take advantage of the technology and keep your style options open.

Shape Ups are also widely available to men and women and there are more styles and options as the brand increases in popularity.

The downside is that you can’t always find Shape Ups – so if you decide you need to try them on in person, you may be in for a hunt. Also, since you need to warm up and give yourself time to adjust, you may just want to gamble and invest and see how well they work for you!

Reebok is well known for their wide array of performance fitness shoes and apparel. They’ve been around for years, they have a great reputation and it’s entirely deserved. It’s no surprise that they’ve entered into this calorie burning and toning without “working out” marketplace by introducing the Reebok EasyTone.

The Reebok Easy Tone is probably the most athletic and traditional of the Calorie Burning or Toning category, emulating their traditional athletic styling. The Easy Tone, rather than sporting a modified curved outsole you see in some brands, actually incorporates technology at the heel and the forefoot of the shoe. This technology is based on the well known “Balance Balls” which are used in workouts and in many offices and homes as chairs that help improve your posture and build core strength.

Reebok calls the technology they have incorporated “Balance Pods”, and they destabilize your feet enough to engage your balancing muscles. Basically, the idea of the EasyTone is to make you feel like you’re walking on a sandy beach, and to engage your muscles in the same healthful way. By keeping you slightly off balance, no matter the terrain, more balance muscles are engaged, more toning occurs and therefore, more calorie burning happens!

Reebok launched this line with some pretty impressive stats. The compared the Reebok Easy Tone to one of their other foam based walking shoes, the Reebok Hex Express and it posted additional toning power in the gluts (28% more tone within the time), the hamstring area at the back of the thigh (11% more tone within the time) and the calf area (11% more tone within the time).

So the idea here is that you could wear these when you’re walking – or just every day and because of the natural instability and the engagement of your muscles because of the balance pods, you’ll burn more calories and tone more muscle faster than you would with a simple sneaker.

Another benefit of the Reebok EasyTone is the price point. At about $100.00, this is most definitely not at the high end of the pricing on the passive fitness shoe.

So how does this stand up among the brands? Well, this shoe looks like a sneaker, so if you’re looking for a passive fitness calorie burning shoe that doesn’t have the sneaker look, then the Reebok EasyTone isn’t for you. Likewise, this show may work better for those who have trouble with angled footbeds or the thicker and curved outsoles of the competition. Still, if you want to experiment with a new walking shoe, the balance ball technology is proven and these shoes could take your standard walking regimen quickly to the next level.