When it comes to babies and first-time walkers, barefoot is best but isn’t always practical. Soft sole shoes that act like a second skin mean your little wanderer can explore and adventure while still having some protection and allowing their feet to develop naturally. The genuine leather soft sole shoes from NZ-based Wander are inspired by the classics, are cute as a button and are breathable, flexible and light-weight. We spoke to Nyssa from Wander to learn more about how they got started.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
The opportunity came up to purchase Wander off a lovely friend, Hannah, and I jumped at the chance. I’d been following Wander’s journey since it began. I loved the products, and the ethics behind it of slow fashion and stocking only styles that won’t be obviously seasonal, overly feminine, or go out of fashion. This way the shoes can be passed between siblings and friends.
The Launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
Luckily for me a lot of the hard work had been done already. Hannah had built up an amazing group of brand reps, customers, and products, that I just had to take over and hope I didn’t break it!
I loved the products, and the ethics behind it of slow fashion and stocking only styles that won’t be obviously seasonal, overly feminine, or go out of fashion. This way the shoes can be passed between siblings and friends.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
Finding people that love our brand and are happy to be aligned with us makes such a difference. If people are out there talking about us, wearing our product – and then others see this, and trust them, it’s a winning situation for everyone involved. We love seeing our shoes out in the world and thanks to Instagram, we get to see all the places they go and explore with their owners. I’ve sent a few pairs of shoes to Europe and the US now and it’s so exciting seeing those orders fly away!
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
It’s definitely a juggle! I had my second baby four months after taking Wander on and I was still just learning the ropes so it was a bit tough there for a little while. Luckily I have a wee shoe model now! I find the balance between being present for my kids, and being on my laptop or phone, one of the hardest things. It’s addictive isn’t it, especially when it’s one of the easiest and fastest marketing tools.
I work best at night once the kids are in bed, so that’s when I try and reply to all my emails and organize orders.
