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A community member
Sep 14, 2017
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I'm always happy to see quality shoes, but am confused by your branding. You (Mark) are a 20-year-old marketing student. Your shoes/boots are made by Abilene, an established boot manufacturer who would seem to know more about designing and making footwear. When you say "used to be made for the USPS" do you mean that Abilene's old design is being revived under your brand, or that you got the design from elsewhere and are contracting to Abilene? Not to be harsh, but by positioning your product as old-school you invite these kinds of questions.
Sep 14, 2017
mbarbera
4
Mark Albert Boots
Sep 19, 2017
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Kinami,
I think its been made pretty clear in all of the verbiage used both on my site and in the description that the silhouette and some of the technology that used to be contracted for the USPS is also crossing over into these designs. Anyone who would actually think that the USPS would wear pigksin lined, premium leather boots retailing at nearly $300 and not to mention, made in a non-utilitarian colorway, must not be very familiar with the designs that are used in large contracted government deals. Most understand this as common sense, especially since the Red Wing postman shoes are fairly common. At any rate, if you have any further questions or concerns about our manufacturing and logistics, feel free to contact us at info@markalbertboots.com for more in-depth descriptions.
Best,
Mark Albert
Sep 19, 2017
A community member
Sep 19, 2017
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mbarberaThanks for the reply. I have looked at the company site but remain confused--I think because brands offering classic-style made-in-USA tend to tell a story about how the company has been making shoes since 1920 or something as assurance that they have experience making them fit actual feet and survive actual wear. I'd like to be sold on your shoes but it's hard without more depth to the backstory. Will certainly email as I'm genuinely interested.
Sep 19, 2017
mbarbera
4
Mark Albert Boots
Sep 19, 2017
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Unlike a lot of brands, my Kickstarter campaign gave a thorough explanation of the background. My great grandfather was also a master shoemaker from Sicily who passed down his knowledge to the factory workers in 1948, so this is not somehow "new" to me because I am only 21. If you actually looked at my website you would have found the link. Nevertheless, I know a lot of people who are satisfied with monotony and buying from the same brands due to their established name regardless of the quality, and it seems that this type of buying nature should suffice for you.
Sep 19, 2017
A community member
Sep 20, 2017
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mbarberaThe level of info you give would be fine if you were selling shirts or pants, but with shoes a lot can go wrong. If I walk around in the rain for hours, will they be ruined? Cause blisters? Especially since online we can't inspect or try on the product. If customers are going to risk this new brand over more established options, they need to hear how make sure the basics are done right. If you rely heavily on the factory's expertise for this, we need to hear more about their role than the brief mention you give them. I had spent some time looking at the Kickstarter page and couldn't find any clue in the project description or updates as to how you went about designing and improving the shoes. I was looking for something like, "I talked to the people at the factory and we looked through their old designs from the 1970s" or at least "I was up for 3 days straight with the shoe designing software on my laptop and then sent the results to the factory." There was a lot about you and your "nonna" but that isn't helpful--my grandfather was a dermatologist, but on that basis would you trust me to formulate and manufacture high-end skin care products? There was also a lot about Goodyear welts, but that's not helpful either--customers willing to pay extra for a US-made product have heard the same things already from your direct competitors (Allen Edmunds etc.). Part of the problem is that these shoes are different from your original product. For Chelsea boots it's enough to be stylish and reasonably well made, but for this type of footwear the expectations for practical usability will be higher. Again, I want to like this brand, and just feel like some key info is missing.
Sep 20, 2017
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