Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Michael Richards, manager of Shuz, displays a selection of the store's European and American shoes.

New In Town

Shuz specializes in customer service

Just as its name is fun, simple and easy to remember, Shuz of Los Gatos is a new store where shopping is fun, simple and easy, thanks to a wide selection of American and European shoes and employees known as "servant associates" to emphasize their goal of putting customers at ease.

"Our priorities are to serve the customer and fill a need. A lot of people don't realize the value of good-fitting shoes," explains manager Michael Richards. "We want people to feel comfortable and get the right pair of shoes the first time."

Among the footwear Shuz carries for men and women are career/dress shoes, sandals, walking shoes, hiking shoes and boots and a variety of other shoes for travel and leisure. Shoes hail from well-established makers in the United States and countries including Denmark, Germany, France and England.

When customers sit down, employees measure each foot and analyze the shape and size of customers' arches and insteps--all important factors in selecting a shoe that provides the most comfort and support. Some of the shoes even have technological advances such as self-conforming foot beds or special load-bearing areas on the soles.

If the store--owned by shoe-biz veterans Steve and Barbara Baer--does not have an item in a particular style or size, the Baers can order it from one of their three other retail shoe stores in Northern California.

Accessories include socks, orthotic devices such as insoles and arch supports, handbags, wallets, shoehorns, furry foot massagers, wooden body massagers, walking sticks and lotions and potions for polishing and protecting leather, nubuck or suede shoes.

Repeat customers can use the "Shoe Club Card" to earn a discount after purchasing eight pairs of shoes. All customers are invited to munch the complimentary apples served daily.

Shuz of Los Gatos, 1112 N. Santa Cruz Ave. Hours are Mon.-Thur., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m-9 p.m. and Sun. 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. 395-3510.

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