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A Shoe in the Right Direction -- Just The Right Shoe(R) Retires Ten Collectible Shoes and Hosts Online Auction Raising $3,920 for Breast Cancer Research and Education During 'Over The Heel' Retirement Party

Just The Right Shoe -- a high-quality line of miniature collectible shoes literally featuring just the right shoe -- celebrated the retirement of several popular shoes from the collection during their "Over The Heel" retirement party last night. The event also marked Just The Right Shoe's ongoing commitment to raising funds for breast cancer research and education. Just The Right Shoe hosted an online charity auction from September 25th-28th which gave bidders an opportunity to own a set of classic retired shoes (which sold for $1,000) and a set of shoes from the new designer collection based on life-sized shoes from internationally-acclaimed shoe designer Beverly Feldman (which sold for $960). Just The Right Shoe matched the final bids and donated $3,920 to the Breast Health Institute, the organizing sponsor of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation/Philadelphia Race for the Cure(R).
During the retirement party to say farewell to ten shoes from the collection, Just The Right Shoe President and CEO Joe Walsmith surprised the 250 collectors gathered at The Hilton Valley Forge by announcing the immediate retirement of Ravishing Red. The Ravishing Red shoe is the collection's first shoe and one of its biggest sellers. It is also the first miniature shoe designed by Just The Right Shoe artist and sculptor, Raine.
Following the announcement, Raine smashed the original mold, instantly ending production of the red, platform pump.
The retirement is exciting news for collectors who own the styles removed from the market because their value could increase on what is known by collectors as the secondary market. Previously retired shoes have been auctioned and sold for as much as twice their value.
Other shoes retired during the "Over The Heel" party include:
-- Calla Lily
-- Ingenue
-- Shimmering Night
-- Geometricka
-- Jeweled Heel Pump
-- Tying the Knot
-- Golden Leaf
-- Magnetic Allure
-- Venus in Pearls
Remaining supplies of these shoes will be available to retainers until January 31, 2001, giving store owners and collectors the opportunity to obtain these shoes while they last.
The "Over The Heel" retirement party was held in the Philadelphia area just days before Raine will debut her new shoe to benefit breast cancer research and education, The Courageous Rose, on QVC on October 4, 2000. This event also marked a special homecoming for Raine. The San Francisco sculptor is a graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
This event gave collectors a sneak preview of the never-before-seen shoe, The Courageous Rose, an opportunity to meet Raine and a forum to celebrate their common interest. Collectors from around the globe jumped at the opportunity to "kick up their heels" with the artist.
"It was an honor to be here," said Paula Hughes, party guest and member of an online community club for Just The Right Shoe collectors. The community includes a group of collectors from around the world who meet online once a week to discuss the latest and greatest Just The Right Shoe. "Several members of the online Just The Right Shoe community were here, and we can't wait to share all of the exciting news with the group."
Fifteen members of the Just The Right Shoe online community are currently on their way to Seattle, Washington for the first annual Just The Right Shoe conference.
Willitts Designs International has retired 24 Just The Right Shoe collectibles since the shoes debuted in 1998, and the line currently includes 98 shoes. Once of the things that makes Just The Right Shoe so unique is that it is the only miniature shoe line to offer consumers licensed collections within the line. These include:
-- The Designer Collection -- Currently features miniature replicas of
shoe designer Beverly Feldman's ten most exciting styles from
throughout her career.
-- The Museum Collection -- Featuring exact replicas of shoes from two
prestigious U.S. historic homes. There are five replicas from George
and Martha Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and five replicas based on
the collection of the Vanderbilt family's Biltmore Estate in North
Carolina.
Petaluma, California based Willitts Designs International is a leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of high-quality, innovative, limited-edition collectibles. Willitts Designs International has manufactured the award-winning Just The Right Shoe collectibles, designed by internationally-acclaimed artist Raine, since 1998. Just The Right Shoe miniatures are $12 - $24.50 per shoe and can be found at more than 12,000 leading retailers and gift shops worldwide, including Nordstrom, The Museum Company and most Hallmark stores. To find retailers, visit www.justtherightshoe.com, or call 707-778-7211, ext. 2660.
SOURCE Willitts Designs International
CONTACT: Aron Shafran or Jennifer Shannahan of Edelman Public Relations,
415-433-5381, for Willits Designs International

URL:
http://www.justtherightshoe.com

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