LadySport celebrating 35 years of helping women find active footwear that fits
Staff of Vancouver’s leading active women’s footwear store take pride in being shoe-fitters, not shoe-fetchers
Whether you’re training for a marathon or love working out at your local gym, there are a few ways to purchase running shoes: scrolling through a website and picking a pair online, heading to a mall where staff may or may not know how do a proper fit, or going to one of those rare spots where the team specializes in sports footwear and has a passion for helping people.
LadySport is that place. Vancouver’s leading active women’s footwear store since 1983, it has become the go-to source for those seeking expert advice and exceptional customer service.
LadySport, which carries everything from shoes to sports bras to workout wear, is run by the same owner-operators who founded it in 1983. To this day, Phil Moore and Brett Davidson pride themselves on being shoe-fitters, not simply shoe-fetchers, specializing in orthotics and the hard-to-fit foot. With hundreds of types of shoes to choose from, they’re on the floor helping customers find the right one for specific activities in the proper size, shape, and width. Field hockey, tennis, soccer, or squash? Trail running, ultra-marathons, fitness classes, or walks? Whatever moves you, the LadySport team will set you up with shoes that suit the sport— and your feet.
“Footwear is all about fit,” says Moore, a former tennis coach who played university basketball for four years and who has a degree in physical education. “It’s not cookie-cutter. It can be the greatest shoe in the world, but if it doesn’t fit, it’s not going to work.”
Along with the rest of the LadySport team, Moore helps people find the right fit by asking four questions: What are you doing in the shoe (lots of lateral movement or more straightforward running)? Do you have any foot problems (such as high or flat arches, hammer toes, or bunions) or use orthotics? What have you worn in the past (were the shoes comfortable or problem-inducing)? What’s your size and width? (They’ll use a proper shoe bench and sizer to find out.)
“There’s no simple solution to complex problems,” Moore says. “We like to be part of the solution for people with significant footrelated issues and be a key part of their integrated health care team.”
LadySport staff are constantly learning: the team collaborates with sports-medicine experts, podiatrists and other health professionals while keeping current with the most up-to-date shoe technology. They understand foot anatomy, function and related issues ranging from pronation to plantar fasciitis.
Dr. Jack Taunton, a renowned doctor of sports medicine, former competitive runner and cofounder of the Vancouver Sun Run and the Vancouver International Marathon, holds the team in high esteem. He presents seminars on the latest sports-medicine news in-store on a regular basis.
“They place such an emphasis on education, as much for their clientele as for their staff,” Taunton says. “If you don’t get a proper fit, you could end up with one of any number of problems. They are fit specialists, and they do their research.”
New Balance account manager Benji Epp describes LadySport as a hidden gem.
“Women who have a difficult time finding shoes that are small or large enough will love it there,” Epp says. “LadySport carries a huge selection of those hard to find sizes from 5 to 6.5 or 10 to 13. That goes for widths also; from narrow to extra-extra wide, they have you covered.”
LadySport’s knowledge and expertise extend beyond women’s sports shoes. The store carries hiking shoes, casual dress shoes, flip-flops with arch support, kids’ runners, insoles, athletic wear and much more. It’s also one of the few places in Vancouver that offers women private, qualified sports-bra fittings.
Having been named the best independent run specialty store in Canada, the company has expanded to other communities, opening FitFirst Footwear in Burnaby (3713 Kensington Avenue) with co-owner Evan Moore, Phil’s son. Having also studied Phys Ed at university, he’s equally passionate about sports and helping people find the right fit. In addition to women’s footwear, FitFirst carries a vast selection of men’s shoes.
“We are so excited to expand our footprint outside of Vancouver,” Evan Moore says. “We’re bringing our roots, our 35 years of experience, here, and we’re proud to be part of the amazing, growing community that Burnaby is.”
Just as important as in-depth knowledge and providing customers with an unrushed, tailored experience is LadySport’s community involvement. The company supports initiatives such as Dress for Success and the Shoe Bank, which provides desperately needed footwear to Vancouver’s most needy, including low-income individuals who suffer from diabetes, arthritis and foot pain.
As its holds its semi-annual sale (until September 10), LadySport is grateful to all of its clients and staff members for putting their best foot forward and making it the one-of-a-kind store it is today. And while things are always evolving when it comes to footwear technology, what hasn’t changed is LadySport’s commitment to being the ultimate women’s footwear store with the best selection and best customer service.
“We’re proud of our history and hope that we’ll continue to strengthen our communities and support our customers,” Phil Moore says. “Our goal is to help improve people’s lives every day.”
To get a personalized customer experience at LadySport, please visit 3545 West 4th Avenue. More information is at www.ladysport.ca.