Welcome to the first edition of "Fitting Specialist of the Month!" Jeremy C. is our Fitting Specialist of the Month for August. A seasoned fitting specialist and Brown's team member for over four years, Jeremy is a consistent top-performer and customer favorite. Not only is he a foot health expert and knows how to find the best shoe for every customer in a professional, caring manner...gosh darn it, people just really like him!

Name: Jeremy C.

Store Location: New Balance St. Louis - Clayton Store

Position: Fitting Specialist

How long have you worked for New Balance St. Louis?  4+ years

What’s your favorite outdoor activity?  Boating/Golfing/Hunting/Fishing

Who is your favorite superhero and why?  Batman, no special powers, great gadgets

What is the best shoe fitting advice you can give?  Fit the arch, not the toes! (toe room is your friend!)

What’s your secret food indulgence?  Anything on a buffet!

Which were your favorite shoes as a child?  Reebok Kamikaze II (NBA player Shawn Kemp’s shoe)

What’s the most rewarding experience you’ve had working at New Balance St. Louis, Clayton location?  Receiving personal letters and phone calls from customers thanking me for advice, service and professionalism.

The eagerly awaited New Balance 880, an update to the popular 759 running shoe, is available online and in our store locations!  If you are looking for a solid shoe for long runs and have a neutral gait, this is the shoe for you. The 880 offers heel impact protection, good cushioning, tight heel tabs and only weighs 10.9 ounces. At under $100, what’s not to love?

For runners looking for more stability or those who over-pronate, the New Balance 1260 (update to the 1226) has upgraded features that just might help you get that PR you’ve been dreaming about.  This high-mileage trainer is loaded up with premium technologies focusing on stability and exceptional cushioning. The mesh upper is a popular feature that appeals to walkers, beginning or experienced runners like a gentle hug.

Nothing ruins your running momentum like having to stop to put your earphones or earbuds of your iPod back in. Well.. some things may be worse like running into an angry mutt, or an ex on your run. But those things make me run faster unlike having to put my "sound" back in. Another common problem with the run-of-the-mill earbuds/phones is the achey sensation in your ears after wearing them for a good period of time. I guess I could always wear my headphones from the 80's that make me look like a disc jockey.. although I'd need a converter because I'm pretty sure those aren't iPod compatible. What a dilemma!

 

Enter Seth Burgett, President and CEO of yurtopia™ (listed in Forbes magazine as one of America's Most Promising Companies 2009). Burgett like some of us, but to the n'th degree as he was training for an Iron Man 70.3 triathlon, suffered from uncomfortable earphones. Having a background in minimally invasive surgical devices Burgett came up with an award winning idea for custom size earbuds. Burgett and his team invented a unique-imaging technology to digitally scan an individual's ears and produce a soft custom-size ear-tip that attaches to iPod and mobile phone earbuds. yurtopia's patent pending ear "brannock" (measuring device) measures your ear and shape to find the right custom-size yurbuds™ for your ears specific. And guess where I got mine? That's right. New Balance Saint Louis. All of our New Balance store locations are now carrying yurbuds™ and yurphones™. Our fitting specialists at all locations already do a great job on fitting your feet, now they are trained to fit your ears as well! Once your size is determined the yurbuds simply slip over the high quality yurphones™ or your existing earbuds from your iPod, iPhone, or Bluetooth to provide exceptional comfort, unmatched fit that stays-in-place and superb sound quality. The concentration of sound that is so efficient that many wearer's are able to reduce volume by up to 50%. That's just for those who don't like to "rock out" to "Billy Jean" on their run like me.

So... to sum it up... Athletes. Music Lovers. Business Travelers. Gamers. BlueTooth® Wireless Headset Users. All listening to their favorite top 40 tune, favorite Sonata, favorite D&D character, or learning to ask where the men's room is in Swahili by CD, in comfort and convenience of their custom-fit yurbuds. Due to the fitting process these are only sold at our store locations not through our catalog or on our website. To find our locaton nearest you click here.

 Olympian and American record holder Jenny Barringer, who just graduated from the University of Colorado in December, owns the American record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at 9:12.50. She has proven that she is one of the best athletes in the world, earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team, two world teams, and is a seven-time All-American and 12-time All-Big 12 honoree. Jenny also won four NCAA titles and two national steeplechase titles.

“I’m thrilled to join the New Balance family and am eager to represent a brand that I find both inspiring and authentic,” said Barringer. “Given their quality products, support of charitable programs, and commitment to domestic manufacturing, I feel that New Balance and I are a great fit. I’m particularly excited to work with the Girls on the Run® organization, encouraging young girls to respect themselves and develop a healthy lifestyle through running.”

Find out more. Here.