If you’re a woman, and you want a little height, all you need to do is pull out a pair of high heel shoes and you’ve grown an inch or more. Yet, unless they enjoy cross dressing, men don’t have those same options… until now.
Akbar Pirani knew what it was like to be a little below the average height, which opened up an opportunity for him. When he created WalkTall Shoes he gave men the ability to add a little height in a way they were unable to before.
I got the chance to interview Akbar about his shoes and what got him started down the road to entrepreneurship.
What inspired you to create WalkTall Shoes?
I was perhaps short listed to create WalkTall Shoes… on a little serious note, I think, there were a couple of reasons. 1) My shorter than average height (I’m 5’6”), and 2) Having a hard time finding a decent job. These two negatives turned into a positive force of inspiration to kick start WalkTall Shoes.
How many colors and styles do they come in?
Most of them are in black color. Then we have a few in brown, burgundy, and camel colors. We currently have shoes in 10 different styles and a couple of more are on the way.
What sets your product apart from others on the market?
The concealed height enhancement insoles certainly set us apart from regular shoes. Our shoes enhances the height by up to 2.75” and yet they are light weight and extremely comfortable. One of the reasons of our success is that I try all our styles and walk in them for a couple of miles before we bring them into the market. This perhaps is the reason that we have a high percentage of repeat customers. These shoes are also addictive in the sense that once people start wearing those, its hard for them to wear regular shoes because of the loss in height.
What are some of the things you’ve learned since the launch of your business?
At first we thought that we should focus on “Short” “Men”. We were wrong on both counts. First, majority of our clients are average or above average height. Second, one-quarter of our customers are basically women who want to buy them for their husbands or boyfriends. Then we have brides to be who shop for their grooms for their wedding.
If given the opportunity, would you change anything you’ve done so far?
With the benefit of hindsight, I will definitely start working on making our website search engine friendly right from day one.
How much planning and time went into making your business what it is today? Would you mind taking us through some of the steps?
It’s a 24/7 process that can’t distinguish between weekends and weekdays. Sometimes some crazy ideas will popup into my mind in the middle of night. I will wakeup and turn my computer on to test that idea only to be disappointed. Just like any other business you have to be up and running everyday, day after day. It’s a combination of inspiration and perspiration. Any business, I believe, basically depends on experimenting through trial and error. The most important part of being your own boss is to love and enjoy the process of business. If you don’t like what you do then perhaps its time to move on.
Where do you see WalkTall Shoes in the next 5-10 years?
We do not want to limit the brand “WalkTall” with shoes. It certainly has more potential and we want to tap it. We have already stated working on extending our line to clothing for walking tall.
We hope that in the next 5 years the name “WalkTall” will be associated with a range of products that cater to the needs of men that are of below average height. You can take a quiz below to get a sense of direction that we are setting for ourselves:
http://www.walktallshoes.com/how-to-dress-taller-quiz.htm
What are some of the resources that have helped you?
“Internet” is definitely the single most useful tool that has helped us to compete, connect, and collaborate towards making WalkTall a success story.
Was there any advice that has helped you with the growth of your business?
“Persistence” is the single most useful term that has guided us during the darkest phase of our business.
Is there anything you’d like to tell other entrepreneurs looking to launch a business of their own?
It is absolutely critical to love the business you pick. If you wake up and think of the work as a chore then that perhaps is not the right business for you. Every day you should be ready for both the routine work plus be excited to test the new ideas that you’ve been brainstorming. If you love your job then there are no regrets even if you fail in the materialistic sense.
Winning Startups on August 6th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Is this what Tom Cruise wore in his wedding photo that made him look the same height as Katie Holmes?
cassy on August 6th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Its really hurt when your applying a job and you can’t be hired because they have this height requirements.
I think his product can be a big help.
Homejobsite.com on August 6th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
I like this idea! I am not short, but I am not really tall either, but to add a few inches and be comfotable would be nice. But I think this idea came from the elevator shoe era, if I am not mistaken. I would still buy a pair!
Heechang.Moon. on August 8th, 2008 at 2:26 am
I’m not surprised at all.
Because in Korea, This kind of Height-up Shoes is already very popular and almost korean men are wearing to hide their flaws.
As you know, eastern people is much shorter than western people. haha!
WalkTall Shoes on August 8th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Indeed there is a rumor that Tom Cruise wears custom designed height enhancing shoes. There is also a buzz that the French President Nicolas Sarkozy might also be wearing specially designed heightening shoes.