Christine Davis and Joe Patterson have many things in common.
Both have companies that focus on the feet (she is the regional distributor for Coolest Shoes of California and he is the inventor and president of ToeSox). The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce named both of them entrepreneurs of the year (he was the honoree in 2010 and she was honored this year). And both of their businesses, which grew from single-person endeavors to full-fledged companies, are embarking on new ventures.
On Sept. 3, after years of distributing her lightweight, breathable Glagla shoes exclusively at trade shows and other special events and out of her office and warehouse, Davis is opening her first storefront, located at 2984 State St. in the heart of Carlsbad Village.
And ToeSox, a company that started with Patterson's idea of creating glove-like socks for yoga and other activities usually done barefoot, last month made another step to focus on the health and wellness of feet with the introduction of a new product, Five Toe Sandals, flip flops that spread the toes to strengthen feet, improve posture and help with blood circulation.
Both Patterson and Davis are also members of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce's Pathways to Success, the small business support program that allows business owners to meet in a confidential and non-competitive environment to help each other become more successful.
It was through their interaction in Pathways that Davis and Patterson discovered they had the perfect opportunity to collaborate.
When Davis opens her store, she will be the first retailer in the Carlsbad area to carry the new line of ToeSox's Five Toe Sandals and ToeSox products.
"The timing was just perfect so that we could come together to cross-promote our products," Davis said.
Patterson said he's excited that local customers, who can order his products online and buy them at yoga studios , will now be able to purchase them at Davis' store in the Carlsbad Village.
"It's a great opportunity to be able to have our products in a retail store, especially right there in the Carlsbad Village," Patterson said.
Davis said she had considered opening a retail store for some time, but several developments, including the location of her new store and the company that makes the shoes urging distributors to move into the retail market, came together to make it the right time.
"We wanted to expand and make it easier for people to get our product," she said. "We knew we needed to have a retail location, so we just decided to bite the bullet and do it now."
For more information on the companies, go to www.coolestshoesincalifornia.com or www.toesox.com.
Both have companies that focus on the feet (she is the regional distributor for Coolest Shoes of California and he is the inventor and president of ToeSox). The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce named both of them entrepreneurs of the year (he was the honoree in 2010 and she was honored this year). And both of their businesses, which grew from single-person endeavors to full-fledged companies, are embarking on new ventures.
On Sept. 3, after years of distributing her lightweight, breathable Glagla shoes exclusively at trade shows and other special events and out of her office and warehouse, Davis is opening her first storefront, located at 2984 State St. in the heart of Carlsbad Village.
And ToeSox, a company that started with Patterson's idea of creating glove-like socks for yoga and other activities usually done barefoot, last month made another step to focus on the health and wellness of feet with the introduction of a new product, Five Toe Sandals, flip flops that spread the toes to strengthen feet, improve posture and help with blood circulation.
Both Patterson and Davis are also members of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce's Pathways to Success, the small business support program that allows business owners to meet in a confidential and non-competitive environment to help each other become more successful.
It was through their interaction in Pathways that Davis and Patterson discovered they had the perfect opportunity to collaborate.
When Davis opens her store, she will be the first retailer in the Carlsbad area to carry the new line of ToeSox's Five Toe Sandals and ToeSox products.
"The timing was just perfect so that we could come together to cross-promote our products," Davis said.
Patterson said he's excited that local customers, who can order his products online and buy them at yoga studios , will now be able to purchase them at Davis' store in the Carlsbad Village.
"It's a great opportunity to be able to have our products in a retail store, especially right there in the Carlsbad Village," Patterson said.
Davis said she had considered opening a retail store for some time, but several developments, including the location of her new store and the company that makes the shoes urging distributors to move into the retail market, came together to make it the right time.
"We wanted to expand and make it easier for people to get our product," she said. "We knew we needed to have a retail location, so we just decided to bite the bullet and do it now."
For more information on the companies, go to www.coolestshoesincalifornia.com or www.toesox.com.