AlFred Melillo

Arlington, TX (USA)
Role(s):
Founder/Owner/Principal

Specialty Footwear International

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Location: Arlington
Industry: Apparel
Year Founded: 2007
Number Employees: 1-10 people
Description: SFI creates and manufacturers footwear for consumers who have special ambulatory needs. Our first project, footwear which will totally eliminate foot pain for people who attend trade shows and conventions, has become much bigger than we had anticipated. We have produced samples and tested them at three different trade shows with amazing results and have just received permission to contact the membership of one of the largest trade associations (Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association) and have been given exhibit space at their November trade show (AAPEX). We anticipate that we will sell 5000 pairs minimum prior to this show. We expect to also sell another 5000 pairs at the show. We have an agreement in place with the component manufacturers in Italy to manufacture the footwear needed for this first marketing program. We need to post an LC for that merchandise ($360K)(URL removed) also have need for approximately $150K for booth design, show expense, printing of the consumer brochure (ready to be printed) and finishing the new web site. We have a fulfillment house in place to handle consumer delivery. We have commitments from trade show managers for 13 of the 30 largest trade shows held annually in America for 2009 through 2014. Using our low forecast estimate of potential sales per show of 6000 units, the sales numbers are huge. We have tested the "price point" for these shoes and selling them directly to the consumer at $279 is no problem. Most people that attend trade shows encounter foot pain, leg pain and many also have back pain. This is a universal problem which is known to anyone that has ever attended a trade show. Our (patent pending) Trade Show Shoes are guaranteed to eliminate foot pain caused by the long hard hours standing and the thousands of steps taken at trade shows. There are three very special features in these shoes which virtually take all of the contact between the foot and the floor out of every step taken. We have testimonials of trade show attendees as well as trade show professionals that actually "put on" the major trade shows. There is no doubt that these shoes are going to sell to folks that attend trade shows. (Over 36% of the population of the USA attends at least one trade show annually.) This is also an extremely profitable business as our numbers will show. We have five more "special" footwear projects which are included in the business plan, including one program for private label shoes for the Boy Scouts of America program. Our Footwear will never be sold at retail. All of our marketing programs are designed to sell direct to the consumer. Our CFO has a set of investor documents ready to go. These are very detailed documents which will deliver a complete picture of SFI and where we are headed. We have exhausted the personal capital which the three partners have invested, but we are now completely ready to launch the Trade Show Shoe program. We are happy to send the business plan, brochure and investor documents to interested potential investors. Our CFO is available for additional details. We can also arrange for contact with AAIA and also the AAPEX show management group. Timing is now a key as we need to deliver the fist LC to insure that we have product to ship prior to the trade show opening.