FRIDAY - August 15, 2008

Since early July, John has been spotted walking up to complete strangers, perhaps frightening them at times, muttering such phrases as "You are awesomer!" & "You are the awesomest!" He has also been spotted in his stores with a magic marker continuing his Priceslashathon by drastically reducing prices on styles that were already considered by most as "wonderfully good value." Then this morning, superceding his hourly appreciation for his customers and before anyone could stop him, John Fluevog abandoned his rooftop perch in favour of a higher declaration location, this time climbing a not-so-famous skyscraper (gross exaggeration) to exclaim to the Fluevogin' World his daily mantra of "You are Awesome!" (Without getting too personal, John really does think you're the awesomest... especially you.)

We want you to decide on our next ad creative. You've seen our ads in swank magazines and around the globe for a while now. Well, as often as possible we like to seek your wisdom, approval and counsel on which ad to run (just to keep us in line). Not to mention that you get a preview of a BRAND NEW FAMILY: THE BEATS! So, think Cassady & Kerouac, Ginsberg & Burroughs, and select from four possible designs and vote for your favourite. When the polls close, we'll run the winning ad in a variety of publications including Death+Taxes. As if that weren't enough, 10 of you will WIN a one year subscription to said magazine. Choose wisely sweet Fluevogers.

John Fluevog makes Good Shoes - Good Shoes makes Good Music - Good Music is reported on and sampled in Paste Magazine. It's a wonder we didn't do this contest on the first day of the world, it makes so much sense. Contest closes at the end of August.

On a particularly hazy day in the Summer of 1970 when John and his friend Peter Fox worked at Sheppard's Shoes in Vancouver, Peter decided he wanted to open his own shoe store. One of his options for startup capital was to approach John's Dad for a loan. Mr. Fluevog was intrigued by the proposal, and agreed under the condition that his son John was made 50% owner. And so began Fox & Fluevog Shoes. The pair signed a 5 year lease at $350 a month for #2 Powell Street in Gastown, Vancouver. At the time, John was primarily interested in girls and cars (not necessarily in that order), but he liked the idea of making $75 a week versus $45. John's moral of the story? Be careful where you start, you may just end up doing it for the rest of your life.