We are nearing the end of 2023 stunned at how fast the time has flown. As we head into 2024, all of us here at Softstar want to thank you for a terrific year! Here a few highlights looking back.
B Corp Certification
Perhaps our most exciting accomplishment this past year was that we earned our B Corp certification showing that we're committed to high standards of environmental and social responsibility. This came after over a year of several levels of in-depth audits and countless hours of dedication from our C. Elf. O, Trish.
Participation in 2023 Minimalist Shoe Research Study
We were thrilled to partner with scientists from University of Sydney, Western Sydney University, and the University of South Florida on the first accredited university research study showing that minimal shoes can help increase the size of muscles in kids' feet! After eight months of wearing our Primal RunAmocs, the research found statistically significant increases in flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) muscle size in the group of kids that wore Softstar Shoes compared to the control group.
Affiliate Visits
We were ecstatic to be able to host a couple of our wonderful affiliates, Anya from Anya's Reviews and Sean and Sara from the Barefoot Shoe Review. The Elves had so much fun finally being able to meet face to face, as well as teach them more about what goes on at the Softstar workshop. We are grateful for all of our affiliates' good work providing education, reviews and helping our communities be successful in transitioning to healthier footwear choices!
Fun Staff Events
It's no secret that the Softstar Elves like to have fun at work; it is part of our mission, after all. Some highlights of fun things we did in 2023 include the very first Softstar Olympics, our annual Play Day, summer company picnic, Halloween costume contest, and holiday bowling party!
Widening Our (Toe) Horizons
Much of our development work this last year has focused on redesigning and improving a few of our existing shoes. This included adding wide widths for the Hawthorne Chukka and Rogue, as well as redesigning our adult Phoenix Boot to feature a roomier toe box. Stay tuned for some BRAND NEW Softstar styles coming in 2024! Any guesses on what they could be?
Giving Back to Our Community
Contributing positively to our community is an integral part of our Softstar culture. This year, we sold 90 Playful Pancake cat toys, equating to eight more goats added to the 'Pancake Herd' in Sudan. The herd has grown to 1,308 goats over the last 12 years! The elves donate 100% of sales, labor, and materials for these gorgeous cat toys to Kids for Kids. Cats love them, and we hope you will get one for your furry friend in the new year!
Looking Forward
While 2023 was one for the books, we have even more exciting things coming in 2024, including making one of our fan-favorite styles customizable and adding some brand new handcrafted styles to our line up! We'd love to hear what you are hoping to see from us this year in the comments below.
