One foot at a time

The smell of new shoes fills the sales floor of Snyderman's Shoes Plaza in south Fort Myers, where feet of all dimensions come in search for their shoe soul mates. Owner Bob Snyderman may be found any day kneeling by a customer's foot to measure its length and width.

"We're the old fashioned sit and fit family shoe store," he said. "And that's the reason for our success."

Fort Myers resident David Bloodsworth extended his right foot towards Snyderman last Friday morning, to try on a pair of New Balance shoes.

"Comfort," Bloodsworth said, as to what he was looking for in a shoe.

His developmental disability makes it hard to find the right fit, he said. Bloodsworth had come there with his supportive living coach Cassandra Mitchell that day to find it.

"We come here because he needs supportive shoes, and they help get him the shoes he needs to be in," she said.

Snyderman said finding a shoe for any type of foot or lifestyle is a specialty. All under one roof, the Snyderman family owns New Balance of Fort Myers and Snyderman's Shoes, which carries many other brands like Doc Martins, Crocs and Teva Sandals.

FLORIDA WEEKLY PHOTO Bob Snyderman fits a customer with a pair of New Balance shoes.

"We cover the whole gambit," he said. "We go from putting first shoes on a ninemonth old baby to fitting shoes for senior citizens."

He moved to Fort Myers in 1979, a 29-year-old newlywed, to continue the family business started by his father in Lakewood, N.J. in 1952. His brother had already moved here two years prior to start a small children's shoe store. Snyderman said the family chose Florida because his parents retired here, but the West Coast didn't come highly recommended at that time.

"When we came here, the Florida sales rep said 'You have a great business in New Jersey,'" he said. "'I can't see you coming down here. Fort Myers is a sleepy little town.'"

But they came anyway, and business started to boom in the 1970s. In 2002, Snyderman's came together all in one location, located at 1900 Trailwinds Drive, one block North of Crystal Drive and Highway 41. His nephew Rick Snyderman sold the Snyderman's shoe store in Naples (which he'd run for 20 years), and came to work in Fort Myers. Bob and his wife Laury said things couldn't have worked out better.

FLORIDA WEEKLY PHOTO Snyderman Shoe store in Fort Myers.

"We basically grew up with this town and now every time I turn around and walk into the kids section there's one of these old time moms, now grandmas, bringing their babies in to be fit," he said. "It's something you don't see a whole lot of anymore in this world of big box stores and malls.

"As far as I know, I don't think there are 10 families in the shoe business who've existed over 50 years."

Rick is also a licensed pedorthist, a sort of pharmacist for people with special shoe needs. He works with doctors to find the right footwear for their patients, especially diabetic ones, whose Medicare plans cover the cost of the shoes.

Snyderman stopped to take a call during the interview: a doctor's office asking if he could bring some sample shoes over for tests, before they start recommending them to patients. It's one of the ways the family business is connected to the community. Back to school sales are also a big boost, as are the recurring tides of snowbirds, he said. With his loyal customer base and the busy winter season, sales have been on the upswing.

FLORIDA WEEKLY PHOTO The Snyderman family owns New Balance of Fort Myers and Snyderman's Shoes, which carries many other brands like Doc Martins, Crocs and Teva Sandals.

"Season's been good," Bob said. "I see it here. I see it at the waiting lines at restaurants around town."

The Red Sox, who began their first day of spring training in Fort Myers last Friday, also bring the northern crowds with them, many of whom are return customers. Most are also familiar with the New Balance brand, Snyderman said, which is a Boston-based company. Snyderman's Shoe Plaza contains one of 140 New Balance venues around the country, and the number one in sales in the Southeast.

Snyderman works closely with the New Balance company and is a voice in their future production plans. He tells them what customers are saying, and gets a first look at new shoe prototypes, some of which won't be on the shelves until 2010. One of the market's greatest challenges, he said, is keeping up with trends.

FLORIDA WEEKLY PHOTO Bob Snyderman moved to Fort Myers in 1979 to continue the family business started by his father in Lakewood, N.J. in 1952.

"That's one thing we're always keeping our eyes out for," he said. "There's always something new. Technologies are changing all the time…It's extremely competitive, especially in the athletic business."

For example, shoe companies are working to figure out how to keep babyboomers on their feet longer, by creating footwear that alleviates knee problems.

"One of the things about New Balance is they respect your opinions," he said. "And I'm very vocal, and they like that. I tell them, 'This is what my customers are telling me.'"

Those are the people he sells shoes to everyday, like Bloodsworth. The Snydermans, Bob and Rick, work the showroom floor on a daily basis. They said their loyal clientele have come to know them, and some of their employees, as friends.

Sales rep Jacob Connor, 21, was kneeling down to measure a woman's foot near a wall filled with New Balance running shoes.

"Never a dull moment," he said. "There's nobody we can't find shoes for, we'll always fit you in something."