Cheryl Andonian

Zooligans


Children’s Retail Today Adorables – the founders of Zooligans create a new company, taking the brand to another level.

042413_Zooligans_01Cheryl Andonian, co-founder of Zooligans footwear, tells me it’s been a crazy year since she and  her husband, shoe designer Joel Rusnak, launched the brand. The duo just reformed a new company, ShoeString Shoes LLC to make Zooligans shoes even better.

042413_Zooligans_03Stampeding Toward Fall. The Massachusetts-based company is offering exciting additions to the clever collection of animal-themed shoes for Fall ’13, multiplying for the back to school season with a new menagerie of styles, colors and characters in their Pawflex line.

New critters-shoes include a Penguin, Pony and Kitty boot; a Puppy and Gator Ox; a Dinosaur and Monkey mid-cut boot and an Owl and Panda slip on clog – all featuring Zooligans’ signature Paw Flex bottom with its bold paw print design that’s super flexible. Zooligans shoes are designed for little kids’ growing feet with a roomy toe box for toes to stretch and grip plus the flexibility that little feet need.

042413_Zooligans_02Zooligans is also expanding the brand with Baby Zooligans, a collection of soft-soled shoes for infants. Baby Zooligans’ tiniest menagerie includes a Lamb, Lion, Kitty, Piglet, Puppy and Monkey,  made from soft leather and suede to provide protection, warmth (and cuteness) for baby’s delicate feet. The bottoms are made of soft suede and have a fun printed pawprint on the bottom.

Loved by blogging moms everywhere, recognized as “must have’s” and “most awesome,” the new company will be ready to ship the new Zooligans to retailers in August.

Introducing Zooligans


Available in stores later this month, Zooligans™ by Roc-A-Bouts® have plenty of animal magnetism.

 

This brand new line of footwear for kids ages one through five can prove to be irresistible, as each little shoe looks just like an animal, complete with molded eyes and stitched on details. Each pair is tagged with the animal’s name, and kids can learn about its personality and quirky habits from reading the fun, educational story that’s included.

Zooligans animals –oh, I mean shoes- come in a nifty shoebox that’s reusable and recyclable. Like a fun toy, the box looks and acts like a pet carrier, so kids can use it to carry their Zooligans shoes or to carry their favorite stuffed animal. And when it’s time, it can be thrown right in the recycle bin.

Who can resist a shoe that looks you in the eye and smiles?

The Zooligans line is created by long time children’s shoe designer and former toy designer Joel Rusnak and his wife and marketer Cheryl Andonian. The team partnered with popular shoe company Roc-A-Bouts to manufacture a high-function, quality shoe featuring a unique Paw-Flex bottom, which looks like a paw and flexes like one, too. Made with soft leather uppers for natural breathability and comfort,  the designers utilize an athletic shoe construction for excellent stability.

Later this April, look for eight characters of Zooligans in stores, including a kitty, monkey, bunny, gator, panda, koala, puppy and raccoon in either a Mary Jane style for girls or a fisherman sandal style for boys and girls.

I’m putting my request in for a shoe that looks like a goat (my favorite animal – and they’re feisty, too!).

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