Founder of Foot Solutions- Ray Margiano, Entrepreneur, Author and Speaker

Foot Health Podcast

Ray Margiano — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 20:23:50 +0000

Last week on my way into the Foot Solutions I was listening to a talk show, which turned out to be a radio show with a focus on Menâ€™s health. Local here in the Atlanta area, I called and talked to the host later that day suggesting he consider doing a segment on feet â€“ the foundation of our bodies. A week later he called me and asked if I would be a guest on his show to discuss the importance of foot care, fitness and answering common foot-related questions. A few controversial questions came up during the podcast regarding shoes vs. going barefoot, and the hot topic of ‘toning shoes‘.

Before shoes existed, our ancestors walked the earth barefoot. Keep in mind that pavement and concrete sidewalks didn’t exist either. Walking barefoot on natural, uneven terrain supports the arch, unlike flat roads and sidewalks.

So many things happen to our feet as we age- it’s important to take proper care of the foundation of our bodies! Similar to our eyes, our feet age. Most aging adults will need some type of corrective glasses…feet are no different in the fact that feet need support so they can continue to work properly.

Did you Know?

3x your body weight is forced on your feet with every step
5-10x your body weight is forced while you are running
90% of the population today are wearing improperly fitted shoes, causing major foot problems

Listen to the podcast with Men’s Health and Wellness Center, and if you have any questions regarding the health of your feet, leave them in the comment box below.

Dr. Henry C. Lee Dedication Ceremony

Ray Margiano — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 20:23:59 +0000

October 15th, 2010 I had the honor and pleasure in participating in the opening of the Dr. Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science building dedication at the University of New Haven.

During this time I was able to spend about 1 hour with Dr. Henry C. Lee with a private tour with the Board of Governors of the facility and enjoyed personal conversations with Dr. Lee explaining some of the dramatic cases and discoveries he has personally been involved with over the years.

The center is leading state of the art and if you are ever in the New Haven area I recommend highly that you stop by for a visit.

September 11th 2001

Ray Margiano — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 19:54:25 +0000

As I sit here on the eve of September 11th, I cannot help but to recall the tragedy and the hope that was lost that day. Now, nine years later watching the news and listening to the Politicians’ BS is enough to turn anyone’s stomach. Wouldn’t it be nice to have more positive visionaries who help light the future and encourage the best in all of us, rather then the continuing pandering, fear mongering and finger pointing
always looking for the worse? I feel September 11th should be a national holiday, perhaps even a worldwide Holiday remembering the lives lost in the tragedy, and focusing on solutions and hope for the future.

Interviewed for PBS Nightly Business Report

Ray Margiano — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:22:02 +0000

“As we spend more time during the day on our feet, leading longer active lives, the shoes we wear canÂ make a difference in how we feel.As Jeff Yastine reports, thatâ€™s a key strategy in the growth of the Foot Solutions chain….”

I was recently interviewed in New York City by PBS Nightly Business Reportâ€™s Jeff Yastine regarding the Foot Solutionsâ€™ business model. The bottom line is, people today want to be more active- and because feet are the foundation of the body, its critical to have proper, supportive footwear to keep your feet healthy. Part of the interview was filmed in one of our Foot Solutions locations in Plantation, Florida and explains, in detail, just how the Foot Solutions process works. You can view the segment below-

Amazing Tour of the Shepherd Center

Ray Margiano — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:40:26 +0000

Sometimes there are days that are exceptional. Today was one of those days.Â I spent the morning at the Shepherd Center, a Catastrophic Care Hospital here in Atlanta. The founder, Alana Shepherd and her husband Harold gave a wonder two-hour tour through the beautiful facility, and educated me on the amazing history.

In 1973, just after graduating from UGA, James Shepherd (son of Alana and Harold) suffered a severe spinal cord injury while body surfing in Brazil. James was paralyzed from the neck down and spent the next five weeks in a Brazilian Hospital, struggling to survive. Alana and Harold Shepherd were frustrated with the lack of rehabilitation options in the Southeast…. I’ll let you read the rest of the story.

My words cannot do justice to what the Shepherd Center has not only accomplished in the past, but it is working on now and for the future. I would like to thank Dana Shepherd for inviting me to the center and we are excited about possibly working together with the Shepherd Center in the future. This is a place where miracles happen everyday.

Define Core Competencies

Ray Margiano — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 22:02:12 +0000

How do you define core competencies? Have they changed since the downturn of the economy, or have you forgotten they even exist? For businesses to survive the continuingÂ economic crunch, they must revisit and refocus on core competencies. After all, they are what your business was built on in the first place.Â Take a hard look at everything inside of that core, and possibly even redefining your core competencies. SmallBusinessNotes.com published an article with helpful tips on surviving the economic downturn that I would recommend any business owner read. If you can successfully refocus on your core competencies, you will come out of this downturn a stronger and more profitable business.

If you were a lion in Africa, at the top of the food chain and you had to find a way to survive a sustained drought, you wouldÂ change your hunting grounds, or you would perish. What would you choose?

Change is necessary to survive this down turn.Â
Its not even close to business as usual.

Self-Published Author’s Event

Ray Margiano — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:16:11 +0000

I’m honored to be featured at a local event for Self-Published Authors.Â The FoxTale Book Shoppe in Woodstock, GA is hosting the event, giving me the opportunity to speak briefly about my work, meet and socialize with attendees, and then sign copies of any of my books that are purchased.

I encourage all authors to take advantage of local events like this, as it is a fantastic way to connect with your local community and build relationships. If similar events don’t exist, step out and present the concept to your local book store or library!

Many thanks to the FoxTale Book Shoppe in Woodstock for hosting this event- and if you’re in the Atlanta area, I invite you to come by!

FoxTale Book Shoppe’s Self-Published Author’s Event
Friday, August 6th 6:00pm
105 East Main Street #138
Woodstock, GA 30188
(map)
770-516-9989

A CEO’s Role in Social Media

Ray Margiano — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:28:15 +0000

Internet, blogs and virtual communications have completely changed the playing field for every CEO.Â Although Foot Solutions is relatively smallÂ company with 250 franchise operations and a little over 1,000 employees working in a retail setting,Â it is now my responsibility as a CEO to follow up on a daily basis and make sure we are on top of any customer issues and resolve them before they go viral.

Although we may be at fault at least 50% of the time, today’s vast communication channels have completely changed all the ground rules.Â Now, unhappy customers can, with the click of a button, share anything, anytime.Â As the leader of my company, I must step up to the plate and hold myself accountable to ensure I am aware of issues, and can respond in a timely manner.

You cannot change or resist the reality of what is happening with the internet, but you can at least reach out and be part of the solution.Â Personally responding to customer issues may be more time consuming, but you should always do your best and try to stay ahead of a problem.

2010 Vetrepreneur of the Year

Ray Margiano — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:16:14 +0000

It is truly an honor and experience to be named 2010 Vetrepreneur of the year, and be featured on the cover of a national publication like Vetrepreneur- thank you. My experience in the service has given me so much back,Â this is really as good as it gets.

The National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA) unites current and future veteran-owned businesses by acting as the national voice for the veteran business movement. There are currently three million veteran-owned businesses in the United States. NaVOBA works to convince corporate America and the government to consider using veteran-owned businesses as preferred vendors.

Many thanks, again to NaVOBA- and for any entrepreneurs out there, please feel free to reach out with any questions on starting your business, I’m always happy to help! You can read the entire article here.

Franchise Advice

Ray Margiano — Wed, 12 May 2010 17:43:38 +0000

As I reflect back on my early days in franchising, I recall the many seasoned franchise veterans advising me on how difficult it truly is to maintain positive relationships with franchisees because of the nature of the business relationship. After being a franchised operation for ten years now, I realize that it is similar to raising a child- early on they completely depend on you, followed by the adolescent independence phase, followed by the ‘you don’t know anything phase’ and finally to a point of mutual respect and acknowledgment. This is all true but in my experience, I have found that

franchisees need to know that you care and are listening before they care what you think.

In the end, it is like politics and religion- no matter what you pay or do, everyone is not going to agree with you. What experiences have you had as a franchisee, franchisor, or even as a customer?