Skip to main content

Original text


Powered by Google TranslateTranslate
Powered by Google TranslateTranslate
Geoffrey Alan Gray and crew
Heeluxe, LLC

Heeluxe, Geoffrey Alan Gray

Location: Santa Barbara, California
Formed in: 2010
www.heeluxe.com
SHARE THIS SUCCESS STORY
My successes.

Gray has grown his business from a one-person operation to a staff of seven employees whom he calls “wonderful individuals that make a good living from their work.” He’s also increased the number of brands Heeluxe works with to more than 50. The business grows by more than 20 percent per year.

How SCORE helped.

Gray sought a mentor after a falling out with a business partner made him realize that he needed to be able to run his business by himself. He worked with SCORE mentors Vic Cole, Dick Lamb, and Gary Kravetz.

Cole and Lamb, whom Gray has met with once a month for the past three years, gave him direction and helped him make a long-term plan for success. Kravetz joined the mentoring team when Heeluxe was working on patenting a new testing machine. Gray continues to meet with all three mentors every one or two months.

Gray says, “I am certain that I would not have a successful business if it was not for SCORE mentoring.”

How Did Your Business Get Started?

Geoffrey Alan Gray was a physical therapist who worked with professional athletes when he started getting interested in engineering. After working on classic car rebuilds and woodworking, he designed his first pair of high-heeled shoes in his garage.

Later, he decided to use the knowledge he’d gained as a physical therapist to help people’s feet feel better. He started by creating insoles and other products that make shoes more comfortable. But when footwear companies started asking him to test their products, he realized that he could use his strengths to improve shoes.

He started Heeluxe in late 2010 with three footwear brands as clients. “Now,” he says, “Heeluxe offers test results faster than brands ever expected, with easy-to-understand reports and recommendations on how they can optimize their product.”

My mentors
Headshot of Richard Lamb
Richard Lamb

I can help you: make a starting plan for your business, in concept development, product development...

Read full bio
Gary Kravetz

He has extensive knowledge in all aspects of business operation inluding, employee relations, HR...

Read full bio
CONNECT
712 H St NE PMB 98848
}
Washington, DC 20002
(805) 367-3292

Copyright © 2024 SCORE Association, SCORE.org

Funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

Chat generously provided by:LiveChat

In partnership with
Jump back to top