Monthly Archives: January 2021

Photo credit: Julie Anderson, One Wild Life Photograph

 

If ever there were a time to remember that change is possible within ourselves, it's near the start of a new year. 

 

As a female-led small business ourselves, stories of inspiring women entrepreneurs have helped get us through tough times. Today, we're proud to feature Jenelle Botts—veteran, renowned photographer, mom, wife, and BENDY shoes fan. 

 

Jenelle is an award-winning and internationally published commercial and lifestyle photographer who tells thoughtful and authentic stories through her craft.

 

During her 13 years in uniform as an intelligence analyst (and two deployments one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq), she was able to serve as a warrant officer and work directly with soldiers.

 

Currently, her family—two kids named Henry and Madeline, plus her husband Seth, who she met on active duty—reside in Raleigh, North Carolina.

 

"They are the reason I have joy in my heart and a wine delivery subscription," Jenelle says about her beautiful kids.

 

But it wasn't a straight shot for Jenelle. With a successful photography career just over the horizon, she had some moves to make. After a storied career, she decided to submit her resignation and become a stay-at-home mom. 

 

"After my daughter started to get older, I found that I had more time to think about myself again and what I wanted to do now that my army career was over. Photography had been something that I did for myself for a long time. One day a friend asked if I could take some family photos for them and the rest is history!"

 

Jenelle opened her business in 2018 while stationed in Germany, serving ex-pat and military clients.

 

Jenelle adds, "When I closed up in Germany to prepare for our move back to the states I knew I wanted to pivot to commercial photography so I didn't have to work on weekends! The pandemic kind of handed me product photography as an option when photographing people became hard."

 

Jenelle on her BENDY shoes:

 

I love my BENDYs! They are cute and stylish. It's the comfort of a sneaker with the style of a dress shoe.  They run true to size for me. I'm a solid size 8, and the 8 is a perfect fit. They also breathe well. I wore them all day on a hot North Carolina summer day with minimal sweating! My feet didn't feel hot or stuffy.

 

I get lots of compliments when I wear them. They look great with shorts and skinny jeans and even a maxi dress. 

 

 

From us at BENDY, we're happy to have awesome women like Jenelle as part of our family. Check out Jenelle's creative product and branding photography here. If you're a military spouse entrepreneur or business owner, consider joining MSCC.

 

Shop BENDY here

 

 

Hello,

 

This was a very rough year for many of us and like you, our company faced some big challenges and setbacks.  As a company, we had to think, adjust, learn and listen in order to navigate our way through. We bravely forged ahead and have come to believe that our planet friendly shoe and sustainable business model is more relevant and important than ever. So with the New Year, we have a new vibe. See what is ahead for us.

 

Today we’d like to share with you our plans and what we are preparing for you this year. 

 

And also we want to thank you for your continued support, without you we wouldn’t be here!

 

 

Product

 

We improved our pattern by adjusting our topline ever so slightly so it will fit a higher instep and not feel as snug. This means BENDY will fit more foot types.

 

We are now reinforcing the forefoot. Through customer feedback, we learned that our shoe could be improved by strengthening this area.  

 

This increases the durability of our shoe so your BENDYs will wear better and last longer.  

 

We see this as a win for you and for the environment.

 

And you know what? Bendy will have a side kick in 2021.

 

Look for a new pattern to be launching. Same comfort and as true to our value (planet friendly shoes). We think you are going to  love them!

 

 

Our makers

 

Our California factory shifted from making shoes to protective gowns, isolation suits, and face masks in March to help combat the nationwide shortage of Protective Personal Equipment (PPE) for people on the front lines. 

 

We had to pause shoe-making  but then we started up again in the Fall.

 

This caused some unexpected size and color shortages in core colors, but we are working really hard  to restock them by March.

 

 

 

A new website and look is coming in 2021

 

In the last quarter, we’ve spent a lot of time working on a new look and a new website for our brand. 

 

Our new site will better showcase our brand’s personality and our commitment to sustainable shoe making.  

 

Many of you know we are self-funded and launched our business in 2019 with a crowdfunding campaign.

 

We have learned, made adjustments and are building on our successes. We are brimming with excitement over this new look that is coming soon, stay tuned!

 

Commitment to Circular Shoe making

 

We have always valued safe working conditions and fair wages and made planet friendly material and construction choices but we realize that we also have a responsibility to consider our shoe’s end of life plan.

 

Therefore, we have created a Circular Shoe Guide as our North Star. 

 

Progress not perfection is our goal. We make the best choices we can with the knowledge and resources available to us. Our vision includes a 100% circular shoe making process by 2023. 

 

 

Wides

 

We feel bad when we hear from customers that they love our shoe but they can’t wear it due to having a wide foot. We take your feedback to heart and are excited to be researching the introduction of wide widths for you lovely ladies in 2021. 

 

 

Launch of our Give back program

 

You know that BENDY is all about being kinder to the planet… so we are planning to give back to the planet on every pair of shoes sold! That means that when you buy our shoes you are also giving back to the planet, pretty sweet!  All in line with our planet friendly shoe values.

 

Stay tuned for our launch of this program on Earth Day 2021.

 

What are your plans for this year? Feel free to share them with us, we would love to hear from you.

 

Stay safe!

 

Caroline and Mary Sue

 

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