Posted: February 27th, 2011 | Author: Amy-Mae Elliott | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: clothing, Converse, custom, customization, ecommerce, Fashion, features, gallery, Lists, Nike, personalized, pop culture, shoes, Shopping Lists, sneakers, trainers, Vans, web | Comments Off
You’re not still wearing off-the-peg sneakers, are you? Tut, tut, how very 2009. With a wealth of affordable personalization options online, nowadays you can easily create your own customized footwear.
We’ve found six online solutions that will help you design funky footwear that’s unique to you. So why not show off a bit of your creativity and stand out from the rest of the boringly-shod crowd?
If this sounds good, then put your best foot forward and take a walk through the gallery below. Let us know in the comments which design-your-own services you’ve tried out and if you haven’t yet, then the ones that you like the look of.
![]( "1. <a href=\"http://nikeid.nike.com/nikeid/index.jsp\" src=")
Nike's well-established customization service lets you start with one of the company's designs and change it to suit your taste, or start with a totally blank canvas.
The service is perfectly suited to anyone looking for proper training shoes, rather than fashion sneakers. With the ability to change the color of every element of the shoe's design, you can create a cool custom pair of kicks that will stand out from the crowd on any court where you play.
As well as personalize the color-way of your new shoes, you can change the text on the heel, and then when you're happy with your design, share it to your social networks and add it to the NIKEiD gallery.
Sample cost: Nike Air Mogan iD -- $105
Vans keeps its service simple with just four shoe types to customize, one of which is its now-classic slip-on number in both white and black.
As you'd expect from the brand, as well as colors, there's a wide range of contemporary patterns to choose from, and in the case of the slip-on shoe, you can mix and match designs.
As well as starting with a totally blank shoe, you can start with a patterned model and than tweak it to your heart's content, choosing different colors for the binding, foxing, collar lining and even the elastic gore (the stretchy bit on the top!)
Sample cost: Slip-on -- $60
Converse's "Design Your Own" service is seriously fun -- and offers far-reaching customization options. There are around 20 types of sneaker and baseball boot styles to choose from as your blank canvas. As well as a palette of vibrant colors to pick from, there's also a ton of funky, and in some cases unusual, patterns.
Perfect for those who pay strict attention to detail, you can change the color of the laces, the eyelets and even the stitching! There is also an option to add text to the heel of the shoe -- with a choice of two fonts to select from.
Sample cost: Chuck Taylor All Star Ox Canvas -- $67
Offering a variety of sneaks to personalize, Adidas's take on the customization process is comprehensive and changes with the shoe you choose.
For example, with the Gazelle (pictured) you can make each stripe a different color while the mi adizero Rose design process will see your name laser-etched on the shoe's bumper. Or you can pick a personalized number to appear on the lace's tag.
This means it's worth playing around with the web-based design app to see what options each shoe offers; just don't get too carried away and order the set!
Sample cost: Mi Gazelles -- $95
Sole Creator takes customization to the extreme with its online design service offering tons of backgrounds, a huge album of clip art, the ability to draw designs freehand, add as much text as you can fit on, and even upload an image.
With brands to choose from such as Converse, Vans, DYO and Ethletic, it's worth noting that Sole Creator offers worldwide delivery, so it's a great option for those outside the States (because many of the U.S.-based in-house sneaker design services don't ship internationally.)
Sample cost: From around £25 (approx $40)
![]( "6. <a href=\"http://www.sneakart.com/bin/WebObjects/SneakArt\" src=")
If you're on a budget and don't want to splash out on a whole new pair of shoes, but still want to personalize a pair, then SneakArt offers flexible, durable, waterproof, adhesive skins in a massive range of patterns so that you can DIY your own designs in the comfort of your own home.
Sample cost: From $19 per sheet
More Fashion Resources from Mashable:
- 3 Ways to Design Your Own Clothes Online
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- 10 Great Geek Tees For Kids
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More About: adidas, clothing, Converse, custom, customization, fashion, gallery, Nike, personalized, shoes, sneakers, trainers, Vans
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Posted: December 12th, 2010 | Author: Sharlyn Lauby | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: business, Business Lists, custom, customization, customize, digital gifts, features, Gadgets, gift, Gifts, small business, tech, trending | Comments Off
This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.The holiday shopping season is upon us and for small business owners, selecting meaningful and useful gifts can be a real challenge. Holiday gifts for clients, customers, suppliers and employees should send the message that each individual is valued, and at the same time gifts should be practical in nature, so recipients can actually use them.
Business gifts are different than the gifts we select for family. It’s perfectly acceptable and, in many cases preferred, to choose an item that allows for a tasteful logo or company message to be stamped upon it. That way, the recipient thinks of the company each time he or she uses it.
To make the gift-giving process a bit simpler, we’ve selected 10 customizable items that have the potential to provide utility and value to business stakeholders. The gifts range from $9 to just over $100, because most companies have corporate gift giving policies of varying price thresholds.
What gifts are you considering for your business this holiday season? Let us know in the comments below.
The new 2GB iPod shuffle is both affordable ($49) and adorable. It comes in five colors and allows for a free customized engraved message. Toss in an iTunes gift card and this makes for a very personalized gift option.
This is also a great idea for firms that have presentations or podcasts — you can load them on the shuffle before giving.
If your employees are active in social media, customized Twitter accessories could be a big hit in the office, especially among your social media team.
Survival of the Hippest makes Twitter ID and hashtag accessories, including necklaces, key chains, pins and more. Prices start around $50 and depend upon the level of customization. Because each of these items are handmade, you should allow at least 2 weeks for delivery from the time of purchase.
A very practical gift that people can use every day is the Dual auto/USB heated travel mug (starting at $9). While commuting to work in a car, employees can keep their favorite beverages warm with a car adapter, and when they get into the office, they can switch over to the USB plug.
Customize the mug with your company’s logo, and add a gift card to the recipient’s favorite coffee shop to personalize it even more.
For people who do a lot of presentations or travel regularly, this light and portable notebook speaker (starting at $45) is a handy addition and something a person might not consider buying for himself.
The USB-powered soundbar sits on the top of a user’s laptop screen or can stand alone. Add a company mantra to pump up your on-the-go business reps or a corporate logo to keep it simple.
The iGo Charge Anywhere ($49) is another option for the people on your gift list that travel quite often. This handy charger enables users to keep their electronic items charged, even when there’s no outlet in sight. This product can be purchased from multiple promotional product companies, making customization a simple task.
Since some companies have guidelines about corporate gift giving, one option for a small token of appreciation is a 2GB bamboo eco-friendly flash drive (starting at $11).
After gift-giving season is over, you can even order these flash drives with your marketing materials preloaded for trade shows and conferences.
If you like the flash drive option but want something a bit more functional, check out this 8GB flash drive pen with a built-in laser pointer (starting at $30). It serves many purposes and is a very cool conversation piece. Add your logo, slogan and a holiday message to keep it custom.
Speaking of pens, Livescribe offers a 2GB Pulse Smartpen (starting at $99) that records everything you hear, say and write and links your audio recordings to notes. This nifty gadget is great for meetings or conferences.
While you can’t customize upon shipping, we recommend recording a special holiday message on each of your employees pens to add a personal touch.
Nothing says custom better than pictures. Frank Roche, publisher of the Know HR blog, wrote a post last year entitled “Employee Engagement Tip of the Day: Take Pictures.” It’s so true. Photos bond us together. If you’re looking for a way to bring some photos into your workplace, consider the gift of digital frames. Pandigital offers several options starting at $49.
Upload a few meaningful photos onto each employee’s digital frame to get them started and to remind them of all the great times you’ve had together.
If you’re able to splurge, take a look at the custom TomTom GPS ($110). It allows you to select from a gallery of backgrounds, upload images and add text to add a personal touch. This GPS unit is great for your sales team or anyone who travels a lot — or maybe even that employee who could use a few shortcuts to make it to work on time.
Bonus: Gift Planning Tip
For those of you who are super planners and have already done your holiday shopping for this year but saw some nifty items you want to remember, check out the No More Socks iPhone app ($0.99), which helps you track gift ideas for next year.
Your Gift Ideas
Have a great gift idea? Maybe a gadget you gave last year that everyone loved or an item you received? Share your ideas in the comments.
More Business Resources from Mashable:
- HOW TO: Get the Most Out of a Coworking Space
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- 6 Essential Steps for Executing Your Social Media Strategy
- Why Your Business Should Consider Reverse Mentorship
- 5 Ways to Sell Your Expertise Online
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