Two years ago, Robin Wise and her husband, Shannon, made a journey to China to adopt a little girl. Of course, they fell in love with their new daughter, Josie, instantly. But there was also something else Robin fell in love with in China…shoes!

While browsing at the local shops, Robin spied a pair of soft leather toddler shoes adorned with a bright flower, and she absolutely had to buy them for Josie to grow into. She loved the feel of the ultra-soft lambskin, the unique style of the colors and patterns, and the flexibility of the pliable rubber sole.

When Josie got old enough to wear the shoes, they were the hit of the playground, Robin recalls. As she searched the local market and the Internet for similar shoes, all she found was disappointment. And thus began Bugaboo Shoe Co. (so named because the ladybug is a sign a of good luck in the world of Chinese adoption).

Drawing from Robin’s drive and Shannon’s business sense (he owns Core Wellness Center, a chiropractor practice in Fishers), the couple began working with an importer in Columbus, Ind. After some failed attempts to locate the right shoes and a trip back to China that almost ended in frustration, they finally found the right shoe maker and toured a factory in Shanghai.

Robin now has exclusive design input on each shoe that is made for Bugaboo Shoe Co. “I’m only going to get shoes that I absolutely love,” Robin said. “My goal is to give customers what I was looking for. I wanted to find shoes that were well-made and different.”

Initially, the Wises ordered 1,000 pairs of shoes, hoping other parents would get the “bug” for these adorable shoes. Robin recalls, “We thought it would take a year to sell, and it was, like, four weeks. It was crazy!”

Robin, who’s also a special education teacher at Carmel High School, was a bit overwhelmed by the response. The Wise family now works every evening to fill shoe orders. Locally, Bugaboo Shoes are available at Piper Boutique (on 116th Street near Cumberland Road), or you may order direct at www.bugabooshoes.com. The company also has hired sales representatives who market the shoes to retailers in the Chicago, California, New England and Atlanta markets.

Bugaboo shoes are now available in 36 states, said Robin. Not bad for a company started by a Geist mom less than a year ago!

Another important thing to know about this homegrown company is that 3 percent of all sales go to  the Pearl River Foundation, a new charity established by two nurses in Columbus, Ohio, to help improve Chinese orphanages. Nurses visit orphanages four times a year to teach basic infant care such as CPR and how to rotate infants’ heads to avoid flat spots.

The Wises are in the process of adopting their second child from China, and Robin hopes to stay home with her girls – thanks to the success of Bugaboo Shoe Co. Check out the newest fashion for tots at www.bugabooshoes.com.

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