Holeys (formerly Holey Soles) was a Canadian company that manufactured and distributes injection foam molded
footwear
Footwear refers to garments worn on the feet, which typically serve the purpose of protective clothing, protection against adversities of the environment such as wear from rough ground; stability on slippery ground; and temperature.
*Shoes and si ...
and other lifestyle products made from
ethylene-vinyl acetate
Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), also known as poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) (PEVA), is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate. The weight percent of vinyl acetate usually varies from 10 to 50%, with the remainder being ethylene. There are three ...
, closed cell polymer.
In 2016, Holeys was named the #1 Fastest Growing Company in Canada by the
Profit
Profit may refer to:
Business and law
* Profit (accounting), the difference between the purchase price and the costs of bringing to market
* Profit (economics), normal profit and economic profit
* Profit (real property), a nonpossessory inter ...
Hot 50 list, with a two-year growth of 6,500%.
["Growth Becomes Her", Profit Magazine, October 2006] Joyce Groote, CEO & President, was a finalist in the 2007
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
In 2015, the company announced on its web site that it would no longer sell direct to consumers and would only be selling via retail stores and on-line outlets.
Company history
Holeys began as a small company operating out of a residential garage in Vancouver in 2002. The company was started by Groote's neighbour, Anne Rosenberg, a serial entrepreneur who successfully introduced the original foam shoes into
Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...
, Canada.
In early 2004, Joyce Groote was approached to help grow the company to the next stage. Groote, a former geneticist, had moved to Vancouver to work with small start up companies in the life science sector. She saw a strong potential for growth in Holeys and became a partner and an Angel Investor.
In late 2004, she purchased the company. At this time, Holeys had annual revenues of just under $60,000.
The company grew exponentially to become a multimillion-dollar company that sold their shoes in more than 40 countries worldwide.
In 2015, the company announced that it would stop selling direct to customers on its website.
Charitable Donations
Holeys became known for its donations to charitable organizations around the world. In 2007, Holeys partnered with
Soles4Souls to provide 100,000 pairs of shoes worldwide to people in need.
This was the largest single donation at that time for
Soles4Souls.
["Helping Soles in Need", Style Magazine, April May June 2007, p. 12]
Holeys has also donated funds to aid the victims of the Dec. 24, 2004 tsunami in Thailand, and donated 260,000 worth of shoes to those affected by
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was a powerful, devastating and historic tropical cyclone that caused 1,392 fatalities and damages estimated at $125 billion in late August 2005, particularly in the city of New Orleans and its surrounding area. ...
in the United States of America.
In addition to their international humanitarian efforts, Holeys contributes to North American children's charities including First Steps Canada.
References
{{Reflist
External links
Holeys official website archive
Clothing companies of Canada