My Biz: Corridor shoe store runs on passion, knowledge

Brightly colored running and walking shoes line the walls of Running Wild in downtown Marion, which opened in May.

But the shoe store has had a presence in the Corridor for the past 14 years ever since owners Joe and Jean Dwyer opened their first store in Coralville in August 1999.

The store has built a reputation over the years and employs people who have logged thousands of miles on the roads and pathways and shared that experience and passion for the sport with everyone who walks through the door.

'We pride ourselves in our fitting process,' said store manager Candy Mullen, who has been with the company for three-and-a-half years and is an experienced runner.

'You need to be a runner to work here,' she said. 'It's a requirement. You need to have the passion.'

Mullen has run 18 marathons, served as the store's running club president for 10 years and also teaches Silver Sneakers through the YMCA.

'It's about getting the person into the right shoe that they are going to love and that works for them, so they will come back and see us when they need the next pair,' she said.

'We watch them walk, talk to them about their foot health and what do they do in their shoe while we are showing them shoes.'

The store has a treadmill as well as videotape so employees can observe customers and show them what their gait looks like.

The store maintains a bulletin board where employees post local running events as well as pictures of running club members and races that they've done.

'We highlight our people and help them feel good about themselves and show them that if they follow through, and work hard, they can accomplish what they want,' Mullen said.

Community outreach is paramount at Running Wild.

'We donate to races,' Mullen said. 'We're glad to donate shoes into the high school programs if there are kids who can't afford a pair of running shoes, and we travel out to area communities and do fit and train sessions where we go into the health clubs or health fairs and talk to people about the importance of getting a decent shoe for their feet.'

•Know a manager or company in business for more than a year that would be ideal for 'My Biz'? Contact Chelsea Keenan at Chelsea.keenan@sourcemedia.net

At a Glance

•Manager

: Candy Mullen

•Company

: Running Wild

•Address

: 1070 Seventh Ave., Marion

•Phone

: (319) 330-5182

•Website

: runningwild-iowa.com