On the road with the fitting bus

Or, as he puts it himself, a shoe shop on wheels. Because that's precisely what it is. In the back of Jos's van is a fitting room that contains virtually the entire EMMA collection in every size and width.

Always on the move, never a dull moment
Jos' career at EMMA began several years ago. "I was working in the Customer Service department at one of EMMA's customers. Fred Cabooter was a frequent visitor and came by when colleagues needed new safety shoes. That's how I knew about EMMA. Eventually, I was made redundant. EMMA was looking for a temporary driver/advisor for the fitting bus at the time, and that's when Fred said, "Jos, this is perfect for you!"

Jos was sceptical at first – the idea of dealing with feet all day was pretty unpleasant – but Fred was persistent, and Jos was eventually convinced. Four months later, when his temporary contract expired, Jos handed back the keys to the fitting bus with a heavy heart. "I really shed a tear. Those four months had been fantastic. I'd never had such a fun job. In my previous roles, I'd always been stuck in an office; now I was on the road every day, meeting lots of people." Jos' enthusiasm had not gone unnoticed at EMMA either. So an agreement was made: if one of EMMA's permanent drivers left the company, Jos would be the first to get a call.

Jos doubted he would ever hear from EMMA again. But just over two months after he handed in his keys, the phone rang. Did he want to come back? But for good this time. "I didn't have to think twice."

3,000 pairs of feet a year
Every year, Jos sees some 3,000 prospective wearers of EMMA shoes in his fitting bus. His mission: to make sure every one of them gets the perfect fit. "That's what I love about this job; I don't have to sell anyone anything. I can give them advice so I can really help them."

"The fitting bus allows us to give our customers the best possible service," Jos continues, his eyes twinkling. Imagine you run a company with a large number of employees who all need safety shoes. You'd rather not send them all to a shop to buy their shoes. That would take up too much precious time. The fitting bus brings the shoe shop to the employees. That's much more efficient."

Employees who need new safety shoes can visit Jos on the bus. "I usually start with a foot measurement and a chat about the wearer's needs. What kind of work do they do? Do they have any specific issues that we need to consider when choosing a shoe? Would they prefer a shoe or a boot? Sometimes, the employees can choose any shoe from our collection. But usually, the employer or a safety expert – often in consultation with the dealer or one of our account managers – has already made a pre-selection."

The importance of fitting
When we ask Jos for his best advice on choosing a good safety shoe, his answer is simple: try them on! He regularly speaks to people who bought or were given safety shoes based solely on their shoe size. "I think that's such a missed opportunity," Jos says. An employer can make an enormous difference by investing just 15 minutes in allowing employees to try on and test a shoe.

Every foot is different, and so is every shoe. It goes beyond just the shoe size. Consider this: a well-fitting shoe can reduce the chance of an employee developing foot or back problems. That's better for productivity and job satisfaction." 

Another myth Jos would like to debunk is that lighter shoes make you less likely to get tired feet. "These days, everyone wants a light shoe, preferably with a bit of a trendy look. EMMA's new CrossForce collection is a response to this demand, but lighter really isn't always better. Sometimes, a heavier shoe offers a bit more support. Yes, it means your feet will feel a little heavier, but it can also reduce fatigue."

The same idea applies when it comes to getting the best fit: the best-fitting shoe is not just a shoe that's the right size. It's the shoe that fits properly, and is appropriate for the job, and ideally, also meets the wearer's personal preferences.