If Kyle Berner hadn’t broken his only pair of flip-flops while backpacking through Thailand in 2007, his life might have taken a different path. He purchased a local pair and was astounded by the comfort and durability. Made from an all-natural rubber, these sustainable flip-flops would become the focus of Berner’s business, Feelgoodz.

While on his journey, he visited the rubber farms to examine the natural latex used to make the shoes. He built relationships with the farmers and studied the manufacturing process. Fascinated by the industry, Berner returned to the United States with a mission to bring these biodegradable flip-flops to consumers around the world.

SMALL STEPS TO SUCCESSBerner created Feelgoodz soon after returning home to Louisiana. Slowly, he began attracting attention from environmentally conscious retailers like Whole Foods Market. Working with UPS to deliver flip-flops to 17 Whole Foods stores, Feelgoodz was off the ground but had plenty of room to grow. “We tried other shipping companies but needed better service,” said Berner. “Because our business is seasonal and peaks in the summer, getting products to our customers on time consistently is crucial to our success.”

Feelgoodz Makes Big Strides

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© 2013 United Parcel Service of America, Inc. UPS, the UPS brandmark and the color brown are trademarks of United Parcel Service America, Inc. All rights reserved.

MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION In 2012, Feelgoodz merged with eco-friendly footwear company, Kinder Soles and relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina to expand their global presence under one brand. Mark Saad, owner of Kinder Soles, combined his financial expertise with Berner’s strengths in marketing to grow Feelgoodz. Next, they needed a strong logistics partner.

UPS Account Manager Kevin Cline stepped in to help the growing small business. Feelgoodz’s busiest season lasts approximately four months, and its retail customers often expect product to arrive within two days. Implementing comprehensive automation solutions like Quantum View Manage® and WorldShip® streamline the shipping process and increase visibility for Berner and his team. “Quantum View and WorldShip® are so intuitive and make communicating with each other and with the customer so much easier,” said Berner. “Having efficient tools that both our customer service and warehouse teams can use keeps us one step ahead.”

When a large container of flip-flops got held up in customs, Feelgoodz had to reprint the shipping labels to get the products to retailers. Without Quantum View Manage®, the team would have had to handle the project manually to identify which labels had not been used. Automating the system shaved roughly seven hours off this task because the team could easily identify which shipments needed to be relabeled.

GOING THE EXTRA MILECline’s commitment to Feelgoodz has made him a part of the team. “His customer service has made our customer

service even better,” said Berner. “We tell Kevin what we’re struggling with, and he is there with a solution.”

During the spring of 2012, Feelgoodz had to deliver more than 40,000 pairs to Whole Foods Market. To get the flip-flops to the stores quickly, Cline arranged for several UPS trucks to pick up the packages in one day to make sure Feelgoodz met the customer’s deadline.

FLEXIBILITY IN MOTIONIn the off-season, Feelgoodz does not need daily pickups. With the UPS Smart Pickup® service through WorldShip®, UPS drivers are automatically notified when Feelgoodz has a shipment ready. In 2011, customers using this service kept UPS from driving 6.6 million miles. It is a cost effective, environmentally-conscious solution to smarter shipping.

People worldwide wear Feelgoodz shoes. Berner sells his soles in Canada, Italy and Australia. “Sending multiple shipments to different countries can be a major headache for a small business,” said Cline. “Using World Ease®, Feelgoodz ships all of its packages to a UPS distribution center instead of shipping individually, saving time and simplifying the tedious customs process.”

READY FOR THE ROAD AHEADWhen Berner returned from Thailand, he was ready to build a business based on quality, conservation and consciousness. With the right partnerships and support, Feelgoodz can be found in stores worldwide, including 260 Whole Foods locations. For Berner, this is only the beginning of the Feelgoodz journey, and he feels as good about the future as his customers do in his shoes.