Strut Footwear’s Journey of Passion, Perseverance, and Purpose

Shandi never set out to own a shoe store, at least not in any conventional sense. But sometimes, life has a way of weaving together our passions in unexpected ways. For Shandi, the transformation from teacher and counselor to entrepreneur came after 23 years of shaping young minds in Kelowna’s school district. While she loved helping kids, the demands of her career—coupled with a particularly tense teachers’ strike in 2014—pushed her to a breaking point.

It was at that professional low point she faced a pivotal choice: accept her fate or take control of her own destiny. After a good cry, she did what many might consider the unthinkable—she decided to open a shoe store. “I have always loved people AND I’ve always been a bit crazy for shoes, so it is no coincidence that I found a way to weave these two passions together into my own business that I am extremely proud of,” Shandi says.

Despite her extensive background in education, Shandi was new to the world of retail. And, when she shared her plans with others, the response wasn’t exactly encouraging. “Kelowna doesn’t need another shoe store,” they’d say. “What do you know about retail?” And worst of all, “Why would you leave a job with a pension?”

“It made me realize, very early on, that I had to believe in myself. Further to that, I had to ensure that everything I did from that moment on was done meticulously well,” she recalls.

Instead of getting discouraged, these questions fueled her resolve. She attended trade shows, connected with industry experts, and pushed herself into uncomfortable situations where confidence was vital. At one such event, an industry veteran remarked, “You’re the hardest-working shoe store owner who doesn’t even have a store!” It was at that moment she realized that perseverance pays off.

Strut Footwear opened its doors in 2017 at Kelowna’s Mission Park Shopping Centre, and just this past January, the store completed a major renovation, doubling its space. “Here we are, eight years later, in 2025, and it feels like déjà vu as I walk into this newly renovated beautiful space. It’s incredible, I never dreamed Strut would evolve into this. I love our fresh new look…….it’s kind of like Strut’s all grown up now!” Shandi says.

Going into the spring, the store has the largest collection of footwear to date, along with an expanded collection of handbags and accessories. “The reaction and encouragement from our customers and our community has been nothing short of extraordinary and heartwarming. I am so grateful,” she adds.

“Give a girl the right pair of shoes and she can change the world,” Shandi says, echoing a sentiment that has become Strut’s guiding philosophy.

It’s not all about the shoes, though. As Strut has grown, so has Shandi’s perspective on success. Early on, simply making enough money to keep the doors open felt like a major win. But over time, as Strut began to carve out a space in Kelowna’s retail scene, the meaning of success evolved. Rather than striving for more stores or bigger profits, Shandi focused on creating a place where people feel valued, heard, and connected. Success, for her, isn’t measured by how much Strut grows—it’s about how much it makes a difference in the lives of the women who walk through its doors.

“I wanted it to be a space for real conversations, real connections. The fact that Strut has become that place is what fills my cup every single day," she says.

This sense of purpose is also reflected in Strut’s commitment to giving back to the community. Inspired by her mother, who worked at a women’s shelter in Edmonton, Shandi made it a core value of her business to support local causes, particularly those that focus on education and helping women.

Through Strut’s partnership with the Central Okanagan Bursary and Scholarship Society (COBSS), the store has given out nearly $40,000 in scholarships to local high school graduates. And the giving doesn’t stop there—Strut has also supported organizations like the Kelowna Women’s Shelter, Project Literacy, Mamas for Mamas, the YMCA of Southern Interior BC, and many others.

“I still pinch myself sometimes when I walk into my store, because for so long it was just a crazy dream in my head,” Shandi reflects. “Now it is a reality, and I could have never dreamt it to be this fulfilling and rewarding. The little shoe store I dreamt of, pulled all-nighters to prepare for, worked tirelessly to create, has become so much more than just a little shoe store.”