b was an athletic shoe and sportswear headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama which became one of the largest and fastest growing athletic stores in the United States. In 2000 Footstar acquired Just For Feet. It closed its last store in 2004. b began with a single store at Century Plaza in Birmingham, Alabama with the original name Two Feet Ahead [ ] in 1977. Just For Feet operated over 140 superstores in 25 U.S. states and Puerto Rico by 1999. Most of the Just For Feet stores were located on outparcels adjoining major malls in cities, primarily in the Southeast, Midwest and Southwest. The first Just For Feet superstore opened adjacent to the Riverchase Galleria in 1987. Several features helped to distinguish Just for Feet from its competitors, including: In 1992 a store was opened at The Forum Shops at Caesars in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prior to becoming a publicly traded company in 1994, other company-owned stores were opened near Nashville, Tennessee and in Kansas City, Missouri.

Franchises were granted for stores that opened in San Antonio, Texas, suburban Atlanta, Georgia and Columbus, Ohio; the Texas and Georgia stores subsequently became company-owned locations. By the end of 1996, Just For Feet operated superstores in eleven states. In 1997, Just For Feet bought Florida-based i and Michigan-based i, enabling the company to enter numerous markets (and several states) where it previously had no presence. The 1998 acquisition of New Jersey-based i, and the subsequent conversion of those stores to the Just For Feet nameplate, enabled the company to expand into the metropolitan areas of Boston, Norfolk, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.. These acquisitions enabled the company to become the second largest athletic footwear retailer near the end of the 20th century. [1] One of the slogans the store used to position itself was “The World’s Largest Athletic Shoe Store”. The store was also famous for their promotion of buying any 12 pair of shoes, and then getting one pair for free, in the process, hence the other slogan, "Where Your 13th Pair is Free!"

Just For Feet ran an ad during the 1999 Super Bowl XXXIII in which a Humvee of white men tracks a Kenyan runner. The men offer the runner a cup of water spiked with a sedative; nike shoes made in usathe runner collapses, and the men force a pair of Nike sneakers onto his feet. 70 off on nike shoesThe runner wakes up, notices that he now has sneakers on his feet, screams, and runs away, attempting to shake the shoes off.buy male shoes online in nigeria The ad immediately generated a backlash; greatest running shoe everStuart Elliot, advertising columnist for the New York Times, called it "appallingly insensitive" [2] while others accused it of racism. best sneakers for running cross country

Just For Feet later sued its ad agency, Saatchi and Saatchi, alleging that they had relied on the expertise of the advertising agency against their initial negative reactions to the spot. nike mens shoes camoJust For Feet later dropped the lawsuit. In November 1999, Just For Feet filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and in February 2000, the company was forced into Chapter 7. Footstar, Inc., at that time the parent company of Footaction USA, purchased the Just For Feet name and the leases of over 70 of its stores in February 2000.[1]. Those stores that remained opened continued to do business under the Just For Feet name until Footstar itself filed for Chapter 7 protection in 2003. By 2004, the last of the Just For Feet stores closed. According to The Wall Street Journal (4/23/07): 'Just for Feet collapsed in 1999 amid an accounting fraud. Three former executives pleaded guilty to crimes related to a scheme to overstate earnings by $8 million between 1996 and 1998.

The bankruptcy judge appointed a trustee to recover money for the company's creditors. The estate of Harold Ruttenberg, Just for Feet's founder and former chief executive, agreed in August 2006 to pay $15 million along with son Don-Allen Ruttenberg to settle the trustee lawsuit. Unfortunately for the estate, six months later, a Delaware Court in the case of North American Catholic Educational Programming Foundation Inc. against three directors of the Delaware corporation, Clearwire Holdings Inc., ruled that creditors and trustees of Delaware corporations that are insolvent or in the so-called "zone of insolvency", like Just for Feet, Inc. was, have no right to assert direct claims for breach of fiduciary duty against its directors. The elder Ruttenberg died in 2005 at 63. His son pleaded guilty to criminal charges and was sentenced to a 20-month prison term. Just for Feet's auditor, Deloitte & Touche agreed to pay $24 million, and in April 2007 five former outside directors agreed to pay $41.5 million – one of only 13 cases in the past 25 years where outside directors of public companies have made out-of-pocket payments and one of the largest ever settlements.

(Enron Corporation's 10 directors paid only $13 million). In all, the trustees recovered roughly $80 million for the company's creditors. Today, the company's former corporate headquarters is occupied by Jack Henry & Associates.Running shoes are essential for anybody who runs regularly.  They help to protect you from injury by absorbing the impact on your feet and legs, while also helping to provide traction.  Running is inexpensive but your footwear is one piece of equipment worth investing in. The key to choosing good running shoes is getting the correct balance between performance, comfort and protection against injury.  The range of running trainers available is constantly changing and can seem daunting. This guide is designed to help you find the most suitable running shoes for your needs. Think about where you will be running and buy shoes which are suitable for the terrain.  For example, there are different shoes available for road running and off-road/trail running.

When trying on new running shoes, wear the socks you intend to run in.  The thickness of your sock can make a big difference to the fit and feel of your shoe, especially during hot weather. Many running shops offer a free gait analysis service to help you select the best pair of shoes, depending on your running style and foot type.  A gait analysis involves a short run on a treadmill, while being recorded.  The video is then played back in slow motion so staff can accurately assess your foot plant, stride and running pattern.  In addition to gait analysis, some running shops will offer you the opportunity to ‘test’ the shoes on a treadmill in the shop before purchasing. DON’T WORRY ABOUT FASHION Remember that running shoes are a functional piece of equipment, designed to protect your feet and legs from injury.  Try to avoid choosing a shoe for its design.  Make your decision based on comfort, fit and its suitability for your needs. Your feet will thank you in the long run.

Your running shoes take a great deal of pounding across a range of surfaces, in all weathers.  Eventually they will wear out.  General advice suggests that footwear needs to be replaced after approximately 500 miles, although in all honesty, how often you need to buy running shoes will depend on factors such as your weight, running style and the running terrain. Try to avoid running in shoes which are evidently worn out; they will provide less protection and can increase your chances of injury. DIFFERENT TYPES OF RUNNING SHOES Running shoes can be divided into four main categories depending on ‘pronation’.  Pronation is the term given to describe the action of your foot rolling inward, from heel to big toe, when you walk and run.  This is a natural movement and helps to absorb the impact of your foot hitting the ground.  Some people over-pronate, where the foot rolls in too much, and some under-pronate, where there is not enough of a roll.  Running shoe companies have designed different types of footwear to help manage this.