FREMONT, Calif., May 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — This summer there are no "Stash" flip flops on the market. Stash flip flops were introduced in 2007 by Reef and ArchPort® Footwear, with widespread sales throughout the world. Today you can look for them, and see them on the web, but they are all sold out (as they were only available for a short time). Why does a company remove a best-seller from its line-up? The answer goes beyond the bottom-line. These reasons are speculative, albeit reasonably concluded. They include concerns over consumers using the flip flops to carry illegal drugs; concerns that the flip flops could be used to contain explosives (a la Richard Reid); and avoidance of more legal troubles faced by Reef after a costly patent infringement suit by its Stash competitor ArchPort®.
There are some historical facts that may lead to the answer. The Richard Reid 2002 attempted "shoe bombing" led to the requirement to remove shoes for security, so that all shoes are scanned through security. It is possible that companies like VF Outdoor (Reef's parent company), did not want the public scrutiny. Airport Security had to look for yet another pocket (in a shoe) and ask travelers to remove the contents. And what if they found drugs? Perhaps this would have led to more bad publicity. Finally, ArchPort Footwear, sued the largest seller in 2007, who suddenly stopped manufacture and sales. Was it just coincidence that the events happened at the same time? Whatever the case, the reasons are no longer important. The new SlotFlops™ – modernized Stash product – is here to stay.
Reinvented by ArchPort® inventor Matt Potts, SlotFlops™ are the only flip flop now available with compartments large enough to carry 6 credit cards in the soles of your flip flops. More importantly, they are extremely useful while at the beach, poolside or during other vacation activities, when travelers want to be hands free of a wallet or purse. SlotFlops ™ have a thin, flexible, cushioned foot bed with natural arch support due to the position of the slot insert. They are available in men's and women's sizes, in 6 colors, and sell for $25.95. Today they are available through Brookstone.com, and the SlotFlops.com web site.
ArchPort® were the first footwear company to integrate compartments in the sole, and ArchPort's Matt Potts has suggested the use of GPS and other electronics in footwear for over 10 years as the first "footwear technology integrator." ArchPort® continues to explore and implement wearable solutions integrating the latest technologies as they are ready for market.
ArchPort ® products are patented and trademarked, with patents pending. Athletic footwear and sandal products were featured several times in Inventors Digest Magazine and were a 2004 winner of Invent Now America®.
For additional information about ArchPort® footwear or the SlotFlops ™ product, please contact:
SlotFlop Ventures
Contact Matt Potts, Inventor and Co-Founder
Email
Web: Slotflops.com or Archport.com
Phone: (510)364-6045