If the Shoe Fits...

For June Mulhall, owner of C. June Shoes, there is no business like shoe business. And the shoe business, she will tell you, is good for the sole.

"I've just always loved shoes," says Mulhall, who started her business in 1979 with a 400-square foot space at the Ward Warehouse in Honolulu. "I used to be a contract adminstrator, and my job [required] that I traveled to Dallas. And every trip, I would stop in Los Angeles for four hour and go to a store in Manhattan Beach called C. Jean Shoes. I'd buy a dozen pairs at a time."

She laughs. "Beause of my stops in L.A., my boss thought I was having an affair. And I was having an affair, yes - with shoes!"

Mulhall moved her store to the Waikiki Trade Center in 1981, but returned to the Ward Warehouse in 1996. "I'm very happy here," she says. "I' have my local [customers] back."

C. June Shoes carries hunderes of different women's shoe designs, from fun and sassy to elegant and sporty. A visit to Mulhall's boutique is like persuing a museum: Each item is a work of art, and various magazine and newspaper clippings highlight the latest shoe fashions. Along one wall, a photo of Brook Lee, 1997 Miss Unviverse, is inscribed with, "Thanks for making my feet the prettiest in the universe with your lovely shoes."

Mulhall features shoes from such noted designers and brands as Stuart Weitzman, Donald J Pliner, Ramon Tenza, Helle Comfort and Dezario. Prices from from $80 to about $375.

Maintaining and indepenedent business for 28-plus years is no easy feat. "It's just all about hard work," says Mulhall, explaining the secret to her success. "I only have one part time employee. Most of the time, it's just me at the store, seven days a week. My son, Guy, helps me out when I need to be away."

Even the arrival of bi-name stores such as Neiman Marcus and Nordstorm Shoes hasn't hurt business. "If they don't have it, I will," says Mulhall. "In fact, people at Nordstorm often refer people to me. Same thing with Neiman Marcus. And if I don't have a [shoe deisgn] that a customer wants, I'll point her to their store, too."

Yes, there is no business quite like shoe business, and Mulhall says she wouldn't have it any other way. "It's like my license plate [holder] says,"she explains, smiling. "It says, "If the shoe fits, buy it!"

Contact C. June here.