Vendor Spotlight
In this installment of ‘Vendor Spotlight,’ Current Pedorthics Magazine talks with another family owned business who have been offering
support and services to the footwear and pedorthic industry for over 40 years.
By Kevin Jaeger, C. Ped., L. Ped.
More than 40 years
ago, Hapad began
manufacturing correctly
sized and contoured,
adhesive backed; natural
wool felt orthopedic foot
devices. Hapad’s wool felt
foot care products provide
practitioners quick and
effective solutions for
common foot problems.
Metatarsal, neuroma,
heel, and scaphoid pads
are among the best selling
products that Hapad offers.
In 2014, Hapad’s products
are still as relevant and
useful to pedorthists today as they were when the company
began.
There are many ways felt pads can be utilized by practitioners.
Pedorthists can use Hapad’s felt pads as a temporary pain relief
tool while custom orthotics are being fabricated, or can add
them to dress shoes or sandals which do not have the space
to accommodate an orthotic device. They can also be used to
modify an orthotic without having to tear it apart or remake it.
In both retail and clinical settings, they are an easy add on sale.
When on display in a retail setting, Hapad products promote
the expertise of the staff and store. In addition, customers will
very often purchase multiple pairs for various shoes. They can
also customize the footwear sold, which can’t be replicated by
an online retailer. Felt pads are a simple yet incredibly valuable
tool available to Pedorthists.
The idea for Hapad began when Theodor Hauser would visit
his brother Dr. Emil D.W. Hauser, F.A.C.S at his office in
Chicago. Dr Hauser had a remarkable ability to skive felt
shoe padding by hand. The handmade soft orthotics worked
so effectively, that together they decided to produce them
commercially. The application of smooth contours and bevels
had not been done previously in the manufacturing of felt
products. Theodor Hauser designed and patented machinery to
mass produce professional quality wool felt shoe padding.
Incredibly, Hapad makes all of their products in the USA.
They have resisted the pressure to outsource, and all pads are
manufactured in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, which is a suburb
seven miles southwest of Pittsburgh with a population of about
32,000. The area where the manufacturing plant is located
used to be a coal mine. The business has stayed in the family
since its inception and is currently led by Theodor’s son, John
Hauser.
The quality of materials used often determines the success
of a product. Hapad uses 100% virgin wool felt that is “wet”
processed, not needled. This manufacturing method yields
a cleaner and longer lasting product. The felting process
repeatedly compresses and intertwines abundant amounts of
wool fibers to produce a dense, durable and resilient material
that remains naturally soft and comfortable. Hapad’s felt pads
will resist compression and wear for the life of the shoe. Making
a quality product with quality materials is the reason why
Hapad has stayed in business for over forty years.
Hapad has recently expanded its product line with the ComfOrthotic® Sports and Extra Cushioning Insoles. The Sports
Insoles are lightweight and flexible prefabricated orthotics
made with a tri-laminate of EVA, Poron, and Ultrasuede.
The Extra Cushioning Insoles are like the Sports Insoles but
incorporate P-Cell as the top covering to provide additional
comfort for arthritic and diabetic patients. They are available
in all sizes and popular with athletes in addition to people who
just need extra support or cushioning for their feet. In addition
to the Sports and Extra Cushioning Insoles, Hapad also offers
felt insoles in ¾ length for shoes without removable footbeds.
Although the company is most well-known for felt pads, they
offer other unique foot care products for a Pedorthic practice.
Hapad has been involved with the Pedorthic Footcare
Association (PFA) for over 30 years. John Hauser has seen many
changes in PFA and the industry, and is optimistic about PFA’s
future. According to John, “Pedorthists have gotten more and
more professional every year.” John attends over 20 conferences
per year, and the PFA symposium is always one of his favorite.
John learned from Bobby Renaldo, C. Ped. how to do more
with less. Hapad’s involvement with the PFA has helped grow
its business, and provided the company with valuable feedback
regarding its products.
John and his company are very friendly and easy to do business
with. They will send samples of their products for evaluation,
and there are no order minimums. Building strong relationships
with vendors is very valuable for pedorthists, and Hapad is a
company that can help you grow your business with its quality
products and over 40 years of experience in the industry.
Current Pedorthics
January/February 2014
21