Meet Steffie Tomson | CEO, Scientist, Mom

We had the good fortune of connecting with Steffie Tomson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Steffie, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
The women’s fashion footwear industry runs on 3-month sales cycles. Shoes are designed for seasons based on what will sell quickly, not based on customers want long term. Therefore, shoes change rapidly in color, size, style, shape, pattern, and height with no time or room for real innovation in comfort or function. Getaway Sticks is aiming to change this by bringing innovation and technology to make beautiful shoes truly supportive for women. We can have style and comfort at the same time!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Getaway Sticks is a vintage term from the 1920’s that means sexy women’s legs. For example, ‘She’s got a great pair of getaway sticks! I thought this would be a perfect name for a company aiming to design beautiful shoes for active women on the move. Getaway Sticks was born from a personal frustration with heels that are never comfortable, no matter what the marketing says. Coming out of maternity leave for me was a bit like reemerging from Covid; I was used to sneaker-level comfort and excited to dress up again. Unfortunately, what existed on the shelves was a far cry from my trusty sneakers. I figured, if I want a heel to feel like a sneaker, why don’t we just build a heel on top of sneaker foam? Fast forward to today, that’s exactly what we have! Our patented RoamFoam(TM) wedge is a special blend of foam that gives us support and bounce. Plus, it’s not just a layer of padding. Our wedge is two(2) inches top-to-bottom of foam cushion. That’s unheard of in an industry that manufactures heels using plastic and metal. Achieving this result was no easy feat, due largely to the fact that it had never been done! We wanted a sculpted, elegant wedge made of foam cushy enough to absorb shock and sturdy enough to support a suede wrap. Our manufacturers and designers consistently underestimated what I was asking for and continued going back to the ‘way things are done’. Thanks to my scientific training, my passion for the end result, and my supporters, I was able to break through the status quo and deliver a truly unique product to women.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Houston is a sleeper foodie city – you can’t visit without eating out at every meal! A few of my favorite spots include Trendy Dumpling on Edloe – they make fresh dough and their soup dumplings are to die for! The fajitas at El Tiempo Cantina are the best in the city, the sandwiches and soups at Kenny and Ziggys are unmatched, the Infernal Chicken Curry at Jenni’s Noodle house is a house favorite, the white queso at Escalante’s is my go-to reward for a job well done, Pinkerton’s BBQ is outstanding, 8th Wonder Brewery is perfect for a game day, Preslee’s is a hidden gem for outdoor dining and kid-friendly patio, and last and best – the Shaking Tofu at Lua Viet Kitchen on West Alabama is an unsung hero. Seriously every time I go there with clients or friends I suggest the Shaking Tofu, no one ever listens, and then they end up eating half of my plate. It’s truly something special.

Places to see? I am still in the playground phase with my kids, so many of my favorites are also kid-friendly. Levy Park on Richmond is great, the Allen Parkway trails and dog park are gorgeous, NASA is always a fun adventure, and of course anything related to the Houston Livestock & Rodeo. The new development MKT Heights has great shops and restaurants. The Color Factory on Kirby is a hands-down favorite of the kids, and it’s right around the corner from Mia’s for Houston’s best chicken fried steak and soft-serve. As you can probably tell, most of our outings are food-related. If the food isn’t great, we are likely to skip!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
People are so clever and have ideas all the time. The hardest part I think is finding the confidence to jump in and begin. I have to thank all of the women, in the past, present, and future(!), who have continuously supported my vision for switching up the women’s heel game. It is a daunting task for sure, and it’s an enormous industry to take on. These women have simultaneously given me encouragement and patience while I work through the challenges of growing a small business.

Website: https://getawaysticks.com

Instagram: @getawaystics

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffietomson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetawaySticksOfficial