Publication:Oakland Press;

Date:Aug 5, 2007;

Section:MoneyTalk;

Page Number:D-2

HEAVEN FOR TOES Turning foot pains into business gains By EMILY PRAWDZIK GENOFF Special to The Oakland Press     Bloomfield Hills resident Sue Denha faced a problem millions of Americans can relate to … her feet hurt.     Instead of hanging up her favorite heels and spending her days in slippers, Denha decided to do something about it — she created her own personal heaven, designed especially for her feet.     After years of medical procedures and dead-end suggestions, Denha created Heaven4Toes, an orthopedic shoe insert that prevents blisters, calluses, skin irritations, blemishes, bunions and hammer toes.     “I imagined myself designing clothing because I studied fashion and design,” said Denha, who worked as a hairdresser. “I’ve always loved to do this and now when I work on this I love it even more because it doesn’t just give the look it helps people and helps heeling.”     The saga of Denha’s toes came to a head five years ago when she purchased a pair of fashionable shoes.     “They were really expensive and I usually don’t pay a lot of money for shoes,” she said. “I wore them once, only a few hours, and my foot was all blisters. I didn’t want to give those shoes away; I just loved those shoes. So I really pushed myself and started testing a lot of materials.”     Denha’s creation is based on a piece of soft, polyurethane fabric. She introduced two products last year, which slip inside shoes and provide added comfort and protection to feet. Due to growing success, she recently designed eight additional products, which will reach the market in the coming months.     Denha said Heaven4Toes has been a great learning process.     Her efforts have gained attention. Since attending the World Shoe Association convention in Las Vegas last August and this past February, Denha’s products have received interest from chiropractors and retailers from across the country.     “I had to test the products ... and finally they will be coming out,” she said. “My whole line is 10 pieces, three for men and seven pieces for women. We’ve also changed the packaging, which is more fun and has more colors.”     In what is a reflection of her creative personality, Denha gave her inserts human names which, she says, depict “their personalities.”     Products include the Bella Toe Cushion, the Alba Toe Cushion (wide fit), the Donatella Strap Cushion, the Elma Boot Cushion, the Anita Arch Cushion, the Mario Toe Cushion, the Alberto Arch Cushion and the Fina Bunion Sleeve.     Heaven4Toes products retail for $7.99. To learn more about Heaven4Toes, call (877) 887-TOES or visit the Web site at www. heaven4toes.com.