I’ve worked on the ArchPort concept for over ten years now. I still work with my original supplier, and now Korean partner, Jmin Heo ("Mil"). Together we are committed to bringing the ArchPort concept to market. You probably have not seen my products on retail shelves, and here is just a taste of why… 911 fears (after a September 1 product launch), the 2002 Richard Reid ”shoe bomb,” and a “shoestring” budget. On the brink of several orders in 2001, several retail buyers lost interest. The shoes (athletic shoes at the time) had the “shoe bomb” stigma attached. The FAA was my biggest direct customer, ordering 6 pair. Retail Buyer’s first response was usually to chuckle at my introduction of the product – “great, a shoe bomb,” they would say. What could I say?…All I could do was wait til the stigma dissipated… after all, I invented the product out of necessity and with goodwill, needing a place to stash my personal items during workouts.
Meanwhile, I travelled over 30 times through security with my ArchPort’s on, without suspicion. Many in law enforcement commented on the novelty of the product, and I provided agencies with free samples for training purposes. My intent was to do the right thing, not so much sell shoes.
After several years of marketing the product, developing new products, and hoping the “shoe bomb” stigma would dissipate, VF Outdoor, the largest retailer in the country, decided to disregard my patent and make its own product, the “Reef Stash #1.” I was often concerned about Knock-offs outside the US, but never thought I would be betrayed by the misdeeds of a company in my own country, and by the laws designed to protect inventors. Reef stopped making the product following my tireless litigation efforts. Instead of simply “owning up,” Reef’s parent company VF Outdoor stated that the product was not successful anyway, despite product appearances in Oprah Magazine, Time Magazine, Good Morning America, and other media. Reef went on to make a new “Stash Sandal,” a not so successfull non-infringing version.
Today we are able to offer the product exclusively. ArchPort is ready to blossom. The sandal product is a very comfortable, light and innovative product. Please try out a pair for the sake of ingenuity, hard work, and old fashion American values. The latest sandals are made in Korea, but invented, designed, tested and marketed in the US. This is a truly collaborative and multinational effort over a ten year period. My Korean partner “Mil” and I are building the new dream…and it’s not just American!
Matt Potts, Founder and President
July 10,2010