Why We Give Back at Our Columbia Shoe Boutique
Good for the Sole Shoes started as a small, locally owned shoe store with a simple idea: comfortable, fashionable footwear should feel good for more than just your feet. As a family business built around five grandkids and a dream of stores for each one of them someday, giving back was never an afterthought. It's part of how we built the shop from day one.
Final Victory Animal Rescue became our partner because its mission matches ours. Final Victory rescues homeless, ill, injured, stray, unwanted and abused pets, and gives each dog the medical and emotional care it needs to prepare for a successful life in an adoptive home. We believe a shoe store giving back to its community creates something more meaningful than a transaction. Every customer who walks through our door on Saluda Ave becomes part of that effort, whether they're picking up Birkenstock sandals, a pair of Sorel winter boots, or a consignment handbag.
We're new to running a shop that Kelly Tabor and his pup Hank made a Five Points fixture, but the commitment to Final Victory isn't new to us. It came with us when we took over, and it shapes every decision we make about what we carry and how we serve our Columbia neighbors.
How it works
Your Purchase, Their Progress
A portion of every sale at Good for the Sole Shoes goes directly to Final Victory. You don't have to do anything extra. Shop the way you normally would and your contribution happens automatically at checkout.
Here's what that looks like in practice:
- A percentage of every shoe sale, from casual shoes to boutique shoes, is set aside for Final Victory
- Handbag and accessory purchases, including local consignment handbags, contribute to the same fund
- Teleties hair ties and other small accessory purchases add up quickly across our regular customers
- Winter boot season (our Sorel and comfortable winter boots lineup) typically brings in some of our strongest giving months
- No separate donation or checkout step is required. The giving is already built into the price you pay
Impact areas
Where Your Support Goes
Causes Our Giving Back Program Supports
We're proud to put real dollars behind real needs. Below is the work your purchases at our comfort shoe store help Final Victory Animal Rescue do.
Rescue for Pets in Need
Final Victory takes in pets that have nowhere else to go: homeless, ill, injured, stray, unwanted and abused animals. For every pet that comes through its doors, life begins again.
Medical Care Without Compromise
No expense is spared on medical care, so each rescued dog gets the treatment it needs to heal and get healthy.
Training and a New Home
Training and emotional support prepare every dog for adoption, so the rest of its life can be the best of its life.
A Columbia Store With Columbia Roots
Good for the Sole Shoes sits right on Saluda Ave, blocks from Five Points and an easy stop for anyone browsing the shops and restaurants of this part of Columbia. We're not a chain, and we're not shipping profits out of state. We're a locally owned shoe store, and the money you spend here stays close to home, both in the register and in the community it supports.
When a customer in Shandon or Forest Acres stops in for women's comfort shoes or a pair of Dansko clogs, that purchase ripples outward. It helps keep a small storefront on Saluda Ave open, and it helps fund the care Final Victory gives rescued pets on their way to new homes.
We see this program as a way for our neighbors to do good without changing their routine. You were already planning to buy a new pair of Camper sneakers or a Woden casual shoe for fall. Buying them here means that purchase works a little harder.
Common questions
Giving Back Program FAQs
How much of my purchase goes to Final Victory?
A set percentage of each sale at Good for the Sole Shoes is contributed to Final Victory. The amount is built into our everyday pricing, so there's no extra cost or separate donation required at checkout.
Does the giving back program apply to all products, or just shoes?
It applies across the store. Whether you're shopping women's shoes, men's shoes, handbags, fashion accessories, or Teleties hair accessories, your purchase supports the program the same way.
Can I choose which cause my purchase supports?
Right now, all contributions go to our partner organization, Final Victory Animal Rescue, which rescues homeless, ill, injured, stray, unwanted and abused pets and prepares dogs for adoptive homes. We'll share updates as the partnership grows.
How do I know the giving back program is legitimate?
We're a small, locally owned shoe boutique on Saluda Ave, and we're glad to talk with any customer in person about how the program works and where contributions go. Stop by during store hours or give us a call at (803) 254-9488.
Visit the boutique
Shop With Purpose at Good for the Sole
Every pair of comfort shoes, every handbag, every small accessory you choose here helps a rescued pet through Final Victory Animal Rescue. Stop by 728 Saluda Ave, Columbia, SC 29205 and find your next favorite pair while supporting a cause that matters.
- Tues to Fri
- 10am to 6pm
- Saturday
- 9am to 4pm
- Sunday
- 10am to 3pm
- Monday
- Closed
