Six years ago, when Janet Ward was shopping for dress shoes for her then 8-year-old daughter Brooke to wear to her school’s Daddy Daughter Dance, she encountered an unexpected problem. While she knew Brooke already wore a women’s size 7 shoe, she did not expect the extremely limited selection in the women’s shoe department that were both appropriate and appealing to Brooke. From there, the idea for QUADSis® was born – a shoe brand specifically for tween girls who wear women’s shoe sizes. Fast forward to 2020, long-time close friend Stephanie Guido was moving back to the Atlanta area with two young girls of her own and together they began the journey to bring this idea to life.
Having worked together right out of college, done many of life’s major milestones together (including each other’s weddings and having children), and having been friends for nearly 20 years, Janet and Stephanie knew they would work well together. Janet brings the operational expertise while Stephanie brings an eye for design – complementary skillsets that are much needed in this venture.
QUADSis® strives for young girls entering their tween and early teen years to find confidence and strength in themselves regardless of their shoe size, which may be bigger than their peers, and to proudly be exactly who they were made to be. Via proprietary design and development, they have custom-designed shoes with a wider base that is perfect to accommodate and provide stability to growing feet. The 1.5” height and 1” pitch of the signature QUADSis® wedge outsole delivers the perfect height balance between heel and toe so these pre-teen/early teens get comfortable shoes with a bit of height, without adding undue pressure to the forefoot which can cause discomfort and future foot problems.
Behind the name: The quadricep muscles are some of the largest and most powerful muscles in the human body, nicknamed “Quads.” QUADSis® is also deeply embedded in the number 4 - which is associated with strength, self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-fulfillment. Also, founders Janet and Stephanie each have two girls (totaling 4) and are often mistaken for sisters - which leads to QUADSis® ("QUAD SIS").
Both Janet and Stephanie live in Johns Creek in The Country Club of the South neighborhood – right down the street from one another. Their daughters attend Wesleyan School in Peachtree Corners, and the school and neighborhood communities play a vital role in their family life - one they could not be more grateful for and do not take for granted. They love the Johns Creek/Alpharetta area and all it has to offer. Some favorite restaurants in the area are Stones Cuisine & Cocktails, Citizen Soul, Cantina 141, and Maverick’s. They also love to take their girls to downtown Alpharetta to shop and eat when they have the chance.
Connect with QUADSis:
