Since its inception in 1937, Karavel Shoes has prioritized customer service and comfortable footwear. As the footwear company prepares to celebrate its 87th anniversary, President Rick Ravel reflects on the business’ evolution and growth over the years in Austin.
Ravel’s father founded Karavel Shoes after realizing there were no shoe stores in Austin dedicated to children’s footwear. Karavel Shoes filled a gap in the market for high-quality, comfortable footwear for kids, and the business quickly gained traction.
Over the decades, Karavel Shoes continued to expand its offerings and footprint, eventually becoming one of the largest volume comfort footwear retailers in the United States.
Though the business has changed locations over the years, its one constant is the commitment to good customer service. While online shopping has become the new normal, Karavel Shoes distinguishes itself by prioritizing the in-store experience, where customers are warmly greeted and expertly assisted in finding the perfect pair of shoes.
"We only sell one thing and that's service," Ravel said. "You can buy shoes anywhere online, but we sell service—that's been our secret sauce."
Along with customer service and expert fittings, Karavel Shoes is always on the cutting edge of current styles and the largest variety of sizes and widths. The company stays ahead of trends by constantly evolving its product selection and adapting to changing consumer preferences.
Ravel said the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this shift towards casual and comfortable footwear, and Karavel Shoes continued to give its customers what they wanted. With an increased emphasis on athleisure and practicality, the company has embraced new opportunities to cater to its customers' evolving needs.
"Comfort has become fashionable,” Ravel said. “The key to why we’ve been successful is that we have recognized trends like the comfort business.”
Looking towards the future, Ravel said the business will continue its commitment to service and selection and will continue to evolve with the footwear industry.
To celebrate 87 years in business, the business is having an anniversary sale the last week in May. Austin customers can save on their favorite footwear while experiencing the unique charm of Karavel Shoes' in-store atmosphere.
"If we don't make you smile when you come into our store, we haven't done our job," Ravel said. Ravel. "Being in our store is a different experience."
For more information about Karavel Shoes and its anniversary sale, visit karavelshoes.com or stop by the location at 1011 W. Anderson Lane, Austin.
The above story was produced by Senior Multi Platform Journalist Summer El-Shahawy with Community Impact's Storytelling team.