Started in 1937, the business began as the first Buster Brown's Children's shoe store in Austin, located on Congress Avenue, and is currently located at 1011 W. Anderson Lane. Over the years, the retailer has expanded to include a full line of men’s, women’s and athletic shoes. With the expansion into Karavel Run, the newly rebranded Karavel is cementing itself in being a total footwear destination that caters to unique customers’ needs.
“We have served athletes and runners for many years,” Chief Marketing Officer Lisa Daugherty said. “We know so much about feet and how to fit them specifically for what a customer needs, given all of our history and shoe fitting experience. This is particularly important for any athlete, but especially for runners who are putting a lot of miles and impact on their feet. This is why over time, we have become the largest provider of running shoes in the area. Many people just don't know that.”
To fully serve the running community, the business is taking advantage of the larger space it moved into last year and featuring Karavel Run in a dedicated area. This allows for more brands and styles to be on display and for an even larger inventory to be stored in the back.
Along with a variety of hard to find widths in top running brands, the space will also offer running accessories, a Woodway treadmill to test out the shoes and a knowledgeable staff that is eager to help customers.
The new brand will continue its connection with runners by getting involved in local run clubs and acting as a packet pickup location for upcoming races in the Austin area this season.
“We'll be doing some Saturday runs from Karavel in partnership with local races,” Daugherty said. “We want people to know where they can find us, and have a really different experience when they come in to find a running shoe. Our staff are expert shoe fitters, and know how to biomechanically assess the whole person to get just the right shoe for them.”
To help kick off the launch of Karavel Run, the business will be hosting an in-store Run Launch event with promotions and discounts for runners, as well as drawings for a free pair of shoes and free race entries.
The details:
- Sept. 1, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Free
- 1011 W. Anderson Lane, Austin
“It's just an incredible place with amazing ideals,” Daugherty said. “We continue to evolve and remain on the forefront of what's current in our business today. To all the Austinites that only know a few things about us from the distant past, or know nothing at all—get ready. Karavel has grown. People really need to come give us a look.”
To learn more about Karavel and Karavel Run, visit the website, call 512-459-7603 or stop by at 1011 W. Anderson Lane, Austin.
The above story was produced by Community Impact's Senior Multi Platform Journalist Sierra Rozen with information solely provided by the local business as part of its "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
