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Expanding shoes for German children
Pinch pennies, not toes, "Max the worm" shoes mean parents only need buy 1 pair for growing feet.
August 3, 2004: 11:29 AM EDT


BERLIN (Reuters) - A U.S. sportswear maker has designed shoes that expand to fit a child's growing feet and is trying them out on cost-conscious German shoppers, the company said Tuesday.

The "Max, der Wurm" (Max the worm) shoe, first delivered to stores in Germany last week, has a flexible design with an extending concertina panel between the toe and heel.

One push of a silver button and the panel can be lengthened to accommodate growing feet and bring relief to parents who want to avoid buying their children countless pairs of new shoes.

Bernadette Lingg, a spokeswoman for K2 Inc., the American sporting goods firm that makes the shoes, said it was targeting Germany where an eye for a bargain has been sharpened by economic fears that prompt many to think twice before opening their wallets.

"Our main focus is Germany. The German market for children's shoes is in a terrible state due to the number of imported models and aggressive prices," she said.