You could never accuse Amy-Lee Long of not putting her best foot forward.
Now, after a year operating the Kelly's Outlet shoe store in Victoria Ave, she has bought the business outright, rebranding it as Solely Grounded Shoes.
Her father Michael Long, who owns M and J Shoes in Feilding, is her business partner in the new venture.
"I'll be running the business on my own but with Dad's help," Long said.
But the purchase means the business is now a fully fledged shoe store.
"Before the store stocked outlet products with a limited range of sizes. But now we're going into the latest fashions and I'll be stocking a full size range," she said.
Some brands she will be able to order in if other sizes were needed for a customer.
"I'm concentrating on men's and women's shoes. I'll certainly be building up the men's department, because there's simply no decent men's shoe shop in town.
"In women's shoes I'm looking at getting the Rieker brand as well as a few funky brands for the younger ones. We're also carrying an extensive range of accessories."
Long has divided the store in half, with the front half for display and the other area for storage.
She has also moved the counter away from the front entrance to the rear of the store and the shop features a new colour scheme.
She said she was confident with her decision to buy the business.
"With Ashley Jay shoes (in the Avenue) closing, it's left a gap in the market. And we'll be able to cater for people who may have problem feet or need wider fitting shoes.
"We've got an arrangement with Stevens Shoe Store in Marton, which specialises in shoes for people who have real problem feet."
Long is the fourth generation of her family to be involved in the footwear business.
"If Whanganui people want a different style of shoes or see a gap I can fill, they can come and see me."