Frequently Asked Questions

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List of Questions

 

Can you order this for me?

We're prioritizing seasonal wear and year-round best sellers going forwards. If what you're looking for is something we're restocking currently, you can use the product page to set up a Restock Alert.

For more information and instructions, see our Restock Alert Info Page here.

 

Can I order something you don’t carry?

Currently we are not taking special orders. We may offer to make exceptions for extenuating circumstances where possible.

 

Do I need an appointment?

For a few years during the pandemic we were only open by appointment, but as of May 2022 we have phased out shopping by appointment. You can visit on a walk-in basis during our hours of business.

If the shop is extremely busy we may ask you to go and come back after 15-30 minutes.

 

I’m coming from out of town, can I reserve a pair of shoes to try on?

We recommend using our Restock Alert system on any model you’re particularly interested in trying that is out of stock. Feel free to contact us for advice on what size to request if you’re unsure. When you get the alert, or if you see it’s in stock on our website already, just phone or email so that we can place it aside for up to a week.

 

Do you have a discount code?

We offer the best prices we can to our customers year round.

When our supplier agreements allow we do offer occasional sales. Sign up for our newsletter or follow our Facebook or Instagram to stay in the loop for any upcoming offers!

  

Can I recommend a brand of minimal shoes?

For 2024 we are mostly focusing on the brands we have existing relationships with, and we will probably not be adding many new brands for a bit.

Long term, if and when we expand we may look at opportunities to work with a wider variety of brands. If there's a model you tried and loved, feel free to send us your recommendation and we'll take it under advisement.

 

Do you carry shoes for men/women/children/enby folks?

Yes! We carry shoes in unisex sizing, Euro sizing, US women's, men's and youth sizing, etc.

Our first concern is your movement health, and we may offer you sizing that doesn’t reflect your identity if we think it would be a good fit for your feet and desired uses.

Until shoe companies start labelling models as “wide and narrow” rather than “men’s and women’s,” that’s the best way we’ve found.

Of course, it’s important that you feel like yourself in your shoes. We want you to enjoy wearing them!

The more feedback you give us on what you like and dislike about a certain model, the more we can get specific to your needs with our next recommendation.

 

Is your store accessible?

We gathered up some details since everyone has different needs. If you have any other questions this doesn’t answer we invite you to give us a call before visiting at 416-462-3509 or email at info@cooleastmarket.com .

    • Our small space can fill up with people quickly. Please feel welcome to indicate accommodations that would help you with mobility, perception, communication, mental health, etc. We want all of our visitors to have the tools they need to make decisions they're happy with long term.
    • Our front doorway measures 90.5cm wide, and there is a tread/bump at that door which is less than 0.5cm high. So far our customers using mobility devices or strollers have not had any issues.
    • Our retail area is on the ground level (no stairs), and it has a bench and chairs should you like to sit.
    • If you need assistance with putting on and taking off shoes and socks, you can bring a support person to help.
    • Friends and family are welcome to accompany anyone for their visit for translation or morale support.
    • We have a shoehorn available for customer use. If you require another helpful device when you put on shoes, please bring it with you.
    • We do not have any washrooms available for customer use (updated as of January 2024). Our neighbours at Face2Face Games and Red Rocket cafe have accessible all-gender washrooms on ground level.
    • In terms of getting here by transit, we are located closest to Greenwood station (currently under construction to install elevators) but the next closest station, Coxwell, does have an elevator. Coxwell station is a 5-10 min walk from our shop.
    • We can assist with online ordering too, please get in touch if our online store is not able to accommodate your needs. Your feedback will help guide our next round of web updates.
    • We try to minimize use of scented products where possible.

 

Can minimal shoes fix my foot problem?

Ultimately we can’t answer that kind of question: we're not qualified to make medical claims. We are, however, invested in making sure you have a good experience with your purchases from CEM. We focus on education and sharing resources often in our blog, newsletter, and socials.

If you have a question like this, feel free to reach out as we may be able to point you in the direction of a useful resource or a handy contact. We do not gain financially from recommending movement teachers, health industry professionals, etc.; education and wellness are values we try to live up to.

 

Why are you called Cool East Market? What are Tabi?

We started out as an online shop sourcing Tabi (a traditional Japanese footwear style with a split toe design) and other East Asian inspired footwear for North American markets, and grew until we could open a brick and mortar shop. One day a regular customer told us how much he liked wearing his Tabi socks with a DIY sandal he’d bought, and those turned out to be Xero Shoes.

On his recommendation we started carrying Xero’s sandals, and ever since then we’ve been expanding our selection of minimal shoes.

 

Wholesale and Express Courier

On a case by case basis we can help people looking to secure large amounts of footwear for film, television, fashion shows, stage performances etc. Some of our products are at a price fixed by our suppliers, and some products we have made for us, so there is some flexibility.

Please contact us well in advance by email at info@cooleastmarket.com for wholesale requests.

When it comes to overnighting orders, we will try our best but it is not always possible depending on what is in stock and how busy we are that day.

Please call to start the process of arranging an overnight with your courier number and a list of what you need, and we'll let you know if we can help.

Please keep in mind that courier pickup needs to be arranged by 1pm Eastern Time to be reliable in our area.