We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tina Wright. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tina below.
Tina, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
Growing up with a mother who was less than nurturing left a quiet emptiness in my early years. Affection and encouragement were rare, and I often questioned my worth in the absence of loving support Without the usual emotional anchors, I learned to rely on small internal victories—getting all As, praise from other adults that I admired, or simply trusting my instincts. These became the foundation for a slow, steady belief in myself.
As I got older, I sought out relationships and spaces where I felt seen and valued – which can be hard when you haven’t felt validated. Over time, I realized that confidence isn’t something someone else gives you—it’s something you build when you choose to believe in your own voice, even when it hasn’t been affirmed. My self-esteem didn’t come easily, but it came honestly. And in learning to care for myself in ways I didn’t receive, I found the strength to grow into someone “I” trust and respect.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Tina Wright has narrow heels and Achilles, a condition she shares with many Americans. It makes it hard to find shoes that fit properly, and painful to wear ones that don’t.
“I would grip my shoes with my toes,” she said.
Ditto for Wright’s daughter, a speedy lacrosse player , who inherited the narrow-heel trait.
She used to run right out of her shoes on the soccer field — “They had to stop the game,” Wright said — and she had difficulty wearing “big girl” ballet flats.
Foam, silicone, gel — Wright tried all sorts of heel pads and grips, but she couldn’t find anything both comfortable and durable for herself and her daughter
So what’s a loving mother — and a narrow-heeled shoe-loving mother no less — to do?
Wright invented the “The Heel Sling.”
“Like most innovations, there was a need for a product,” said Wright, who has an MBA from the University of Chicago, and worked on Wall Street before deciding to be a stay-at-home mom.
The Heel Sling™ is an insert that sticks fast to the insole of any size shoe. It cradles your foot in a stretchable polyurethane strapping with a soft, leather heel cushion. And it stops heel slippage, modifying shoes for a more-secure fit that reduces rubbing, blisters and foot damage.
Nobody will know you’re wearing them! Cinderella could wear The Heel Sling™ in her glass slippers and Prince Charming wouldn’t have a clue. “They’re undetectable,” Wright said.
The Heel Sling™ has been endorsed by Dr. Chris Coetzee, an orthopedic and team physician for the Minnesota Vikings who works with professional athletes and ballerinas.
Celebrity influencer Tiffany Moon of Real Housewives of Dallas is another fan who is sold on The Heel Sling™, and promoted the product in an unsolicited Instagram post.
Brides love it, too, allowing them to wear the shoes they want with confidence on their wedding days.
It took years to bring the patented-product to market. Wright experimented with various The Heel Sling™ designs, using her kiddo as her test pilot.
Wright didn’t cut corners. She consulted with engineers and manufacturers, and retained a patent attorney. Her initial manufacturing run this year was for 20,000 units.
She has a website, social media accounts and a public relations firm.
She also markets her product at bridal and other trade shows, on Amazon, her website (theheelsling.com), and select The Good Feet™ stores.
The Heel Sling™ comes in two sizes, one each for adults and children. The adult sling fits shoe sizes 4-15, while the child’s version, is for sizes 11T to 4.
The product can be purchased online for $29.95 apiece, and Wright said she will be adding multi-item value packs. They come in two colors – black and nude.
Shoe manufacturers produce for the masses, and size their products for what they believe to be the average foot, she said. The National Shoe Retailers Association estimates that about one-in-three women have heels more narrow than the average.
And men can have narrow heels, too.
“I was talking to my patent attorney, and he said ‘I have that problem myself,’” Wright recalled. “That’s when I realized that it’s a problem for men, too.”
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back on my The Heel Sling™ journey, three key qualities shaped the process: creative problem-solving, persistence, and user-centered thinking. The idea began with a clear need, and I relied on creativity to explore materials, test designs, and find solutions that weren’t “obvious” at first. Each iteration taught me something new, and staying open to trial and error was essential to moving forward.
Equally important was my persistence—developing a product from scratch came with its share of frustrations and setbacks. But I kept going, driven by a belief in the product’s need and potential. Throughout it all, I stayed focused on the user’s experience, constantly asking “how could be more innovative, comfortable, and effective”. That combination of creativity, grit, and empathy ultimately brought The Heel Sling™ to life.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I’m currently looking to partner and collaborate with both small stores and national retailers, as well as influencers who are passionate about our innovative design. Whether you’re a retailer interested in offering a truly unique solution, or a content creator open to testing and promoting a game-changing product, I’d love to connect.
The Heel Sling™ is the only answer on the market designed specifically to prevent heel and shoe slippage, reduce blisters, and eliminate common shoe discomfort. It was developed through creative problem-solving and user-centered design, with a focus on comfort, support, and real-world wearability. If you’re interested in carrying the product in your store or showcasing it to your audience, I’d be excited to collaborate and bring this one-of-a-kind solution to more people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theheelsling.com
- Instagram: @theheelsling
- Facebook: @theheelsling
- Linkedin: The Heel Sling
- Youtube: @theheelsling
- Other: Amazon.com/theheelsling
TikTok @theheelsling
Image Credits
Photo #8: LAUnscripted
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