David and Avi Ben-Zikry, identical twins, began their shoe career in the family’s Israeli based footwear factory. At the age of 6 the boys would start working at the factory, with their seven over siblings, right after school. To most people this does not sound like a happy childhood but the Ben-Zikry twins have fond memories and say that spending time working for and with the family taught them work ethics and family values that might not have been learned otherwise. David and Avi worked very hard, saved every penny, and dreamed of the day that they could come to America to start their own shoe company.
At age 17 the boys finished high school, took their $10,000.00 savings, and headed to New York. Using the same concept as their father, they rented one building and put the store in front, production in the middle and their living space was in the back. The twins began production only to discover that it was not going to be as easy as they planned. Sales were slow, savings almost gone, and bills were piling up, both boys had to get other jobs to make ends meet. One day it was suggested to them to go to the flea market to sell their shoes. It was a success and the twins were in business.
At this time it had been four years of struggling and now the business was booming but the twins were summoned back to Israel to fulfill their military service obligations. The twins were split up but got back together on every leave to discuss their footwear business. After their military service ended the twins returned to the states to pick up where they had left off. Since 1991 David and Avi Ben-Zikry have been designing, manufacturing, and merchandising comfort shoes. The brand names they now have are Spring Step, Spring Step Professional, Fly Flot, and Azura.
At this time it had been four years of struggling and now the business was booming but the twins were summoned back to Israel to fulfill their military service obligations. The twins were split up but got back together on every leave to discuss their footwear business. After their military service ended the twins returned to the states to pick up where they had left off. Since 1991 David and Avi Ben-Zikry have been designing, manufacturing, and merchandising comfort shoes. The brand names they now have are Spring Step, Spring Step Professional, Fly Flot, and Azura.